The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-06-29
Spirit Of Liberty and Of Defiance to Any Who Would At
tempt to Deprive Vrgnans of Their Birthright
Removal of Powder From Magazine, Etc.
Of Liberty and of Defiance to A
Deprive Virginians of Their Birthri

In the State Library is an unique manu-
script journal OF the House of Bursesses
of Virginia for the years 1TS-177l5. both
inclusive. No printed copy OF 1t Is
known, and it is believed that it has
never been printed
This is not 80 remarkable when 1t is
remembered that those years were the
period In our history when the relations
between the colony and the mother coun-
try. We're becoming more and more strain
cd. and that elimination was attained in
the yenr following when, on the 10Th
Independence by the long-suffering col
ony, and the election of Patrick Henry
es Governor of the Commonwealth.
Every Virginian ought to cherish the
fact that on that day the colony ceased
and the Commonwealth began. Our SUI
prcrne Court Of Appeals has formally ad-
$ud.cated in Snoot VS.. Building Associa-
ton, % Va, Sc. that the year OF the
Commonwealth" dates from June 90. 177s,
Or five days prior to the fourth OF July.
For many years the date was COM
memorated by making it the commence
ment day ut the University Of Virginia
;Unhappily. about 1866 the Beard Of Wis
itors changed the date of announcement
and established the new one with refer
ence to July 4th-an adumbraton of 10y
alty, it is supposed, to the new order and
the new South Now 1t may be safely
assumed that not one educated person IN
ten is aware of the fact that the 10Th OF
June IS the proudest anniversary in our
history.
Many journals anterior to this are in
print, and all the journals Of the House
of Delegates subsequent to 1776 are ex-
tant, many of them being reprints or
dered by Legislatures of later years.
A patriotic tmember of the Virginia
Chapter Of COLONEL Danes (whose devo-
Ion to the proper motif of the organi-
cation has lately been felicitously appre-
ciated by her promotion to the presiden-
icy OF the national society has had this
the record Of that heroic period become
wholly lost. and the writer. who had to
verify the copy, was SO impressed with
some matters therein that he felt i'm
PEELED 10 try to give them greater publici-
fy.
True, the Address which follows was
printed in the Virginia Gazette. not ca
temporaneously but somewhat later, in
IT'S. and, in 1870. in Forces American
Archives. But copies OF the Gazette are
almost as rare as the journal. and the
American Archives are also very rare.
These Archives are in nine large quarto
volumes compiled by Peter Force. the
eminent antiquarian. and published by
Congress, beginning in 1857. It appears
that five series We're contemplated. Only
two Were published, the fourth and fifth.
They constitute the most valuable store
house of documentary information for
students of history Immediately preced-
ing and during the Revolution anywhere
iextant. No other compilation is worthy
CT comparison with them.
EVENTS PRECEDING.
Following is a, summary of events imme-
,diately preceding the Address; April q,
I1iI5. Lord Dunmore, then royal governor
Iof the colony. had the powder in the pub
HE magazine placed in his own wagon,
and under the escort of a British Of
tficer and detachment Of marines, re-
moved to the armed schooner, the Mag
Idalen The Common Hall" of the city,
of which the Hon. Peyton Randolph was
recorder. waited on the Governor and
submitted a dgnified and respectful adj
ldress protesting against his leaving the
city in so defenceiess a condition. He re-
piled that he had heard of an insurrec-
tion in q neighboring county and had re-
moved the powder for its greater Sc
curity: and pledged his word and honor
TO restore the same in a half-hour in case
any danger threatened the city
The removal of the powder caused the
greatest Indignation and anxiety in the
counties. Hugh Mercer, for himself and
Others wrote Washington Offering to
march. to Williamsburg and recover it.
Patrick Henry and the Hanover Minute
Men actually began the march and got
to point sixteen miles from the CITY.
but agreed to return upon receiving from
tdis Majesty's receiver-general a bill OF
exchange for the full value of the pow
der.
Dnnmore alleging that he apprehended
personal violence to himself and family
lett the palace Juno Sth, and went On
leard British man OF war. the Fowey.
then lying ut Yorktown. and notwith-
standing the extravagant protestations
OF loyalty by the Burgesses (who always
wrote themselves down. I'VE His Males
tvs dutiful and loyal subjects,") and their
assurances OF protection and safety for
himself and family. continued to reside
there N
sEct powder as was not removed to the
Magdalen was buried in the yard, where
heavy rains soon rendered it useless; the
locks We're removed from all the ser
vocal BILE muskets: all the military equip
Enents were taken away. and finally mis-
Losdship declared. with an oath, that
II any injury or insult We're offered
to himself or his British captains, he
would declare freedom to the slaves and
reduce Williamsburg to ashes.
f7lis is that. Dunmore for whom the
ccerty now called Shenandoah. was first
named)
Tho address was the sequel. ana ex-
claims itself. It was presented to the
Governor juno 10Th. and the Burgesses
adjourned the following week until Oc-
tcber 18th. Only thirty-seven members
appeared They adjourned till March,
I77G. when thirty-two appeared and ad-
5orned till May when several members
met. but did neither proceed to business
nor adjourn, as House Of Burgesses.''
What ensued in short time is matter
of public history. As related above the
sovereign Commonwealth of Virginia had
her birth on the following 18th day of
June. and few days afterwards adopted
her motto-Sic Semper Tyrannis-
which remains to this day. her proud