The Irish standard., 1899-06-10

Inc tact OF the matter is, man will not
succeed in law unless he has as good
knowledge OF it as his brother lawyers.
This was the one thing that Henry could
do well, and because he did not succeed
as farmer or as a merchant was no
reason for supposing that he would be
a failure as lawyer. During these
three years he lived with his father-in-
law, who kept tavern, and often helped
entertain the guests, as the young lawyer
was an obliging fellow, whom everybody
liked. Many young men with all the dis
appointments which he had had, would
have become soured, but the greater the
trouble the Drawer he seemed to be,
hiding his feelings behind a pleasant
smile and a joyous word. He intended
to conquer the difficulties OF life, but he
had to do it in his own way
In December, 1868, came the first
great event in the career OF the young
lawyer. There was celebrated case
in court, and Henry was the defendant S
lawyer. The salary of ministers had
been fixed at 10000 pounds of tobacco,
but, because OF short crop, it had been
decided to give them sum of money
which was not an equivalent in value.
The ministers sought to set aside the
rulings OF the court, and this case was
the result. Upon the day of the trial
Judge Henry, the father of Patrick, was
upon the bench, and, besides, all the
clergy and the gentlemen" OF the coun-
try were present to give countenance to
the parsons cause" Henry arose diff
dent and awkward, but before he had
spoken very long there was profound
excitement and astonishnent depicted
upon the faces OF the vast crowd which
filled the court room. Warming to his
subject, the young orator forgot every
thing else and spoke that memorable
sentence which was the keynote OF the
revolution. He said, "a king, by dis
allowing acts of salutary nature, from
being the father of his people, degen-
crates into tyrant and forfeits all rights
to his subjects obedience" "Treason!'
was cried, but the people, with the en-
thusiasm which eloqucnce always IN
spires, carried the young man out on
their shoulders, his father sat with tears
streaming down his face, and no tri-
umph OF his son in after life ever gave
him more profound Joy. The jury
awarded &c damages to the ministers.
In May, 1865, the colonies became
aware OF the stamp act which had been
passed by Parliament, and shortly after
Henry was elected member of the Vir-
ginia House OF Burgesses. Nine days
alter he took his seat, on his goth birth
day, Henry moved a series of resolu-
tons defining the rights OF the colonies
and pronouncing the stamp act uncon-
stitutional. In defending his resolutions
he made the memorable speech in which
he said, Caesar had his Brutus, Charles
l. his Cromwell, and George III. may
profit by their example" Five of his
seven resolutions were passed, and the
publishing OF them so inhamed the pub
lie mind that is was impossible to collect
the tax.
He was delegate to the first Cont
mental Congress, and opened its deliber-
ations by speech which gave him the
reputation OF being the foremost of
American orators. 1t was then he de-
clared, Il am not Virginian, but all
American While debate was hot, a
plan was proposed by which we would
have occupied the same relation to Eng
land as that established with Canada.
Henry opposed the plan, and it was de-
feated by the vote of one colony only,
so that it is very probable that Henry's
eloquence changed the destiny of this
nation. On March IS he made another
OF his famous speeches, the occasion be-
ing the debate Of motion which he
had made, proposing that the colony
be put into state OF defense, prepar-
atory to the war, which was certain
to occur. This is regarded as the most
eloquent speech ever made by an Amer
lean statesman. He ended it with the
sentence, so well known to American
boys, 1--WE must fight! l repeat it, sir
we must fight! An appeal to arms and
to the God OF hosts is all that is left us.
But Henry proved in couple Of
months that he could not only talk fight
but that he could act the part of brave
soldier as we'll He led volunteer force
against Lord Dunmore, the royal Gov,
ernor OF Virginia, which was the frs
armed resistance OF that colony. The
Governor was compelled to restore tn,
colony's gunpowder. During his alb
sence the Continental Congress mad,
him Colonel of the 1st Virginia regi
ment and commander of all the Vir
ginia forces. His want OF experience
however, made him ineligible to higl
rank in the army, and during the wa
he served his country in the Virgins
convention.and upon the adoption of til
constitution in TO- was elected the frs
Governor OF the state He was re-electe.
in II and 70. He then returned to tn
Legislature. and as soon as he becam
eligible again for the office OF Governo,
in 1884, was again reelected, and i
1885. He declined reelection in 1873
and in 1896.