River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-04-17
UNKNOWN ARCHIBALD CARY.
spicuous as n Member of the
Virginia Legislature.

Few readers of history remember,
and many have never known, how
near the revolutionists may have been
at one time to dictatorship. CEN
tralized and arbitrary form of power
Numerically opposed to the declara-
ton of independence, under which the
patriots were at war with Great Brit
ain. The history of man and vital
episode that may have stood between
the revolutionists and desperate re-
sort to this form of government, is
set forth in the Philadelphia Record,
primarily to do credit to a historical
parsonage whom the encyclopedias, of
latest publication are giving but mere
mention or emitting altogether.
Archibald Cary, revolutionary sol
dier, advanced to the rank of colonel,
was conspicuous member of the Vir-
glnia legislature. He was the first
president of the senate of that state.
At that period when the American
patriots were most depressed, when
New York and Fort Washington were
In the hands of the British, when the
commander in chief was sorely pressed
In New Jersey, there was temporary
lack of adhesion and unity in the ranks.
1t was at this time that there was news
of proposed dictatorship, eminating
from Virginia. There is little of his
torical record to support the tradition,
but there is enough to show that such
an extreme expedient was under con-
slderation at that time, and that it was
even revived two years later. Jeffer
sons "Notes on Virginia" mention the
movement, but no names are given,
doubtless because, as Jefferson says,
all of them meant we'll.
The Importance of the proposal can
scarcely be realized at this late day
when the originally designed republic
has advanced in scope, in riches, in
power and in security far beyond the
dreams of it's founders. But it was
vitality significant at that time. Vir.
ginia was the foremost common.
wealth, in both men and measures, and
actually directed many of the affairs
of state. The plan of a dictatorship
was advanced in the Virginia house
of delegates. That body was di-
vided on the subject, and feeling ran
high. The proposed dictator was no
other than the great patriot, Patrick
Henry, who, although he is not said
actually to have sanctioned the
scheme, is not on record as having
opposed it until after it's enormity
was brought before him with start
ling emphasis.
One day Archibald Cary, at that
time president of the senate, and
one of the most potential figures
OF Virginia, met Col. Syme, step.
brother of Patrick Henry, and gave
him this message:
"Sir-I am told your brother
wishes to be dictator. Tell him from
me that the day of his appointment
shall be the day of his death, for
he shall find my dagger in his heart
before sunset of that day"
The incident caused great sen.
sation. The news reached Patrick
Henry, and he FASTENED to deny the
ambitions attributed to him, and in
his denial had the support of all his
friends. But the supposition of his
acquiescence had fired Cary of Ampt.
hill, also called "Old Iron," and the
latter, with his tragic emphasis, had
awakened the house of delegates to
the gravity of the danger to which
they had exposed the cause of liber.
ty. The scheme of establishing a
dictatorship was denied on every
hand, and even those who had open.
ly advocated it FASTENED to make
amends. Public temper, which had
been in a fair condition to be recep.
tive to delusion; but whatever the
danger, it was averted by Archibald
Cary, whose services, even if only
presumptively of a life-saving char
acter, make him worthy to be ranked
among the great revolutionary he.
roes.