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Browsing named entities in George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 7, 4th edition.. You can also browse the collection for Patrick Henry (Virginia, United States) or search for Patrick Henry (Virginia, United States) in all documents.

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ly seconded, in flagrant disregard of his instructions. To Lady Dunmore, who had just arrived, the assembly voted a congratulatory address, and its members joined to give her a ball. The feeling of loyalty was still predominant; the thought of revolution was not harbored; but they none the less held it their duty to resist the systematic plan of parliamentary despotism, and without waiting for an appeal from Boston, they resolved on its deliverance. First among them as an orator stood Patrick Henry, whose words had power to kindle in his hearers passions like his own. But eloquence was his least merit; he was revered as the ideal of a patriot of Rome in its austerest age. The approach of danger quickened his sagacity, and his language gained the boldness of prophecy. He was borne up by the strong support of Richard Henry Lee and Washington. It chanced that George Mason also was then at Williamsburg, a man of strong Chap. III.} 1774. May. and true affections; learned in constit
justice. The crisis, he said, Chap. VI.} 1774. Aug. is arrived when we must assert our rights, or submit to every imposition that can be heaped upon us, till custom and use shall make us tame and abject slaves. From the first he was convinced that there was not any thing to be expected from petitioning. Ought we not, then, he exclaimed, to put our virtue and fortitude to the severest test? Thus Washington reasoned privately with his friends. In the convention, Richard Henry Lee and Patrick Henry were heard with such delight that the one was compared to Cicero, the other to Demosthenes. But Washington, who never was able to see distress without a desire to assuage it, made the most effective speech when he uttered the wish to raise one thousand men, subsist them at his own expense, and march at their head for the relief of Boston. The resolves and instructions of Virginia corresponded to his spirit. They demanded that the restrictions on navigation should themselves be restr
, would have had them use the State House, but the carpenters of Philadelphia offered their plain but spacious hall; and from respect for the mechanics, it was accepted by a great majority. The names of the members were then called over, and Patrick Henry, Washington, Richard Henry Lee, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Jay, Gadsden, John Rutledge of South Carolina, the aged Hopkins of Rhode Island, and others, representing eleven colonies, answered to the call. Peyton Randolph, late speaker of the athe next day's session, a long and deep silence prevailed. Every one feared the responsibility of a decision which was to influence permanently the relations of independent states. The voice of Virginia was waited for, and was heard through Patrick Henry. Making a recital of the wrongs inflicted on the colonies by acts of parliament, he declared that all government was dissolved; that they were reduced Chap. XI.} 1774. Sept. to a state of nature; that the congress then assembled was but
n was to have a negative on British statutes relating to the colonies. I am as much a friend to liberty as exists, blustered Galloway, as he presented his insidious proposition, and no man shall go further in point of fortune or in point of blood, than the man who now addresses you. His scheme held out a hope of a continental union, which was the long cherished policy of New York; it was seconded by Duane, and advocated by Jay; but opposed by Lee Chap. XII.} 1774. Sept. of Virginia. Patrick Henry objected to entrusting the power of taxation to a council to be chosen not directly by the people, but indirectly by its representatives; and he condemned the proposal in all its aspects. The original constitution of the colonies, said he, was founded on the broadest and most generous base. The regulation of our trade compensates all the protection we ever experienced. We shall liberate our constituents from a corrupt house of commons, but throw them into the arms of an American legis
is friends incessantly to study the art of war, and organize resistance; for he would never admit that the danger of a rupture with Britain was a sufficient plea for giving way. I would advise, said he, persisting in our struggle for liberty, though it were revealed from heaven that nine hundred and ninety-nine were to perish, and only one of a thousand to survive and retain his liberty. One such freeman must possess more virtue, and enjoy more happiness, than a thousand slaves; and let him propagate his like, and transmit to them what he hath so nobly preserved. Chap. XIII.} 1774. Oct. Delightful as peace is, said Dickinson, it will come more grateful, by being unexpected. Washington, while he promoted the measures of congress, dared not hope that they would prove effectual. When Patrick Henry read the prophetic words of Hawley, after all we must fight, he raised his hand, and with the entire energy of his nature, called God to witness as he cried out, I am of that man's mind.
