The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-05-29
TODAY nv HISTORY
Birthday OF Patrick Henry.
SATURDAY, MAY %. 1910.


In all American history there Is no one
about whom we like better To read. to
think or tn talk than OF Patrick Henry
the young revolutionary patriot. whose
ringing words, give me liberty, or give
me death, reused the country 10 such
united 0ction, following their delivery In
the virginia convention in March. l77j.
1t was ono of the most powerful speeches
made by any orator In the history OF our
country. and his undying words were
0tterWard placed upon IlaSS and adopted
as motto under many circumstances.
Today is the birthday OF Patrick Henry.
who was the son OF a Virginia planter.
and was born in Hanover county on the
goth of May, 1886. His boyhood, we are
told. was commonplace. Nothing about
1t foreshadowcd Patrick Henry the man.
with having been Indolent and lndiffer-
ent even TO such educational advantages
as were offered. Books had no fasciua-
ton for him. but instead he loved out
door sports and spent the greater part
of his time in the woods with rod and
gun,
He first tried the vocation of a country
merchant, then Il farmer. succeeding 8
neither, The turning point In his career
came when he determined TO try for the
legal profession. lie had considerable
trouble in mastering the law. Even his
appearance was against him. for he was
tall and ungunly and with none OF those
accomplishments OF manner that recon-
mend.
for the bar, lawyer noted for his legal
ability, was thoroughly opposed even to
going through the form OF an examina-
ton Of so unprepossessing an applicant
He was "a when he received his license
TO practice. and IL WAS some years before
he made much progress. His time came
when he undertook the famous "Par-
sons Cause" and with an almost hope
less case in his hands he succeeded In
winning. He stirred the audience TO such
a high pitch of enthusiasm that when
he had finished his plea the courtroom
was In turmoil. and the sheriff was
shouting, "Ordcr, Order but no one
heard him Selling Patrick Henry kind
~. but roughly, the excited people took
him from the courtroom and raised him
on their shoulders and carried him about
the yard in triumph. Ills victory was
complete.
His next important case was his en-
ployment 10 argue a contested election
case before Il committee of the house
OF burgesses. He acquitted himself with
great distinction. IL was but a short
timc before he became a member of that
dgnined body and took leading part
in the discussion of questions in which
the colonies were at issue with the
mother country.
Into the house OF burgesscs Henry
came. dressed In the plain garments of
a planter, a yeoman not In touch with
the aristocratic men about him. For a
short time he listened to the lawmakers
attentvcly, but with disgust at their in
activity. Being able 10 stand 1t no long
er, he drew up his famous resolutions and
presented them.
Thomas Jefferson was present during
the debate that followed. Henry's speech
In full has not been preserved, but even
as much we have of IL. with the de-
scrlptlon of the great oratorical powers
possessed by the Nirginian, ii is easily
10 be seen what an effect such uttcrances
must have had on the colonsts.
Henry lived TO see his fondcst wishes
gratined. and in fact, to see the young
republic thoroughly established, dying on
June. 6, 1893. in Charlotte county, Va,