The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-04-22

tyranny no quiet for Virginia while
Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry and
Richard Henry Lee, Democrats all, could
plan and organize revolutionary move
ments. Thomas Jefferson has left 1e-
cord of how this junta of young men IN
the Old Dominion lighted the train that
led to Yorktown:
A court of inquiry held in Rhode ISL
and in l772 with power TO send persons
to England to be tried for offences com
mftted here, was considered, at our SEES
SIGN of the spring of 1I.3 as demanding
attention. Not thinking our old and lead
ing members uD TO the point oil fof-
wardness and zeal which the times re-
CURED, Mr. Henry. Richad Henry Lee,
FRANCES l.. Lee, Mr. Carr and myself
aged to meet IN the evening, in pri-
yate room of the Raleigh to consult on
the state OF things We were ali sensible
that the most urgent of all measures
was that of coming TO an understanding
with ali the other colonies. to CONSIDER
the British claims as 4 common cause
10 all. and to produce a unity OF action;
and. for this purpose, that a committee
of correspondence in each colony would
ne the best instrument for intercommuni-
cation: and that their fixed measure
would probably be, to propose a meeting
of deputies from every colony, at some
central place. Who should be charged with
the direction OF the measures WHICH
should be taken by adj.
The plan of these agitators WAS en-
bodied in a resolution which they carried
unanimously In the House on March II.
These were the gentlemen named for
The committee of correspondence: Hon
orable Peyton Randolph. Esdlire. Robert
G Nicholas, Richard Bland. Richard il.
Lee. BENJAMIN Harrison, Edmund PEN
dleton, Patrick Henry, Dudley blgges,
pai,nev Carr Archibald Cary and Thomas
Jefferson, TssGuires.
JoNATlIusN MAYHEM.
Much time has been spent in setting
up claims and counter-claims Tor fne
honor of having originated the idea of
irter-colonial correspondence committees.
So far as that honor can be given to one
man. 1t belongs, no doubt to worthy
Ntry England preacher. As Jonathan
MayFlew lay in bed one Sunday morning
rusins over his sermon the plan of such
a system of committees startled his
mind: he jumped up and wrote out the
suggestion for James Otis.
ITO a good man, he begins under me
glow of the inspiration, .'all time is
bo,v enough. and none is too holy to do
eood or to think upon it. CultivaunS a
good understanding and hearty friendship
between these colonies appears to be
so necessary a part OF prudence ana
good po,icy that no favorable opportunity
for that purpose should be omitted.
You have heard Of the communion OF
churches:s - While ] was thinking of
this In my bed, the great use and impor-
tauce of a communion of colonies APP
peared to me in II strong light, which
led me Immediately to set down these
hints to transmit TO YOU" This letter
bears the date Lords Day morning. June
s. 1865
Circular letters had been made use of
both by Massachusetts, in 1855 ana by
Virginia in the following year In liz
Samuel Adams. tireless in his apostolic
work for American liberty. had gotten
the Boston town meeting to appoint a
committee OF .twenty-one pesrons to
state the rights of the colonists and of
this province in particular: and to
communicate and publish the same to
The several towns and to the world as
the sense of This town.
Before the end of the year eighty towns
or more in Massachusetts had organized
similar committees of CORRESPONDENCE
These were, however, local. though ADAMS
doubtless had An mind to extend his sss-
tenn to other colonies. rockingham thinks
that NOT one town outside the limits OF
tho Ray Colony had such commit tee.