Chapter 14: How Catholic emancipation began. October, 1774. the congress of 1774 contained statesmen of the Chap. XIV.} 1774. Oct. highest order of wisdom. For eloquence Patrick Henry was unrivalled; next to him, the elder Rutledge of South Carolina was the ablest in debate; but if you speak of solid information and sound judgment, said Patrick Henry, Washington is unquestionably the greatest man of them all. While the delegates of the twelve colonies were in session in PhiladPatrick Henry, Washington is unquestionably the greatest man of them all. While the delegates of the twelve colonies were in session in Philadelphia, ninety of the members just elected to the Massachusetts assembly appeared on Wednesday the fifth of October at the court house in Salem. After waiting two days for the governor, they passed judgment on his unconstitutional proclamation against their meeting, and resolving themselves into a provincial congress, they adjourned to Concord. There, on Tuesday the eleventh, about two hundred and sixty members took their seats, and elected John Hancock their president. On the fourteenth the
Dominion Chap XXV.} 1775 Mar. renewed their assurances, that it was the most ardent wish of their colony and of the whole continent of North America, to see a speedy return of those halcyon days when they lived a free and happy people. To Patrick Henry this language seemed likely to lull the public mind into confidence, at a time when the interruption of the sessions of the general assembly left them no opportunity, in their legislative capacity, of making any provision to secure their righ comparing it with their means of resistance, proclaimed, that the auspices were good; adding, that Thrice is he armed, who hath his quarrel just! The resolutions were adopted. To give them effect, a committee was raised, consisting of Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, Washington, Jefferson, and others, who in a few days reported a plan for the establishment of a well-regulated militia by forming in every county one or more volunteer companies and troops of horse, to be in constant train
f May, at the cry from Lexington, the independent company of Hanover and its county committee were called together by Patrick Henry. The soldiers, most of them young men, kindled at his words, elected him their chief, and marched for Williamsburg. resist and then thought it best to yield. On the morning of the fourth, at about sunrise, a May 4. messenger met Patrick Henry at Doncastle's Ordinary in New Kent, and as a compensation for the gunpowder taken out of the magazine, paid him threxcess to be restored. Two days after the return of the volunteers, Dunmore issued a proclamation against a certain Patrick Henry, and his deluded followers; and secretly denounced him to the ministry as a man of desperate circumstances, one who hdd, is a hostile attack on this and every other colony, and a sufficient warrant to use reprisal. On the eleventh, Patrick Henry set off for the May 11. continental congress; and his progress was a triumph. Amidst salutes and huzzas, a voluntee
Chapter 34: The second continental congress. May, 1775. few hours after the surrender of Ticonderoga, Chap. XXXIV} 1775. May 10. the second continental congress met at Philadelphia. There among the delegates, appeared Franklin and Samuel Adams; John Adams, and Washington, and Richard Henry Lee; soon joined by Patrick Henry, and by George Clinton, Jay, and Jay's college friend, the younger Robert R. Livingston, of New York. Whom did they represent? and what were their functions? They were committees from twelve colonies, deputed to consult on measures of conciliation, with no means of resistance to oppression beyond a voluntary agreement for the suspension of importations from Great Britain. They formed no confederacy; they were not an executive government; they were not even a legislative body. They owed the use of a hall for their sessions to the courtesy of the carpenters of the city; there was not a foot of land on which they had the right to execute their dec
own a cannon, nor a pound of powder, nor a tent, nor a musket; they had no regularly enlisted army, and had even a jealousy of forming an army, and depended on the zeal of volunteers, or of men to be enlisted for less than seven months. There were no experienced officers, and no methods projected for obtaining them. Washington saw it all. He was in the enjoyment of fame; he wished not to forfeit the esteem of his fellow-men; and his eye glistened with a tear, as he said in confidence to Patrick Henry on occasion of his appointment: This day will be the commencement of the decline of my reputation. But this consideration did not make him waver. On the sixteenth of June, he appeared in his place in congress, and after refusing all pay beyond his expenses, he spoke with unfeigned modesty: As the Chap. Xxxvii} 1755. June. congress desire it, I will enter upon the momentous duty, and exert every power I possess in their service, and for the support of the glorious cause. But I beg