Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-04-27

memorial 10 IHe kluS-uuu ueE SdZe
wandered. Through the open windows
she could hear the hum of the great
crowd about the building and catch a
gllmmer of the foaming James. The
space below her was packed and full
of strange intentness.
Here and there she could see faces
which she knew. The ladies of Rich
mond were scattered through both gal
leries. Freneau and young st. George
Tucker were leaning over the rail OPP
posite. Jefferson and Colonel Benja-
min Harrison of Berkeley sat together
just below Peyton Randolph, the pres
ident.
Colonel Washington sat far back,
hands on knees, quiet and meditating,
and just below her Mr. Thomas Nelson
shifted nervously in his seat, turning
his eyes now there, now here.
Well to the front sat Richard Henry
Lee of Chantilly, "the gentleman of
the silver hand" The black bandage
he wore over his hand fascinated her.
She had heard 1t said he wore it to
hide wound he got swan shooting on
the Potomac.
Her attention came back with a start
as she heard the resolution in answer
to Jamaica that at is the most ardent
wish of this colony. and we are per-
Suaded of the whole continent Of North
America, to see speedy return to those
halcyon days when we lived free and
happy people," AS she looked down at
Henry, Anne saw that he was scrib.
bling on scrap of paper.
There was a hush as he arose and a
buzz Of expectancy as he mounted the
rostrum. He held in his hand the pa-
per upon which he had been scribbling.
Anne felt touch Of disappointment
Mt the cold, measured quality of his
tone. With that Pickering half smile
which meant dissent he moved an
amendment to the Jamaica resolutions.
He read without gesture, in pronun-
citation as plain us homespun. His voice
moved evenly, almost carelessly, over
the periods.
But as he progressed the assembly
invoke with shock, and Anne saw a
certain ripple almost of alarm surge
over 1t. Henry had spoken the phrase,
"our inestimable rights and liberties"
At that moment the speaker raised
his voice, and the last words came
challenge-like, the snap of a whip. eve
do resolve, therefore, that this colony
be put in state of defense and that
there be committee to prepare plan
for embodying, arming and disciplin-
ing such number Of men as may be
sufficient for that purpose"
Anne looked at Henry in the black
clothes and tie wig which set off his
face and drew a breath. The humility,
the diffidence, the modesty of address
were gone, and in their place was stern.
ness. Even his voice had grown harsh,
as though in menace, and on the con.
vention, uncertain and wavering, those
lovers Of the "halcyon days." the men.
ace fell. 1t was the plunge from hest.
tatlon to resolve, from expostulation to
powder. The fire had fallen!
Henry knew his men. All these years
he had been learning them, drawing
them out, questioning, story telling,
watching effects, experimenting in their
emotions.
His eye held every man within those
walls. He turned 1t upon Richard Hen
ry Lee, and he, his polished oratory for
got, hurled blunt second at the chair.
Mr.. Pendleton, Colonel Harrison,
limping from the govt, and Colonel
Richard Bland got upon their feet with
arched frowns, barking that such ac-
ton was premature" and at the word
Anne saw pale scorn burn Henry's
face. These, who had so lately sat in
the Continental congress, prated of
"dignified patience" "flial respect and
discretion" "the relenting of the SOW
ereign," "the nakedness Of the col
| onies."
Anne had afterward no certain recol-
lection of how Henry began in answer.
All impression was swallowed up in
that thrill which held every hearer. 1t
has been said that he spoke US Homer
wrote.
"Shall we shut our eyes-we wise
men struggling for liberty-and listen
to the song of the siren till she trans
forms us to beasts" he cried. "Shall
we, having eyes, see not, and, having
ears, hear not the tidings Of our tenn
poral salvation? For my part will
know the worst, and will provide for
1t. l cannot judge the future but by
the past, and by the past how shall
you solace yourselves? What is there
in the conduct of the British ministries
of the past teh.years to justify hope?"
AS he went on passion crept over his
face like the wind that precedes a
storm; his lean neck was scarlet and
corded with white lines, and his eyes
glared holloway.
do you regard the insidious smiles
with which our petitions are received?
Be not betrayed with kiss"
Sitting in culver Of feeling, with
fingers claspIng the gallery ledge, Anne
felt the shaken pulses of the audience.
Under the intrepid metaphor she saw
the messenger of the colonial assembly
standing before the kings attorney gen.
cral entreating TINT Virginiu had souls
to be saved us well rs England. and
the british answer: Cd your souls!
Make tobacco" She saw the colonies
supplicating on their knees, spurned,
condemned, spit upon. She saw the
chains forging, navies building, armies
gathering. She saw British ministers.
like harpies, with cold eyes upon the
green of the Americas.
Henry's voice had risen louder, more
intense, and his colorless features and
eyes Of fire had become terrible to look
upon. He sat upon the whirlwind.
The very walls seemed to rock with vi
brations.
There is no longer any room for
hope. If we wish to be free, If we
mean to preserve inviolate those priyi-