The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-31
1he ADVERTISERS
 ' HOME STUDY CIRCLE

EGnry was, already a member of gt:ic Virginia Ho1se of Bursesses On his own motion and responsibility he intro- duced the famous set of resolutions sometimes known as the Virginia re- solves" I'm these resolutions he set forth the right of the colonies to self government and the principle that the people, and they alone, had the right to impose taxes. They further declared that any. person who should maintain that any one but the colo lial assembly Lad the power to i'm post axes upon the people of Virginia should be deemed L, enemy to the colony.
 The introduction of Nthese resolutions, by the new, clownish member from the country. without consolidation with the recognized leaders of te House, seem- ed to the same complacent leaders a piece of unbridled audacity. Should the resolutions be carried Henry would be the leader and the old monarchs of legislation would be dethroned No, wonder that Jefferson declared the de- bate to be the most bloody!'. But Henry was undismayed. He sturdily stood his ground. Logic, learning, eloquence. denunciation, derision, .inti- midation.' says Tyler. 'were poured from all sides of the House upon the head of the presumptuous intruder; but alone. or almost alone. he confront ed and defeated all his assailants." The resolutions were adopted. It was dur. ing this debate that the splendid incl dent occurred so vividly recorded fby Judge John Tyler. At the climax of tremendous passage of invective he said. in tones of thrilling solemnity: Caesar had his Brutus; Charles I, his Cromwell. and George H. C'Treas- on!" shouted the speaker Treason" 'treason!' rose from all sides of the room. The orator paused in stately defiance till these rude cxclamations were ended. and then, rearing himself with look and bearing of still prouder and fiercer determination, he so closed the sentence as to baffie his accusers, without in the least fiinching from his own position)-'ard George III. may profit, by their example. If this be treason. make the most of It." The adoption of the resolution was Virgin. ia's declaration of independence, eleven years before the more inclusive decla- ration was adopted by the Continental Congress, and the credit for their con- ception and adoption is due to the sturdy courage and the resistless elo- quence of Patrick Henry.
 The publication of the resolutions throughout the colonies created a tre- mendous furore and aroused the people as no other one thing had done to unit ed and determined opposition to the en- forcement of the stamp act. The value of that service was beyond computa- tion. s.-i 95
 It was likewise in the Virginia Legis- lature that Henry produced. his most famous speech in behalf of liberty, por- tions of which have been acclaimed by almost every American school boy from that day to this. It was during the winter session of 1774-5. The colonies were fast rushing into armed rebellion. The aggression of England could be no longer endured. ......
 Patrick Henry introduced set of resolutions providing for the organiza- tion and equipment of the Virginia militia. It was well understood that such a movement. as then interpreted. and under the conditions, would be an act of hostility to England, and equiva- lent to declaration of war Just the reason for the hesitation and opposition it is at, this day impossible to discover. But. whatever the cause, 1t reused the lion in Patrick Henry and brought forth from him burst of eloquence that has never been surpassed. per- haps in the history of oratory. A de- scription of the scene the limits of this paper forbids us to attempt, nor can we follow the argument. But with that argument we all are familiar. He aimed to show that hopes of concilia- tion were in vain. that the war was in- evitable. and that for his part he would welcome war rather than fail to secure independence. -i-
 MT. President" he began, "it is nat ural to man to Indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth and listen to the song of that siren till she trans forms us into beasts From that ex- ordium he went on to show that to listen longer to hope was the part of delusion and folly. Then, picturing vividly the aggressiveness of England and the warlike preparation of the mother country as a proof that there would be an attempt to rivtt the chains still tighter, he reaches the conclusion that armed force is necessary. If We wish to be free he declares, i've must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left to us!" And when a little later he cried: "Ou. chains are forged. Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston. The war is inevitable. And let it come! repeat, sir let it come!" His voice reused his listeners like the blast of a lFuuipSI anu they BeefneQ 10 near dli about them the tramping of battalions and the tumult of battle. Ills last ex- ciamation. Give me liberty or give me death!" was like the shout of the lead CT who turns back the rout of battle Of course the resolution prevailed; in deed. he had so moved the depths of feeling and convictions in the souls of his hearers that they would have fol- lowed him into the gates of death had he summoned them.
 Not long after his marvellous speech came Lexington and Concord. The war had begun and the colonies were being fused into union by the blistering fires of battle. s-.
 Patrick Henry was an active member of the first Continental Congress, but was not a representative in the second Congress, which adopted the Deciara- ton. He vas. instead. on the 5th of July. 1776. the day following the adopt ion of that great measure inaugurated as the first Governor of Virginia under the new State Constitution, and by his great eloquence and popularity render ed valiant service during the entire Revolutionary struggle.
 When the war was over the confede- ration was found inadequate to the needs of the new republic, and the Con stitution was proposed. Patrick Henry, like many other able men. both North and South was jealous of the independ- ence of the States. and feared that the | formation of a strong National gov ernment would deprive the States of | their cherished freedom. Therefore he |