The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-08-07

'1fYom M. Jsfsfson atid 6fefed NJ
.tucky Legislature the resolutions passeo "
that nody; and Johnrayl sas i Ne, VI y,
iheGprty inVirgtnia. AL have ss,g. u; ~
effort was spared W destroyMr. Henry,s 10.
'fluens at TINT time and &Els Incident 10 DIS i
l,fe, 4f true, would hardly have been iorgot'
ten, Or been permitted TO sInmber ID oo'
security. By no one, however, and az mo
time was this incident ever related un1ii lne
grave had been closed over Patrick Henfy
FOR twenty five years, and prooaofy over
every other member of the hegisfatafe~os
1871 exceptth relator. ,-.<,a, a.eIsi
81. THE TINE COLONEL TAYLOR sBLEcrEp ,.ss
for the alleged motion is an unfortunate one
for the credibility of his statement III Is
true that Virginia was then the seal OF war
ard was suffering severely from the almost
unrestraned depredations Of the brnisD.
MANY of her soldiers were in service IN otnei
States: and her resources, though more tnaii
ample for her defence, had not been conceo-
.trated apaipst the enemy. Still, IL was ap'
parent that the war was approaching lts 'ei
mination and that independence was an as.
sured fact. The confederation had JUST oeen
accomplished by the complete rallnca'ao ,a
Of the articles, thus shutting on all nope
from the British Of conquering Ane-
RIGA by dividing the States anu saln.
inc their submission in detail. france was
onr ally and bad sent us powerful nret anu
q fine army. On the Continent Great olIta,n
was at war with France, Spain, ana Tue Neil,
erlands The war in America was eohtiuaeu
without hope of conquest and tor tne pul'
nose of pInnder- and destruction or e'se "
s,renothen her claims in the negotiations lor
na,ce In fine North the British army was
shut nm in New York, and Washington was
PLANNING an attack upon that CITY. IN tne
south Corn wallis had retired to wilmington
and Greene had recovered the Car0linas:
The .Fmnress of Russia and the Emperor OF
Austria bad proposed TO act as med'alors LOT
peace, and England bad consented W .neil
mediation, peace commissioners hau aireauy
been appointed BY Congress anu were AZ
Europe. 49,.
TEE TALK OF PEACE if
was common, and on the 12lh OF june FOX
declared in the British Parliament That
"from the report Of CORVALLIS there 10 the
u,o.t conclusive evidence that the war IS OF
once imprac,cabIe in its object and runous
in its progress"; and be moved recon-
mendation to the ministry to conclude
neaca. II would have Seemed, therefore, the
hci~ht of folly for Virginia to have proposed
snhm issiop. when the independence OF all
the States had been in fact accomplished.
Had Patrick Henry been inclined to peace
on the terms of submission al opportunity
had been afforded before this time, While ne
was Governor of the State, when the pros
meet was far more gloomy, and the British
Peace Commissioners had actually made q
direct proposal to treat with Virginia separ
rately. How indignantly he and the Legls-
laturc had rejected the proposal is
matter of history. Colonel Taylor
could have selected no man as the
mover of this resolution who would
have done more violence to his character IN
moving it than Patrick Henry. In the Ian.
ouaoe Of John Adams, he was entitled TO
the glory of beginning this great heVolu.
tion." He bad been the first to take up arms
ia Virginia, had constantly led the front rank
of the patriots in all their measures, and, II
his coptem poraries are to be believed (John
TAYLOR excepted, never faltered in the strug,
ole for Independence. The great founder OF
Colonel Taylor's party, Thomas Jefferson,
testified abundantly to this. Not long after
Colonel Taylor related this Incident to Mr.
Adams Mr. jefferson entertained Daniel
Webster at Monticello, and conversed freely
with him of the Revolution. In speaking OF
Patrick Henry to Webster he said: lie was
nc well suited to the times as any man ever
was. and it is not now easy to say what we
sI,onId have done without Patrick Henry.
He WINS far before US all in maintaining
TIE SPIRIT OF THE REVOLUTION.
His influence was most extensive with Inc
members from the upper counties, anu DIS
boldness and their votes oyerawed ana con-
trolled the more cool or the more tlmi0, aris'
1ocratic gentlemen of the lower part OF the
state" 1t is hardly possible that the person
described by jefferson should have counseI'-
ed submission a, a time when no DINER nem'
her Of the house would even near OF IL pa
ticntly; tor Colonel Tay lor tells us that the
nroposition met with immediate, lndlS.
liant, and universal opposition" Stranger II
ANYTHING is the statement that the tlm'd,
despopding mover changed his views during
The debate, ard became one OF tine most ar
dent aud most saDguine for perseverance 10
the war; And this is the man, 100, VINO was
20 DISTINGUISHED a leader in the Legislature
that he is described by MIR. Madison ana
others as omnipo.ent in that body.
COLONEL TAyLoR's DEPRECIATION.
of Patrick Henry's deficient agency 10 the
Revolution" is completely answered ny Dir.
Jefferson in the same conversation with WEEP
ster. for he added cater all, 1t must De
allowed that he was our leader in the Dea-
sures of the Revolution in Virginia, and 10
that respect more is due to him than to any
other nersau. Ii we had not bad him we
should probably have got on pretty well, as
rnI, did. bv number OF men OF nearly
eo1sl talents: but he left all Of us far be-.
hind" 1t cannot be viewed without the
orovest suspicion that this charge OF
Colonel Taylor was not made during
The lifetime of Patrick Henry or OF any other
member of the Legislature OF 1871, so far as
we know, and that it was never made pub.
,ic,v at any time. Had not Mr.. Adams pre-
served it in bis diary it would, in all proba.
bility. have been lost to the world. Coming
to us. then, ut this late day, nearly century
after the alleged occurrence, clothed with go
much suspicion and 80 improbable in itself,
this statement, so disparaginS to Patrick
Henry, cannot be accepted as true without
further aud conclusive proof. A gentleman
distinguished for his Information concerning
Virginia history has suggested TO me the fol.
lowing explanation of this curious statement,
and I willingly give Col. Taylor the benefit OF
il: Mr.. Henry, in the Legislature OF 1881,
represepted one of the counties on the south
side of James river. the great tobacco.grow-
ing and siaveholding region of Virginia.
AS the British were destroying large quanti-
ties of tobacco and carrying of large num-
bers of slaves, this section felt most keenly
their invasion and had most to fear from q
continuance of it. Very strong and unusual
measures were pressed upon the Legislature
nv those who were determined to protect
the State at all hazards, and Mr.. Henry was
foremost among these.
In some debate it is possible that Mr..
Henry may have spurred on the timid and
h,It;no mbers nv declaring that il Ould