Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-06-09


John Tyler on Patrick Henry.
Charles Town. w. Va. Nav 40. 1905.
Mr.. Spirit:-We are all familiar with
The reports Of the famous speech deliv-
.red ia March. I77s. bv the great orator
and patriot Patrick Henry h which be
concluded VIII, the words ..0;ve ma lib
ertv or give me death hut believe the
follow;no extracts from tl,e diary of Col.
VIM W. Fontaiue. published ia the Ian
arv nup,l,er of the William and Mary
f.oli..oe Ouayter,v will Increase II nos
s;bla ~. interest al, fee, +, those n,en,or-
ab,e words co, Fonta;ne had heen I'M
vited bv ex. President Tohn TYLER to the
ho,,se uber. ba vas st.v;ro IN Villa me.
buro He wr,tes under date a. February
,ath AGO. Mr. Tv,er sa;d thar b;s father
had o;ven him The fol,ow;no account If
Colonel Hanrv,s address d.l;vered n
March r,,s n wb,cb h. sa;d .c;ve ma
liberty or Give me death,
..There wer. sa;d Mr. Tvler manv IN
the convention who opposed the resolu-
t,on of Mr. Hanrv ~ oryan,xe the militia
nd ,,,,t ~. colony ;rt, a noetrra of da-
fence. these gentlemen bv some were
.u;,,et,v ca,led s,bm;s.;on;sts M Henry
was holding paper cutter in his right
hand and when he came to that mart OF
81 course others NAV tate, he cast .
nee at these gentlemen. and bend;ny
ms head forward and with stooping
and with Submissive exnres.
sion of countenance. he crossed his wrists
as If to h. hound. then suddenly STRAIGHT
en,no nm. a hold resolute purnose of soul
aashed over his countenance. and then
mpo as If trvino 70 hurst his bonds
swelled ont in boldest vibrant
e me liberty" then wrepch-
mo ms hands apart and raising a,oft his
hand with the clenched paper.cutter. he
exclaimed. .Or Dive me death" and
aimed at his breast as with dagger and
dropped to his seat.
1.-THE effect" continued Mr.. TYLER.
Twas electrical. There was more in the
tones and the action than in the words.
The house was still as death. The MEM
beers felt as if thew had witnessed a real
~ the noblest DAVIS of the Roman
Ihen, as Mr. Writ tells us, the
lfted from their seats. The
.o arms" seemed to ou,ver on every
lin and CLEAN in every eve.
IL told Mr. TYLER that | was indeed
glad to hear this confirmation of what /
had heard when | was boy. told nv
father by VIM H Roane. U S Senator
from VIRGINIA. a grandson of Col Henry
and which | had heard also from nv
maternal grandmother, Mrs Elizabeth
Aylett, Mr. Henry's Youngest daughter
by his first marriage. And. moreover
that had the very paper-cutter which
the orator held i'll his hand, and after
wards gave to his daughter. together with
Lafavettes army desk, which the Mar
ouis had brought from France and used
during the Revolution. and had present
ed to Mr. Henry as memento of the war.
~ o.;o,, oe a. 80. s ~. A.
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"n0 1sspouses ~ 'oA''s " eS'ae"' y,
~, ~. oose,Ao. VS. ossos' >
"'so ~ mo s"p"'s s.y'e' u'e" picture
OF the gathering OF the members OF the
House of Burgesses and a few other gen.
tlemcn in this old room just after the
dissolution of the House by Governor
Dunmore.
oo'e,"o' 'so .'en'.oneu 'ia' "nen
ue was q ooy' nc nau s,si'eu tue Apoiio
- company Win al Oh sen'ieinan VINO
aau oeeu present ol 'ha' nenorao'e &C.
casion anu 'na' 'ns ia''ef nao described
- young WISE Tue appearance ol 'nese
'a'ueis Oh tue NeVolut'on' the groups
ens' were iorneo' ana hau pointed out
.ne P'aces 10 tue room occupied by the
inherent distinguished men; twas
enere george washington stooo;-there
raerick Henry with MS friend George
MASON, -tnere' Nicnaro nenry Lee
tnere' ihomas JEFFERSON, SAID Governor
wise. pointing with MS long hngers to
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