The Washington herald., 1913-01-25

Bids King George to Remember
daunted, Makes His Famous Repl
laration Of Rights-Washington ]
Copyright, 1885. By Hsrpsr & Bros All rights re
tCopyrsht. 1915. by Mcclurs Newspaper syndicstel
NO. IS.
Twas now a long time since Crom-
weIrs day. indeed: generations had pass
"a. and a deep passion for Virginia had
been added TO that old reverence for the
wearer of the crown in England. But
these men prtded themselves Sui upon
their LOYALTY; made II a point or honor
to show themselves no agitators' put
constitutional statesmen.
IL made them grave and deeply an&-
tous TO see the privileges that were
most dear TO them thus Vioia.eu o
denied. but IL did not make them nasty
To quarrel with the Parliament or tne
realm. They had intended opposition
bu, thew feared to throw their cause
AWAY nv defiance. twas as little WISE
as dlgnired TO iout thus at the soVer-
eign power before all means had been
exhausted to win It to foroearance'
The Speaker of the Hosse.
1, was not the least part of the difh'
Guilty TO face the veteran Speaker. John
Robinson. so old in affairs. so stately
in his age. SO gravely courteous. and
yet with such a threat or sood man
ners against those who should MAKE
breach OF the decorous traditions OF
the place But the men chieny 10 DC
feared were on the floor.
There was Richard Bland. wary,
the look" a yirginian wit said, "of old
mustv narchments, which he handleth
and studieth much" author OF
treatise against the Quakers or
water-baptism;' with none OF the gltts
of an orator. but verftable antigua
rian in law and the precedents OF pub
lie business, a very formidable man IN
counsel. Quiet men trusted him, and
thought his prudence very wise.
George Wythe was no less learned ana
no less influential. Men knew him man
of letters. bringing the knowledge oil
many wise books TO the practice or az
fairs, and set great store by MS SINGER
ity, as artIess II was human, ana
sweetened with good feeling.
The Elder Orators.
1t made Randolph and Pendleton ana
Nicholas. the elder orators of the House.
seem the more redoubtable that they
should ha !e such men as these at their
elbows to prompt and steady them. And
yet they would have been formidable
enough Of themselves.
Edmund Pendleton had not, indeed, the
blood or the breeding that gave his col
leagues prestige. He had won his way
TO leadership by his own steady genius
Ter affairs He read nothing but law
books. knew nothing but business. cared
for nothing but to make practical test
OF his powers But he took all his lie
and purpose with such a zest. made every
stroke with So serene a self-possession.
was so quick TO see and act upon every
advantage in his business of debate, and
was withal so transparent, bore himself
with such a grace and charm of manner,
was so obviously right-minded and up
right. that II meant a great deal to the
House to hear him intervene in its dis
cussions with his melodious voice, his
cool, distinct. effective elocution.
Robert Carter Nicholas added to like
talents for business and debate rever-
ent pIety. a title TO be loved and trusted
without question. which no man ever
thought to gsinssy.
The Loyal Randolph.
And Peyton Randolph. with his
knowledge. temper. experience, Judg-
ment. integrity as OF q true Roman
spirit, was a sort of prince among the
rest. No man could doubt he wished
Virginia to have her liberties. He had
gone over sea to speak for her in Din
widdies day, though he was the Kings
attorney, and had lost his ONCE for his
boldness. But there were traditions of
loyalty and service in his breeding which
no man might rightly ignore.
His father before him had won knight
hood and the royal favor by long and
honorable service as his majesty's attor-
ney in the colony. Pride and loyalty had
gone hand in hand in the annals of a
proud race, and had won for the Ran
dolphs a prestige which made II impossi-
BILE Sir Johns son should very long be
kept from the office he had so honorably
inherited. And so Peyton Randolph was
now once again the Kings attorney.
1t was not as the Kings officer, how
ever, but as an experienced Parliamen-
tary tactician. a trained debater a sound
man OF affairs, that he had set himself
to check Henry in his revolutionary
courses.
Accused of Treason.
Henry found himself, in truth, passion
stely set upon. Even threats were uttered.
and abuse such as proud men find i'll to
bear. They cried Treason! treason
upon him when he dared declare the King
would do well to look to the fate Of
Caesar and Charles I for profitable ex-
amples.
But he was not daunted a whit IF this
be treason, make the most OF IT," was
his defiance to them.
One ally who might have stood with
him, had he known, was absent. Richard
Henry Lee would have brought to his
support name as ancient and as honor
able as any IN the colony. and an elo-
quence scarcely less than his own. But.
as it was. he was left almost alone, and