Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-11-22

ton OF Mr. Johnson ever pi"~uN
important results. ar, oo.h aud
vns M once placed on the COmmittee OF
Courts of Justice. He entered a body OF
intellectual aud patriotic men, whose pro..
ceefinQs were conducted with the utmost
decorurn. and whose leaders were p9s-
sessed Of ability. Of culture, ana ol u0-
served influence.
TIE HOUSE OF BURGEs'Es.
John Robinson. the Speaker OF tne
House. had filed the chair for tWehy-nse
years with great dignity. lie was Dos
sessed of a strong mind, when was ~
lsrged by 1reat experience, ana OF Uc-
uevoleuce Of spirit and courtesy or mar
ner which rendered him exceedingly popu-
lar. lie was wealthy and the acknon-
lodged head Of the landed arlstocracyir ~
a Speaker Of the House be was also lTea-
surer OF the Colony. and was alLoRssIle s
the most influential member OF tue bo5y'
The bigh offices he held caused him 70 oe
warmly attached TO the royal governments
and he was aVerse to taking any step WHICH
would be ceusured bv the ministry,
Peyton Randolph, the AttOrney.deneral'
held the next rank OF Speaker. nc was an
eminent lawyer, an accomplished parilasc
mentarian, and PRACTICAL statesman ni1., Va
high order. He presided over the house
WnGn TX stT III ADtllAAAk-I va ~
Edmund PendletOn was justly ranAeG as
one of the ablest men in the House. DIT;
Jefferson has said Of him: "Iaken IN al
he was the ablest man IN debate ever
met he was cool, smooth, and persua.
eiye: his language flowing, chaste, ana
ernbolUshed; his conception quick, acute'
and full Of resource add to this tnat ne
was one Of the most ylrtuous ana oeue'o,
lent Of men, the kindest friend the mos
amiable and pleasant OF COMPANIONS
George Wythe IS described by Dir. Jener-
son 40 fhe hest Latin and Greek scholar In
the colony, and Of such purity and III
flexible integrity. of such warm PATRIOTISM
and devotion TO liberty that he might nave
been called the Cato of his country WIN
out the avarice Of the Roman. HIS eloGu-
tion was easy and his language chaste. ne
was methOdlcal in the arrangement OF ms
matter, learned and logical in the use Oh II,
and Of great urbanity IL debate; not quick
of apprehension, but profound IN peue'I"-
ton and sound in conclusion:
Richard Bland is described by the same
pen as the most learned and loFical. man
who took prominent lead in pubic al
fairs; profound in constitutional lore, but
q most ungraceful speaker in debate he
wrote the first pamphlet on the nature Oh
the colonial connection with Great BRITAIN
which had any pretensIOn 10 accuracy OF
view on that subject. Edmund hanuolph
states that his perfect knowledge OK tne
history OF the colony bad given MN the
name Of the " Nirginign Antiquarian
Richard Henry Lee was already distin-
guished for that learning and those great
rIfts of tongue and pen which won. tor
MN the tide of the Cicero OF America"
George Washington, modest aud retiring
as a member. was the beau !Gedt OF sol
dier. and was already noted for that strong
common-sense and perlectiy-Oalanced cha,,
racter which have won the admiration OF
the world. lie at once became Dir. Henry 5
friend.
Robert Carter Nicholas, Of singular
purity of character and strength OF intel
iect. was the leading lawyer Of the colony.
Besides these may be named among those
who deservedly rOso TO high position ana
were already men Of influence Paul Gar
ringtou. BENJAMIN Harrison, William
Cabeu. Archibald Cary. Thomas Marshall,
John Page, Carter RraKton. Francs Light
foot Lee, Thompson Mason, Dudley
Digges, and the accomplished JQhn LIAR,
of the college. The list shows other names
of equal merit and intelligence, WnicnW VIII
be recognized by the reader.
History does not tell "a OF State OF the
same size as Virginia winch could az any
period furnish such galaxy OF great names
as is found on the roll of the House: ana
one is forced TO admire the elements OF
Virginia society winch united TO BRING
upon the stage Of action at one time such
q superb body Of men.
RESOLUTIONS AGAINST TIE STAMP ACT.
Mr.. Henry, since the argument OF the
Parsons Cause" had been recognized N
his county az the boldcst Of the advocates
Of colonial rights, and 1t was doubtless due
to this that he had been elected 70 the
House Of Burgcsses. He found the House
thrown into confederation by the lnteill-
gence Of the stamp act but with no seem
ing disposition % resist its execution. Inc
men who had 80 earnestly protested agalnS I
| its passage felt that they had done their
whole duty, and nothing was left but TO
submit 10 the will OF Parliament.
But Mr. Henry vas Of "a different
mind. His wonderful political sagacI-
| tv. so often displayed afterward.
| convinced him that submission 10
| the act would be fatal TO the liberties OF
| the colonies. and that q bold move might
| have the effect Of uniting the people IN
determined opposition to lts execution
| the only hope of preventing Its disastrous
| consequences. So believing, he wrote on
| the blank leaf Of an old copy OF Coke
| Upon LlttletOn" his famous resolutions
against the act, which were based upon
! the declaration of that author, that 1t IS
against Magma Charta and the franchises
| OF the land for freemen TO be taxed but
| hy their own consent. and that an
| act Of Parliament against Magma Charta
or common right or reason Il void. lie
| showed them 20 George Johnston, OF talr.
! fax. and John Fleming, of Cumberland,
before moving them, and obtained then
promise of support. On May 29th, hi:
! twentv-ninth birthday. he offered them C
the House, sitting IN Committee of the
| Whole, and Mr. Johnston seconded them
| Mr. Henry, who was careless IN the pre-
! servation Of papers touching his public
| lite. considered the effect of these resolu
tons of such transcendent Importance
that he left. along with his will, copy O
| them and an account of their passage in G
| sealed letter endorsed, Enclosed are the
resolutions Of the Virginia Assembly II
1765 concerning the stamp act. Let IN!
| executors open this paper"