Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-24

scruples were scattered to the winds. ere
venge he would have. the governor might
be - Swift couriers were at once
dispatched to summon planters and house
holders TO a rendezvous at the ferry at
| Westover. Many men, resolute and deter
mined we'll armed and mounted, respond
ed. There certainly must be an end made
20 these and many other grievances. Why
not now as well as later? But, first the
murderous savages will have attention.
Bacon mounted stump and made hery
appeal that aroused great enthusiasm.
Who would take command OF the expedi-
ton? The capable and popular Bacon was
selected
Some Indian Fighters.
Would the governor now grant COM
mission? A messenger was dispatched
with the request. He returned from James
town Friday. but brought no commission.
only polite commuhica ton. Bacon pre-
tended to misunderstood its tenor. sent
another messenger to the governor thank
ing him for the promised commission and
announcing his immediate departure in
pursuit of the savages. Saturday the force
was in motion.
The messenger reached jamestown late
in the night of Saturday. aroused Gov.
Berkeley to receive the important COM
munication. The testy old man of sew
enty was furious at being defied by a
youngster of thirty. whose presumption
was beyond all bounds. Calling his secre-
tarv he dictated to him a proclamation OF
outla wry against Bacon and his follow
ers to be posted the following day, the
3Oth of May. when an order to disperse
would be sent after the expedition Ba-
cons company was oVertaKen IN the
woods of Charles City. paused to listen to
the proclamation. then with few tim
orous exceptions marched grimly on their
way to the Indian villages
After finding and routing the enemy IN
a bloody encounter the company leisurely
returned and the curtain fell upon the
first act OF the tragedy of Bacons rebel
lion. which ended four months later with
the death of the heroic young leader his
life a sacrifice to the cause OF popular
government by the people.
In this same year of 1915 Charies IL OF
Great Britain, under his privy seal. prom
ised Virginia that taxes should not De
laid on the inhabitants and proprietors o!
the colony but by the common consent of
the general assembly," And so it was I'M
I'll King George III ninety years later,
imposed a stamp or direct tax without
the consent of the colonial legislatures
The strength OF the angry protest with
which it was received forced the aban-
donment of the collection.
Virginia Burgesses Act.
On the 30th of May. 1865. the Virginia
house of burgesses was In session In the
statehouse at Williamsburg. 1t was a
picturesque group in a quaint setting
The speaker in his robe of office set on
dais under a crimson canopy supported
by brass rods Beneath him was the
clerk with the mace on cushion on his
desk: the members clad in the elegant
raiment of the period with wigs queued
and powdered sat in orderly rows down
the length of the hall. the more eminent
near the speaker. Among them were
Edmund Pendleton. George Wythe and
Richard Bland. Near the door was
new member from Louisa county, known
TO few in the assembly. His appearance
was unprepossessing and unpromiSlng.
He had ridden into the elegant little CAPT
tai on lean. unkempt mare. cad IN
peach blossom coat. leather knee
breeches and yarn stockings; he carried
his wardrobe and papers in pair of thin
saddlebags. He was not yet thirty, but
looked much older; he was slender and
tall, had STOPPING shoulders topped by a
long head covered by snun-broWn wig
worn unpowdered; his sallow. long. thin
features habitually wore grim. hard
expressions: his small eyes we've OF light
blue: in movement he was slow ana a"k-
ward Such was Patrick Henry in re-
nose. Small wonder his presence in the
august body had been unnoticed. In the
midst of impassioned speech his head
lifted. his eye frightened, he became
graceful and animated. the melody ana
injections of his voice held every listener
speIlbound In the morning of that day
he was unknown. at night ne retired the
most famous of American orators
in a committee of the whole. The situa-