The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1879-06-03

\ HIS OWH VOICE, ullu his lOHc5 gTcN
firmer and louder. Az he went OF
he became more and more excited
and soou his eyes began TO flash ant
his voice TO I'll the whole courthouse
He seemed scarcely TO be the same
man, aud carried every listener along
with him, and he saw from his treat
ment of the case, that he knew jusi
what he was about. He scarcely
touched the question of the law, as
he knew that it was against him
lie addressed himself to the jury
and told them they have 10 decide
between the King Of England and
the Virginia House of Burgesses, who
were their own people and the king 9
stranger 10 them. lie had no right
to issue his orders to them. a.ot as
Here the old lawyer who was fol
the clergy Started up exclaimmg
"The gentleman has spoken treas
on! y ng III aisalqq9au: a sml ID.
But Patrick Henry did not stop
1t never did any good, as people aft
erward found, to try to frighten him,
The interruption only made him
moro violent in his denunciation. lie
repeated what he had said, and de-
clared that the parsons were no better
than the King. Men who led such
lives as they did have no right TO be
demanding the peoples money; and
his expression grew so violent at last
that the clergy rose in a body and in
dignantly left the courtroom.
| Henry then ended his speech in the
midst of great excitement, and soon
afterward the jury retired TO consult
upon their. verdict, This was await
ed with breathless interest. The law
was wholly in favor Of the parsons,
astbe Kings order could not be dis
obeyed, but the jury could fix any
amount of damages they chose-,or al
last they did so, as everybody soon
perceived. They came back at length
and gave in their verdict. II was one
penny damdges-about two cents
and no sooner had tho crowd heard
this than they uttered d shout Of de
light. All was uproar and confusion
The old lawyer who represented the
clergy rose and exclaimed, that the
verdict was against the law, aud de.
mandcd That the Jury should be sent
back. But his voice could scarce
lily be heard. The crowd was shout.
ling and gathering with delight around
Patrick Henry, At last they caught
him up and placed him on tlleil
shoulders and bore lin out. And
in this way lie was carried in triumph
around the grounds of their old court
house, the crowd cheering and shopt-
ling in his honor.
The scene Of this great event re-
mains almost unchanged to this day
The old courthouse is still standing
in its grassy yard, ank have visited
it and looked with deep interest al
the old colonial building where thu
voice of young Patrick was first rails
ed against England. 9 81
This was the beginning of his grea
career. On the day before lie wa
almost unknown, but now he was fa
nous. There is no doubt that every
thing happened just as | have related
His friends and neighbors wondered
at his genius and cloquencc, and wliel
they wished to pay a compliment t,
any public speaker aiterward, ex
claimed: He was almost equal I,
Patrick Henry when he plead agains
the parsonsp' p'f4a1Nhi 8iff y3lA.D
| Henry soon obtained plenty o
law practice. His dark days had
passed, and two years aiterward hi
was elected to the Burgesscs. Her
he mad his great speech against tn
Stamp Act and Started the ball Q
revolution"