The Jennings daily record. [volume] (Jennings, La.) 1900-1903, 1902-04-19

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 Bril-
tain. The history of q man and a
vital episode that may have stood be-
tween the revolutionists and a 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 OF
latest publication are giving but mere
mention or emitting altogether.
Archibald Cary revolutionary sol
der, advanced to the rank Of colonel,
was a conspicuous member of the Vir-
GINA 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 ad-
hesion and unity in the ranks. It was
at this time that there was news Of
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 f'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 it was
vitality significant at that time. Vir-
ginia was the foremost commonwealth,
in both men and measures. and actu-
ally directed many Of the affairs of
state. The plan of 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-
ginla, met Col. Syme. a step-bother Of
Patrick Henry, and gave him this mes
sage:
'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 nay
dagger in his heart before sunset of
that day" &.
The incident caused "a great sensa'
ton. The news reached Patrick Hen
~, and he FASTENED to deny the ambi-
tons attributed him and in his denial
had the support of all his friends. But
the supposition of his acquiescence had
fired Cary of Ampthill. 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 liberty. The scheme of establishing
a dictatorship was denied on every
hand and even those who had openly
advocated it FASTENED to make amends.
Public temper. which had been in a
fair condition to be receptive to delu-
sion; but whatever the cause. it was
averted by Archibald Cary, whose serv-
ices, even if only presumptively of a
1ife-saving character, make him
worthy to be, ranked among the great
revolutionary heroes.-Kansas City
Star.