The Universalist., 1897-03-27
AN INCIDENT IN THE LIFE OF
PATRICK HENRY.

THE rector, wardens and vestry of Corn
wall Parish, Keys Vile, Va, have issued
an appeal to the country for money to
build church at Smithville, Charlotte
county Va, in memory of Patrick Henry,
near where his last utterances were
made. Patrick Henry was devout men,
Der of the Episcopal Church. The rector,
the Rev. j. p. Lawrence, will receive all
subscriptions.
The above paragraph, which is now
going the rounds of the papers, recalls
an interesting episode in the history
OF Virginia, in which Patrick Henry
figured very unwillingly, and in
which also figured, not very credit
ably, the Rev. John Blair Smith, the
President of Hampden Sidney Col
lege in that State, who died in 1899.
The incident is detailed in contri
button to DR.. Sprague's "Anuals of
the American Pulpit" 1t illustrates
the extent to which partisan excite
ment was carried at the close OF the
Revolutionary war, when even the
great fame of Patrick Henry, and his
services in the cause of American In
dependence, could not preserve him
from rather shrewd, but unfair and
inconsiderate attack made upon him
by the distinguished Presbyterian
divine who was at that time the head
of the Virginia institution. DIR.
Sprague's contributor writes as fol-
lows:
1t is we'll known that our great Vir-
ginia orator was originally opposed to
the adoption of the Federal Constitu-
ton. When that noble instrument was
submitted to the consideration of the
people, Patrick Henry offered himself as
candidate for Representative of Prince
Edward County in the State Conven-
tion; and he appointed day to meet
the people of the county at the court
house, to show the defects of the Con-
stitution, and the grounds on which he
opposed it. The court house is not a
half hours walk from the college. DR..
Smith, who was an earnest friend of the
Constitution had made his arrange
ments to be present at the meeting, and
defend it against his attacks; but being
called away at that hour to visit sick
person, he employed young man who
lived in his family, remarkable alike for
memory. for shrewdness and for the use
of his pen. to take down Mr.. Henry's
speech in shorthand for his (Dr. Smiths
benefit.
Within week or two from that time
there was to be public exhibition in
the College Hall-an occasion which was
always sure to draw together large
assembly.
When the day arrived. Patrick Hen.
ry, who lived in the neighborhood, came
with the rest, little dreaming of the rod
that was prepared for him. One of the
best speakers among the students came
forward upon the stage. and delivered
Henrys philippe against the Constitu-
tion, almost exactly as he had himself
delivered it at the court house. An
other Immediately followed with a
speech prepared by DR.. Smith. in which
he had put forth all his energies, in de-
fence of the Constitution.
There was no intimation given that
the two speeches we're not written by
the individuals who had pronounced
them. Henry was not little annoyed
by the procedure, and at the close of the
exercises gave DIR. Smith to understand
in no equivocal terms, that he felt that
an unfair advantage had been taken of
him.
DIR. Smith contended that Henry had
no cause for complaint. unless his speech
had been unfairly represented; and in
that case, he declared himself ready to
make any amends in his power. Henry
said that was not the ground of his COM
plant; for the young man had certainly
AIKEN his speech down with great accu-
racy; but he thought it was indelicate and
improper that he should be placed in
such circumstances before that audience,
without any intimation having previous
ly been given him of what was intended.
DR.. Smith replied that Colonel Henry
knew it was his intention to have re
piled to him, when he spoke at the court
house. but was providentially prevented;
that he had then spoken for public effect
and his speech became public property;
that all that he could reasonably require
was that it should be fairly reported;
and if that had been done he could not
see that he had any just reason for
complaint. Henry, however, was not at
all satisfied, broke off all intercourse
with DR.. Smith from that time, and
would never hear him preach afterward,
though he had previously been one of
his constant hearers.
1t is possible that this incident
marked the divergence of the great
orator from the incipient Presbyteri-
anism of Virginia. He was not likely
to remain even the hearer of Presby-
terian services after the vancouver of
the Presbyterian divine to discredit
his political teachings, after the man
ner narrated above. The whole per-
formance was quite shrewd on the
oarf Of prao;1ant Rlo;r C,,o.tL l,,A