The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1888-05-11
'sGIyE ME LIBERTY OR DEATH

In his most interesting Life Of Patrick
Henry published in the "American
Statesman series, Professor Moses Colt
Tyler has brought to light an important
and most interesting description of Henry's
manner of delivering his most celebrated
speech. 1t is contained in the manuscript
of Edward Fontaine, which is now in the
library Of Cornell University, and is as fol-
lows:
"When he said, Is life so dear or peace
so sweet as to be purchased at the price Of
chains and siavery?' he stood in the atti-
tude of a condemned galley slave loaded
with letters awaiting his doom. His form
was bowed, his wrists were crossed, his
manaeles were almost visible as he stood
like IN embodiment of helplessness and
agony. After a solemn pause he raised his
eyes and chained hands toward heaven and
prayed in words and tones which thrilled
every heart: Forbid it, Almighty Godr
He then turned toward the timid I0valists
of the house, who were quaking with ter
ror at the idea of the consequences of par
ticipating in proceedings which would be
visited with the penalties Of treason by the
British Crown, and he slowly bent his
form still nearer to the earth and said: 4
know not what course others may take.
and he accompanied the act with his hands
still crossed, while he seemed to be weight
cd dawn with addi41o,aI ob. IT.. -
appeared transformed into an oppressed,
heart-broken, and hopeless felon.
After remaining in this posture of bu-
initiation long enough to impress the imag-
ination with the condition of the colony
under the iron heel of military despotism,
he arose proudly and exclaimed: But as
for me-and the words hlssed through his
clinched teeth, while his body was thrown
back, and every muscle and tendon was
strained against the letters which bound
him, and with his countenance distorted
by agony and rage, he looked for a moment
ike LAGOON in a death struggle with ser
penis; then the loud clear, triumph notes.
Give me liberty, electrified the assembly.
Ii was not a prayer, but a stern demand,
which would submit to no refusal or delay.
The sound of his voice as he spoke these
memorable words was like that Of a Spartan
pecan on the field of Platte: and as each
syllable of the word liberty echoed
through the building his letters were shiv-
cred; his arms were hurled apart, aud the
links of his chains were scattered to the
winds. When he spoke the word liberty,
with an emphasis never given it before. his
hands were opened, and his arms elevated
and extended; his countenance was radi-
ant; he stood erect and defiant. while the
sound Of his voice and the sublimity of his
attitude made him appear a magnificent
incarnation of freedom, and expressed all
that can be acquired or enjoyed by nations
and indivnals inVincible and free.
after a m%omentary pause only long
enough to permit the echo of the word lib
erty' to cease. he let his left hand fall pow
erless to his side and elinehed his right
hand firmly, as if holding a dagger with
the point aimed at his breast. He stood
like 4 Roman Senator defying Caesar, while
the uneonquerable spirit of Cato Of Utica
flashed from every feature, and he closed
the grand appeal with the solemn words,
'or give me death, which sounded with the
awful cadence Of a hero's dirge, fearless
of death aud victorious in death; and be
CtaTfaA thu aaffap ~ sha vxRrd he q htaur
upon the left breast with the right hand
which seemed to drive the dagger to the
PATRIOTS heart