Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-10-08
MEMBER OF HOUSE OF BURCESSES
AND OF CONTINENTAL CONGRESS
Born in Elizabeth City County in 1920, His Native
County. One of Original Eight "Councs' Which
Had Been Created in Year 1884

old England. ana many OF rhc let
ters. or course. arc ot unusual In
tereSt
In 1854 Mr.. WITH" moved hack
I" his old county ~ Elizabeth city.
Possibly his ancestral lands there.
demanded his personal super
vision. Al all "v"nts no must have
continued to he much in Williams
burg since ne represented his
county in the Hous" ~ Rurscssos
for six years
Al tho end Of the si,-year
period he was made clerk of ,hc
House. which compelled tim to
again reside IN WILLIAMSBURG And
this clorkshIp he held for six
wears
Member Of Memorable Convention,
IA" was Il member IT the mem
CRADLE convention of March l57a-
IN" convention that met in old
saint Johns church right her. in
richmond. and which is we'll
known. to every school boy as tho
tn" convention in which tho srcat
father of tho Revolution uttered
mis- famous word. arnusInr tho
COLONY TO III" impending catas-
tr"ph". declaring thai there could
now he u" retreat save 'in sub
mission and slavery" and saving
IN" war is inevitable and let IL
come"
i'arrick tI"urNs a"hlc grafton
was delivered in support of his
own resolution. proposing m.
arminr and training "f tho militia
81 tho several counties Mr.
WNth" wns "f those who did not
approve of Hcnrv's plan and sun
rort"d that ~ Robert Carter
Nichols. which proposed for the
def"nS" NJ tho colony regular
army nf ,o.noo men. MIR. with.
was second !" none IN patriotism.
hut merely differed from Mr.. Henry
as 10 IN" most eNredicnt method
I" h" pursued. Henry was tho
great dynamic force ot the Rcvo-
D~rri"p. judicial Wind.
NNthe, ten years older Than
Henry, had douhtloss ALREADY de
N'i"ped the judicial mind. the
mind that considers Arst and then
In August, l77a. Mr.. with. was
sent as a delegate to III. CONT.
mental Congress and. in ;hat\con-
gross. had tn" privilcp" and> or-
r"rinnity the following summer
or giving his voice and influence
III favor Of Richard Henry Lees
resolutions for Independence
I'm" resolutions. In compliance
with Instructions from the virginia
convention. had been proposed I'm
Congress July =. LES and two DAYS
later hor" fruit in The Declaration
Of Independence which docu-
mont George Wythc was a 'sirn.r."
That Mr.. Wytho was now we'll
Nn"wn as one Uf he men needed I'm
IN" service Of the people is shown
ny tho Tact tina h. was elected to
represent the city of WILLIAMSBURG
w IN" convention ~ December. 1873.
Rnt he could not accept this honor
hccaus" he was in Congress
Could Vat SIt ~ Member.
For the sam" reason he couId no,
81 as member Of the virginia
convention NJ Juno. 1875. and his
place WAS Hll"d there IN Williams
ours ny mis- alternate. Edmund
Randolph. saw" during tho closing
days Of the convention
After tn" hrst Constitution Of
virginia had hcen adopted and things
colonial" had passed away Mr.
Wyihe was member Of tho HOUSE
on bel"GHtos. IN which hodv he
som" time served as Speaker" and
IN the autumn "f lI,s. was made n
member ~ me very important com
mi'tee entrusted with the duty n,
revising IA" laws of the state and
WIN power Ito propose aItera
lions"
associated with him ON this com
m'''ee wsr" Thomas locrsnn ana
Edmund rendlAton- rho three form
ms remarkahlc combination Tor
THIS labor ~ fN- AM, nina. .....I
mat the people ~ virginia could
demand
'f IA" bills prepared hy this com
mittee. ami hy mem reported 10 mo
""hNral Assembly, som. were
adon,ed from time to time. ann in
I'Ni, most % ,hcm hacnme rsr,
"t "ur statute Iaw We owe. then.
Z" ih"st thr"" farsightod states
men the act al.oIishlnC "primocnnI-
lure in NirG mia the act hv which
""nN"Naur"S "f estates i'm tam
were ""nN"r7"d into estates IN Zoe
simrle and tn" act "tor religious
freedom"
DId Nat Ii-rnmc Inv.
one az 10" things which thus com
mittrc proposed hat which ala no,
h"c"m. Jaw WAS hin Tor esish-
fishing Public library" rrohshl,.
me alleged purp"se ~ this rim scaled
iis d"om since tho virginia neonic
are unusually conservative. and do
not readily approve dissemination
81 kn"wi"dc" by tn. method gan
rthliN known ms IA" ''puhlr library.
IAR Ado