The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-18

G1kEGSAn
1 give me liberty or give me DEATH"
| There are many accounts Of this speech.
probably the great est eyer made BY " man:
nn od Bap1St e brn No n
! eye. lie commenced somewhat calmly,
| but the smothcred excitement began more
shr IN he s PG his ns he na
/ dons Of his neck stood out white and rig
like whpcords. Ills voice rose louder and
louder. until the walls of the building and
rock in its tremendous vbrat tons. Finally
| his pale face and glowing eyes became
[ in their seats, With their heads strained
| forward, their faces pale and glarins like
the Speakers. The last exclamation,
like the shout Of the leader which turns
back the rout of battle.
The passage of the resolution. That
this colony be immediately put in state
| of defense and that there be committee
to prepare n plan for embodyng, armirg
and dlscipllning such number Of ncn!
| as may be sufficient for that purpose.
Rubicon Doubt was cast to the winds
from that day.
The second Continental Congress met ne
seat on the 18th, and on the next day
the unanimous decision was made to arm
Nor the defense of their ! berties---a decis,;
assured her political freedom,
igE On June 18th George Washington was
/ appointed .commander-in-ohe eff OF tho
I forces raised or to be raised in defense
1 or American liberty" TIL S was peculiarly
gratifying to Mr., Henry. who had long
/ considered Washington the foremost man
ifin America.
In May, 1916. the convention OF Vir-
ginia met at Williamsburg to declare her
Independence and to form q constitution
for the government Of the state orr OF VT
for the Congress of the colonies 10 de-
clare their independence. When Vir-5
/ sinia's convention passed the resolutions 70 ION
! for her independence the British flag was
continental flag hosted In its stead. with
G sna Wrgna
I by Colonel Nelson a member Of Congress
and q by by him delivered to that body May
And then came the great task Of franz
ing written constitution as the supreme
law Of the State, which emamatlns from rem
| pie themselves in the exercise OF their
! Sovereignty, and a bill Of rights, to IN
people. A committee Of thirty-one mem
! bers (of whom the writer's great grand
/ ia ther, Cuthbert Bullitt, had the honor o
! But on May II, George Mason took his
/ seat and was added 10 the committee
next day.
There were differences Of opinion /, IN Y,
d der clI,' SCI. scheme had many and pow.
erful" enemies. Colonel Mason declared
himself for IT. however on "a tax , ne ms -,
| ton united with Mr.. Henry in urging It.
| The democratic plan was victor over
the "aris,ocrate." and the WORK YORK OF lrahit
e q Mhsen sooa esma
| with a draft which has justly entitled
| INN TO be enrolled among the great
! - ~. Il y lytyNC
/, by the convention June y, 1776 The SIX
tecnth section Of the bill of rights, uniet-
terinc the exercise Of religion, was VIII
Mason as a part Of the bill Of rights.
The writer first read this section and ire
statement as to us au nc y n .l1e
l5unle included the proceedings OF the con con
vention of l776 and the section for rel. r.
| gous freedom was there given as nly!i =
in the paper which Mr.. Mason had drawn.
IT was the first law made n Am laI q
TO secure religious freedton,; aaopten ne 49,
| lean state; was afterwards engrafted on
| every State constitution, and through the
exertlons Of Mr. msnry 9 s ne r leder as
the contribution of America to the sc!e en-.
of government, and It was mage pS y, a..
rick Henry ne great oIlg 81, -
people to freedom and virtue. sustained
| by independence .y
Becomes First Governor,
Tho convention elected Mr., Henry. Gov
| crnor Of the State as soon. as me CON-
| siitution was adopted; 1t being framed
ter than the bill OF rishts-hnd he,agreesd
| to enter on "the duties OF inns ollce ~
| d Letter, dated July Island took me
three terms during the ,%ar1-ana Two ',,i a.
| forwards. from 1884 to 1885, " was as durlng
| the second term, January 2 l77s, that
| Governor Henry, under advice or MS
| Council, gave to George Rogers Clark
| instructions to raise companies OF sol
| diers ~ and with TINS force 70
| attack the British post at Washasky
| "It Is in contemplation 10 eStap!lsh q
! most near the mouth of the Ohio. HIS
1 ietters 10 General Clark and to Colonel
| To,n Todd, whom he sent out to act as
| civil Governor of the illinois, country,
are most interesting-advising ana an
couragIng them In the very difficult task
| Mr.. Henry's public services as Governor
| of Virginia during our terrible struggle
| with Great Britain cannot be enumerated
| in an article oftthis sort, But perhaps no
service ever done by him for his coun-
| that opposition to the Constitution. of
17s7 BY which he forced the adoption
| of the first ten Amendments. He had
| been elected delegate to the Constitu-
4 tIonal Convention, hut had declined 70
| ee,.ye---some said because OF his 'prlyate
| circumstances being distnsSsed'--others
that his opposition to the giving up OF
| the navigation of the Mississipni was 80
great that "thls sten has nroceedeh from
IN another theatre. where the result of
| ~, non>.antinn viii receive its destiny