Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-11-01
Liberty or DEATH"

In his interesting Life OF Patrick
Henry" Prof. Moses Colt Tyler is
very positive in his statements show
ing that Henry possessed logical
powers and knowledge of law, polit-
ical science and history. He cites the
debates in the Virginia convention,
where Henry held his ground in close
hand-to-ha cambat for twenty
three days against formidable antago-
nists on all the difficult subjects of
law, political science and history in
volved in the constitution of the
United States. He has brought TO
light an important and most In
teresting description OF Henry's man
ner of delivering his most celebrated
speech. lt Is contained In the manu-
script OF Edward Fontaine, which Is
now in the library OF Cornell Univer-
sity, and is as follows:
When he said: Is life so dear or
peace so sweet "a To be purchased at
the price OF chains and slaveryy' lie
stood in the attitude OF condemned
galley slave, loaded with fetters,
awaiting his doom. His form was
bowed, his wrists were crossed, his
manacles were almost visible as he
stood like an embodiment OF helpless
ness and agony. After solemn
pause he raised his eyes and chained
hands toward heaven and prayed la
words and tones which thrilled every
heart: Forbid it, Almighty God'
He then turned toward the timid
loyalists OF the house, who were quak-
ing with terror at the idea Of the con
sequence OF participating In proceed
ings which would be visited with the
penalties OF treason by the British
crown, and he slowly bent his form
yet nearer TO the earth and said, i
know not what course others may
take, and he accompanied the words
with his hands still crossed, while he
seemed TO be weighed down with ad-
ditional chains. The man appeared
transformed into an oppressed, heart
broken and hopeless felon. After re-
naming in this posture OF humiliation
ong enough to impress the imagina-
ton with the condition OF the colony
under the iron heel OF military despot-
ism, he arose proudly and exclaimed;
But as for me'-and the words hissed
through his clenched teeth, while his
body was thrown back, and every
tendon was strained against the fet-
ters which bound him, and, with his
countenance distorted with agony
and rage, he looked for moment
like LAGOON in death struggle with
coiling serpents; then the loud, clear,
triumphant notes, Give me liberty,
electrified the assembly. IL was not
prayer, but a demand, which sub
United TO no refusal or delay. The
sound OF his voice as he spoke those
memorable words was like that Of a
Spartan pean on the field OF Ilalea,
and "a each syllable Of the word lib
erty' echoed through the building his
fetters were shiyered; his arm. were
hurled apart, and the links OF his
chains were scattered TO the winds.
When he spoke the word liberty
with an emphasis never given II be-
fore, his hands were open and his
arms elevated and extended, his coun-
teDance was radiant; his hands were
open and his arms elevated and ex-
tended. his countenance was radiant;
he stood erect and defiant, while the
sound Of his voice aud the sublimity
Of his attitude made him appear q
magnificent incarnation OF freedom,
and expressed all that can be acquired
orenjoyed by nations and individuals,
inyincible and free. After moment
ary pause, only long enough 10 permit
the echo Of the word liberty to cease,
his left hand fell powerless 10 bis side.
and he eiiDcbed his right hand firmly as
IL holding a dagger with the point
aimed at his breast. He stood like q
Roman senator defying Cesar, while
the uDconquerable 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 and
victorious In death; and he suited the
action TO the word by blow upon
the left breast with the right hand,
which seemed to drive the dagger TO
the PATRIOTS heart"