March 23rd, 1775 Patrick Henry gave a defining speech for revolution with England. In reviewing my library, I found several occurrences of Patrick Henry’s radical speaking.
The book “The Story of America in Pictures” by Alan C. Collins, 1938, has the illustration of Patrick Henry at the First Continental Congress, and it was there that he spoke of not being a Virginian but an American, in 1774.
In the book “American Leaders and Heroes” by William F. Gordy, 1911, the author explains that on March 23 in 1775, Patrick Henry met at old St. John’s Church in Richmond and gave his speech:
“We must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight!…The war is inevitable–and let it come…I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”
It was quite a rallying cry for the colonists. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were both present at the speech. About a month later fighting broke out in Lexington and Concord. Liberty or Death was their motto.
Ten years before that speech, in 1765 Patrick Henry had given another loud speech. The Stamp Act (where England taxed american newspapers and all legal documents, to help pay for its debt from the French war) had just been put in place, and cries of ‘no taxation without representation’ were being heard around the colonies. Patrick Henry spoke at the Virginia General Assembly. He wanted only Virginia to be able to force taxes to Virginians. He ended his speech with:
“Caesar had his Brutus, Charles the First his Cromwell, and George the third–” Cries of treason!, Treason! came from the crowd. Patrick Henry calmly paused, and then added “–(he) may profit from their example. If this be treason make the most of it.”
The assembly passed the resolution to not accept the tax, further alienating the colonies from England.
My next book is actually a two volume set of books from my father. “History of the United States to 1877” and “History of United States from 1865” By T. Harry Williams, 1966 and 1967. I had always thought they were from when Dad was in college at University of Illinois, but I just realized right now, that the copyright dates were after he graduated. I don’t know where he got them from, but I always remember them on the bookshelf, and occasionally used them in high school.
There is even more about Patrick Henry in these books. It discusses “The Parson’s Cause”. Briefly stated, the Anglican church was paid by tobacco, in Virginia. The price was volatile and went from two cents a pound to seven cents a pound. The Virginia legislature passed a law to only pay value of two cents a pound. The Privy council and ministers sued, in 1759. Patrick Henry, then a new lawyer, spoke of the tyranny of England, and gave a rousing speech. The English ministers were awarded damages, but only of one token penny. This is one of those early English money conflicts.
Later in life, Patrick Henry would oppose ratifying the U.S. Constitution, stating that it would create a distant and too powerful government. As an antifederalist, Patrick Henry lost a lot of public favor when the constitution was ratified.
History can be fun. I still enjoy researching things, and am happy that I have some holdable resources, and don’t just immediately hit google. The search is the best part.
Keep reading.
*Thomas Jefferson on Patrick Henry.
Librarytomes 