The advocate., 1895-07-31
OF what avail Is pillow or sail,
Or land or life, IL freedom fail.
PARSONS.


Day after day Colonel Lilburne and his guests |
rode to Richmond and listened to the most memoir |
able debate ever held upon this continent. Audi
tors and participants alike understood that if the
Virginia convention should ratify the Constitution
the new government would be at once an irreVOca
BILE fact and to those who were opposed to its ratf
cation, this conflict seemed the 6nal combat for
generations between despOtism and American lib
elty. Even the needless were forced to feel that
momentous issue was to be settled that the destiny
of the American people was to be determined there
The stupendous issue rendered the contest sublime
The combatsnts were the invaders or defenders of
sovereign States. Whether in a hundred years the
Declaration of Independence was to be sacred
charter or mocking memory; whether in hundred
years Americans should be the freest or the most
enslaYed people of the civilized world whether in
hundred years history should glorify the deeds
Of the Revolution, or deride them as blind Of
forts to renounce a republic under the form of q
monarchy only in order to set up monarchy under
the form of a republicans to be settled in that
arena. The minds of all in attendance were en-
larged with the mghtiness of the consequences to
ensue Never did any magnificent Parliament hall
resound with the noble discussion of more momen-
est church. For the time all other cares were in
abeyance. So absorbed was he in the great drama
ID process Of performance that Sydney for the time
almost became obliyious of his heart-hunger, and
Gertrude was for hours at time but dmly present
to his thoughts. But at night his sense of hopeless
separation from her and utter isolation wellnigh
overwhelmed him. He sorely needed theexcitement
Of this great occasion.
n hod al Dpngan
hour when the final vote would be taken drew sensi-
bly, nearer Sydney had passed a more than usually
melancholy night 1t was, therefore, we'll that Pat
rick Henry rose at once that morning and put to
flight every thought but anxiety for the liberty of
the people.
The very tone in which the great orator said "Mr,
Chairman the pause before proceeding, fixed all
eyes upon him and trained every ear. Then, as a
witness tells u.s. his rspt countenance, his eyes
(which seemed to beam with light from another
world, and under whose fiery glance the crest of the
proudest adversary FELL his majestic attitudes, and
that bold, strong and varied action, which spoke
forth with so much power the energies of his own
great spirit, rendered his person spectacle so sub
lime and so awfuly interesting that to look in any
other direction when the spell was upon him was
not to be expected from any man who had eyes to
see and ears to hear"
The shorthand reporter made few notes and
then utterly forgetting his business there, sat mo
tioness with stare like one enchanted, and poster
ity has scant record of the old patriots eloquence
that day. Cold printed words can give but faint
conception Of the overwhelming power which seized
mon the minds of all who listened and saw but the
themes were worthy as were the utterances to make
osfrIot hearts thrill even now, when that heaven