Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-07-05
PATRICK HENRY.
HIS Speech Before the Virginia LegisIa.
ture In ITS

His Speech Before the Virginia LegisIa-
ture In ITS.
, MR. CHAIRMAN: No man-thinks more highly
tin go, OF the patriotism well the abli
i ;res' OF Inc very worthy gentlemen, who have
Jus1 auaressed the house. But different men
oI.en see the same subject in different lights;
| anu therefore hope it will not be thought dis
lesPe ~ 70 those gentlemen it, entertaining,
as 40, opinions of a character very opposite to
inells, should speak forth my sentiments-free-
~, ana Without reserve. This sir, is no time for
ceremony. Inc question before the house is one
! OF aWIuI moment to this country For my part,
CONSIDER 1t as nothing less than estion of
| freedom or slavery, ana in proportion to the
magnltude OF the subject, ought to be the free
| dom OF debate; 1t is only in this way we can
hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great re-
| sponsibility which we hold to God, and to our
| country. We're to withhold nv sentiments at
such time as this, through fear of giving ofIense.
! should consider myself as guilty Of treason
toward my country, and of an act of disloyalty
| toward the Majesty of Heaven; whom l revere
above all earthly kings. 1t is natural for man
to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt
to shut our eyes against painful truth; and lis
ten to the song of that syren till she transforms
us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, en-
gagged in great and arduous struggle for liberty?
Are we disposed to be of the number Of those,
who having eyes, see not, and having ears, hear
not, the things which SO near.y concern their
temporal salvation? For my part, whatever an
! gulsh OF spirit 1T may cost am willing to know
vide for it.
! have but one lamp by which my feet are
guided; and that is the lamp Of experience.
the past. And, judging by the past wish to
know what there has been, in the conduct of the
British ministry for the past ten years. to justify
those hopes, with which gentlemen have been
pleased to solace themselves, and the house? Is
it that insidious smile, with which our petition
has been lately received? Trust it not SIR 1t will
to be betrayed with kiss. Ask yourselves how
this gracious reception of our petition COMFORTS
! with those warlike preparations, which cover
| our waters, and darken our land. Are fleets and
| armies, necessary to work of love, and recon-
| Citation? Have we shown ourselves SO unwill
ing to be reconciled that force must be called in
selves, sir. These the implements Of war,
and subjugation the last arguments to which
kings resort. l ask, gentlemen, sir, what means
this martial array, if its purpose be not to force
us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any
other, possible motive for it? Has Great Britain
any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call
for all this accumulation of naYieS, and armies
NO sir, she has none. They are meant for us
they can be meant for other. They sent
over to bind, and rivet upon us, those chains,
which the British ministry have been long
forging. And what have we to oppose to them?
Shall we try argument? Sir, We have been try
ing that for the last ten years. Have we any
thing new to offer upon the subject? Nothing.
We have held the subject up in every light of
which it is capable; but it has been all in vain.
Shall we resort to entreaty, and humble suppl
cation? What terms shall we find which have
not been already exhausted? Let us not be-
seech you, sir, deceive ourselves longer. Sir we
have done everything that could be done, to
avert the storm, which Is now coming on. We
have petltioned; we have remonstrated; we
have supplicated; NC have Frustrated ourselves
before the throne, ID have implored its inter
position to arrest tie tyrannical hands Of the
ministry, and par lament Our petitions have
been Sighted circumstances have pro-
duced additional violence and insult; our suppl
cations have been disregarded and we have been
spurned, with contempt from the foot of the
throne. In vain, after these things, may we in
dulge the fond hope of peace, and reconciliation.
There is no longer any room for hope five wish
TO be free; II we mean to preserve, invlolate,
those inestmable privileges, for which we have
been SO long contending; if we mean basely to
abandon the noble struggle, in which we have
been SO long engaged, and which we have
pledged ourselves never to abandon, until the
we must fight repeat it! sir, we must fight!
An appeal to arms, and to the God of hosts is all
that is left us. They tell us, sir, that we are
weak, unable to cope with SO formidable an adj
it be the next week, or the next year? viii it be
when we are totally disarmed, and when q
British guard shall be stationed in every house
Shall we gather strength by irresolution, and
inaction? Shall we acquire the means of eff
fectual resistance, by lying supinely on our
backs, and hugging the delusive phantom Of
hope, until enemies shall have bound us
hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak, if we
make proper use of those means which the God
OF nature hath placed in our power. Three mil
lions of people, armed in the holy cause of lib
, erty, and in such a country as that which we
possess, are invincible, by any force, which our
enemy send against u.s. Besides, sir, we
shall not fight our battles alone. There is just
God, who presides over the destinies Of nations,
and who will raise up friends to fight our battles
for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone;
it is to the vigilant, the active and the brave.
Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were
base enough to desire it, it is now too late to
tire from the contest. There is no retreat, but in
submission and slavery! Our chains are forged.
Their clanking may be heard on the plains of
Boston! The war is inevitable and let it come!
I repeat it, sir, let it come!
1t is vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gen
temen may cry peace, peace! but there is no
peace. The war is actually begun! The next
gale, that sweeps from the north will bring to
our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our
brethren are already in the field! Why stand we
here idle? What is it, that the gentlemen wish?
what would they have? Is life so dear, or
peace SO sweet, as to be purchased at the
price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Al
mighty God. l know not what course others
may take, but as for me, give me liberty, Or
give me death!"