The Jennings daily record. [volume] (Jennings, La.) 1900-1903, 1902-04-22
do OIkRys { .&VE the
REVOLUTIONARY HEROES.
eesrn Patriot end True Lover of His
coonsry. He 1asursd In . vital Episode
In the EARLY History of Our Republic
-Opposed dictatorship.

Few, readers of history remember,
and many have never known. how
near the revolutionists may have been
at one time to a dictatorship, CEN
tralized and arbitrary form OF power
Numerically opposed to the Declare
ton of Independence, under which the
patriots, were at war with Great Br1-
tain. The history of a man and
vital episode that may have stood be-
tween the revolutioniSts and desper-
ate resort to this. form Of government,
is set forth in the Philadelphia Record,
primarily to do credit to a historical
parsonage whom the encyclopedias or
latest publication are giving but mere
mention or emitting altogether.
Archibald Cary, reyolutionary> SOL
der, advanced to the rank of colonel.
was a conspicuous member of the Vir-
ginia legislature. He was the first
president of the senate of that state.
At the period when the American pa
triots were most depressed, when New
York and Fort Washington were in the
hands of British, when the commander
| In chief was Sorely pressed in New Jer-
sey, there was temporary lack OF adj
| hesion and unity in the ranks. 1t was
| at this time that there was news of a
| proposed dictatorship emanating from
| Virginia. There is little OF historical
record to support the tradition, but there
| is enough to show that such an extreme
| expedient was under consideration at
| that time, and that it was even revived
| two years later. JefferSon'S 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 its founders But 1t was
vitality significant at that time. Nir-
ginia was the foremost commonwealth,
in both men and measures. and actu-
ally directed many of the AFFAIRS OF
state. The plan of a dictatorship was
advanced in the Virginia house of del
egates. That body was divided on the
subject and feeling ran high. The pro-
posed dictator was no other than the
great patriot, Patrick Henry. who, al
though he is not said actually to have
sanctioned the scheme, is not on rec
ord as having opposed it until after Its
enormity was brought before him with
startling emphasis.
One day Archibald Cary, at that
time president of the senate, and one
Of the most potential figures of Vir'
ginia, met Col Syrne, a step-bother OF
Patrick Henry. and gave him this mes
sage: /.
"Sir-I am told your brother. wishe:
! to be dictator. Tell him from me tina;
the day of his appointment shall be tn
day of his death, for he shall find m!
dagger in his. heart before sunset o
) that day"
The incident caused a great sensa
ton. The news reached Patrick Hen
ry, and he fastened to deny the ambi
tons attributed him and in his denia
: had the support of all his friends. Blu
| the supposition of his acQuiescence ha
fired Cary of Ampthill, also called 'Ol
. Iron" and the latter, with his tragi
emphasis, had awakened the house G
delegates to the gravity of the DANCE
to which they had exposed the caus
of liberty. The scheme OF esta blishin
a dictatorship was denied on ever
hand, and even those who had openl
8 advocated it~hastened to make amends
Public temper, which had been in
, fair condition to be receptive to delr
: sion; but whatever the cause. it wa
& averted by Archibald Cary, whose ser7
. ices even if only presumptiVely OF
life-saving character, make hi
y worthy TO be ranked among the gre;
revolutionary heroes.-kansas Cit
-