The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-06-10
(CoNTINUED.l

anotner 10 oppose their execution
when enacted into laws. The one was
constitutional agitation; the other. fat
less.
1t was very ominous to read the
words of the extraordinary resolutions
passed by the burgesses on the both
OF May, 1865, after the stamp act had
become law, and note the tone of re-
strained passion that ran through
them
Plain Speech From the Burgesses.
They declared that from the first
the settlers of This majesty's colony
and domain" of Virginia had pos
sessed and enjoyed all the privileges.
franchises, and immunities at any
time enjoyed by the people of Great
Britain itself; and that this their free
dom, had been explicitly secured to
them by their charters, ''to all intents
and purposes as if they had been abid-
ing and born within the realm of Eng
land;" that the taxation of the peo-
pie by themselves or by persons
chosen by themselves to represent
them" was "a distinguishing char
ecteristic of British freedom without
which the ancient constitution of the
realm itself could not subsist; land
that his majesty's liege people of this
most ancient colony" had "uninterrup-
tedly enjoyed the right of being thus
governed by their assemblies in the
article of their taxes and internal
police" had never forfeited or relin-
quished it. and had seen it constantly
recognized by the kings and people of
Great Britain"
An Incorporating Conclusion.
SHcken as it was in protest against
actual leg ,ation already adopted by
parliament in direct despite of ali
such privileges and immunities, this
declaration of rights seemed to lack
its conclusion. The constitutional
rights of Virgi1ians had been in
vaded What then? Resolved, there
fore, that his majesty's liege people,
the inhabitants of this colony, are not
bound to yield obedience to any law
or ordinance whatever designed to i'm
rose any taxation whatsoever upon
them, ether than the laws or ordi-
RANGES CT the general assembly afore-
ssid," and that any person who shall.
by speaking or writing, assert or
r2aintain" the contrary shall be
deemed an enemy of his majesty's col
ony."
Such had been the uncompromis-
ing conclusion drawn by the m ,veI'
of the resolutions.
What other conclusion could any
man draw if he deemed the color lists
men, and proud men at that?
The Burgesses feared to speak
treason: they were content to pro-
test of their rights, and let the
issue bring conclusions to light
1t had been hot fighting to get even
that much said. The men hitherto
accepted always as leaders in the
house had wished to hold it back from.
rash and heated action, and there had
been bitter debates before even those
airy conclusion had been forced to
adoption. Old leaders and new, young
men and old alike, had willingly united
in the memorial of 1854; but now that
the Stamp Act was law, conservative
members shrank from doing what
must look so like a fiat defiance of
parliament.
Only young men would have had the
audacity to urge such action; only
very extraordinary young men would
have had the capacity to induce the
house to take it. But such young men
were at hand, their leader as veritable
a Democrat as had ever taken the
floor in that assembly.
A Leader From the Plain People.
Patrick Henry was not of the aris-
tocracy of the colony. Good Scots
blood ran in his veins, quickened by
the lively strain of an old Welsh stock.
His father came of q race OF scholars.
and, good churchman though he was,
knew his Livy and his Horace better
than his Bible. His mother came OF
a vivacious line of easy-going wits
and takers, which had a touch more
of steadiness and energy might any
day have made famous.
His father had served his county OF
Hanover very capably and acceptably
as surveyor, colonel, magistrate, and
his uncle had been beloved as the
faithful pastor of quiet parishes. But
they had been no long time in the col
ony; they lived back from the tide
water counties where the real aristoc-
racy had its strength and supremacy;
they were of that middle class OF yeo-
men-gentlemen who love liberty, but
do not affect rank.
"a vigorous aristocracy favors the
growth of personal eminence even in
those who are not of II, but only near
it," and these plain men OF the mid
die counties were the more excellent
and individual In the cultivation OF
their powers by reason OF the contact
But there was touch of rusticity,
neglect of polish. a rough candor OF
speech about them which set them
apart and distinguished them sharply
enough when they came into the pres
ence of the courtly and formal gentle
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