Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-07-10

influence of Samuel Davis. n Presby-
terian preacher Patrick took MIR.
Davis example of eloquence. and
| also admired his boldness Of speech
| About 1860 Mr.. Henry VS. determined
to study law. He often borrowed law
books from his friends and libraries,
and made careful study OF them
all After six weeks OF diligent
studying he applied for lawyers
| license. 1t has been said that the
| examiners hesitated about granting
| Mr.. Henry his request. but did 80 be-
| cause he argued so we'll on the nat
ural rights Of man. Mr.. Henry's
success as lawyer was inevitable.
| and in three years he was the master
OF nearly $500 suits. He displayed
his wonderful ability in the law
when he subducd the Parsons
Cause" one OF the most important
cases during his career. HIS prnc-
tice Increased greatly, and In nearly
every important case fro'H this time
| until death Mr.. Henry was employed.
In 1875 vacancy occurred in the
House of Burgesses from Louisa
County Though not n resident of
| that county, MIR. Henry was elected
To I'LL the vacancy. At the time when
the stamp act was under considera-
ton Mr.. Henry replied to tho peo-
pie that the General Assembly OF
this colony have the only and eXclu-
sive sole rights to levy taxes and
| impositions upon the inhabitants of
this colony
MIR. Jefferson snid of MT. Henry's
| speech: He appeared to me as to
speak as Homer wrote" BY this
! MIR. Henry became leader of the
Revolutionary movement. Many times
before the Revolution disputes would
"A Ten hnt,
| Britain. and often Mr.. Henry was
| appointed to confront them. This
he did with much eloquence. Mr..
Henry was leader and Il strong de-
fender OF our rights. When the first
| Continental Congress met In Phila-
| delphia, in 177i Mr.. Henry delivered
the first speech in that Assembly. In
portion OF this speech MIR. Henry
replied to the Assembly: 81 arm not
| II NirEinian, but an American"
without a doubt, Mr.. Henry demon
strated his patriotism at the st.
Johns Church. Richmond. Va. It was
here that his speech, which Is con-
sidered the greatest Grafton OF his
| tory, aroused the people to gather
arms and fight for their liberty.
While the whole OF his speech was
an unQuestionablc success. il seems
that the concluding paragraph might
have had the effect that 1t was writ
ten for. The concluding paragraph is
as follows:
1T is in vain. sir. to extenuate the
| matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace.
peacc!' but there Is no peace. The
war is actually begun. The next gale
that sweeps from the North will bring
10 our ears the clash OF rcsoundinE
arms. Our brethren are already in
the field. Why stand we here idle?
/ What is ii that gentlemen wish? Lex
Irifc so dear or peace so sweet as to
be purchased at the price of chains
and slavery? Forbid II, Almighty
God know not what course others
may take, but, as for me, give me
srty or give me DEATH"
When Patrick Henry made this re-
nowned Grafton. he took with him
the responsibilities of death. He was
hetrayinG his mother country. But
death meant nothing to him. Self
sacrifice was the least he could per-
form. His final words sounded and
esoundcd In the ears and hearts OF
those men who went over the top"
and gained their victory and liberty
from England
In l77G he carried the vote OF the
Virginia convention for Independence,
nd i'm the same year he became first
Governor OF the new state. He was
forwards reelected four times. In
1871 he retired from public life and
oeturned to his practice. In 1885
lie declined the sccretaryship OF state
offered him by Washington. lie died
June 6. 1899.
We may say of him, he wac first
Governor OF Virginia after the Rev
luton: the best orator and lawyer
" his day. ! repeat: his final words
sounded and rcsounded In the ears
and hearts OF those men who went
soycr the top" and gained their vic
tory and liberty from England.
J. STUART WHITE