The San Francisco call., 1899-10-27

and in 1765 he was sent to the Virginia
Legislature Immediately upon his en-
trance to public life he began a career of
meteoric brilliancy and of large signifi-
canoe for the American colonies.
The Stamp Act.
The student of American history will
remember that the year 1765 marks the
beginning Of the end of the colonial re-
lations of America and England. Just be-
fore this time the British Ministry began
to rigidly enforce certain navigation laws
of the previous century, which restricted
our trade for the benefit of English mer-
chants. At the same time Parliament be-
gan the policy Of taxing the colonies
without their consent, for the support of
standing army. The first important
measure of taxation on the new principle.
the stamp act, was passed in l765, and
the colonies instantly famed into indig-
nant protest.
On receipt Of the news of the passage
of the act the Virginia Legislature re-
solved itself into committee of the whole
House, Immediately to consider the
steps necessary to be taken in conse-
quence of the resolutions of the House
of Commons of Great Britain relative to
the charging certain stamp duties in the
colonies and plantations in America" To
obey the law was to surrender the dearly
priced right Of self-government-to resist
it was possibly treason. The seriousness
Of the situation was apparent to all. The
wisest counsel of the most experienced
leaders was needed at this juncture. But
to the surprise of the House the man
who presumed to speak at this crisis was
not a veteran statesman, but an un-
known, uncouth young lawyer, new
member of the Legislature. With calm
audacity Patrick Henry proceeded to
move a series Of resolutions conceived in
a spirit of bold resistance to the stamp
act The principal resolution was as fol-
lows: Resolved, therefore, that the Cen
eral Assembly of this colony have the
only and exclusive right and power to
Law taxes and impositions upon the inhab-
itants of this colony; and that everys at
tempt to vest such power in any person
or persons whatsoever, other than the
General Assembly aforesaid, has man
ifest tendency to destroy British as well
as American freedom
The older leaders were startled by the
boldness of the attack on Parliament,
and opposed the radical resolutions with
all the force of their logic, but the young
orator met the opposition with keen ar
gument and with a torrent of eloquence
that swept the majority of the Assem-
bly, to his support. The famous Virginia
resolutions were adopted after battle
of two days. By single speech the
young Yirginian had won a place among
the leaders of public opinion in his col
ony Patrick Henry left for home imme-
diately after his victory, and on his de-
parture the conservatives succeeded in
forcing a reconsideration and q modiflca-
tion of the resolutions. but the sweeping
condemnation of the stamp act embodied
In the original resolutions had meantime
he
call of Virginia TO her sister colonies to
resist unjust taxation unquestionably ex-
erted a profound influence.
An Individual Declaration of War.
On March 20, IT'S, a convention was as
sembled in Richmond to consider means
for putting the colony in a position Of
defense. 1t was at this convention that
Patrick Henry, speaking not to Virginia
alone but to the whole sisterhood of col
onies, declared that the time for peace
full negotiations had passed and the hour
had struck for war. AS a mere bit of
oratory his famous speech of IT'S is nota-
Bile, but as an epoch-making revelation of
the unconscious sentiment OF a nation
it's delivery is one of the most important
events of the revolutionary period The
oft-quoted speech first reviewed in mas
terly fashion the attempt of the colonies
to preserve by peaceful methods the an
cient rights of Englishmen. And then.
after an inspiring presentation of the
strength of 900 of people armed in
the holy cause of liberty" the speaker
with all the dramatic power of his won
derful oratory, closed with the majestic
peroration so. familiar TO all Americans:
Gentlemen may cry peace. peace. but there
is nc peace. The war is actually begun. The
next gale that sweeps from the north will
bring to our ears the clash of resounding- arms
Our brethren are already in the field. whv
stand we here idle? What is it that gentle
men wish? What would they have? Is life
so dear, or peace sweet, as to be purchased
at the price OF chains and slavery? Forbid "
Almighty God I know not what course Others
may take, but as for me. give me liberty or
give me deathi
Patrick Henry's individual declaration
of war against Great Britain" as Pro-
fessor Tyler terms 1t, made a tremendous
impression upon the country He Ind