Patrick Henry is one of the many men in history that I enjoy researching. He was a principled man and he stood by his convictions regardless of what those around him thought of his beliefs. He was labeled a radical by his peers, a traitor by the crown.
Patrick Henry was not a man to allow silence to be mistaken for agreement on anything, that I have found, where he was involved. After being elected to the House of Burgesses in 1765 he wasted little time in proposing the Virginia Stamp Act Resolutions. His passion for freedom did not leave him devoid of cunning, for he waited until the most conservative (the classical meaning of 'conservative' is quite different than today's definition) members of the House were away before submitting his Resolutions to the floor. He showed his 'firebrand' passion when he stood before the gathered assembly and said, “Caesar had his Brutus; Charles the First his Cromwell; and George the Third—" (Interrupted by cries of "Treason! Treason!") "George the Third may profit by their example. If this be treason, make the most of it." Historians conflict over the last sentence above actually being said, but considering that the men Henry mentioned in the previous sentences were each assassinated, his sentiment towards the crown is easily seen. This man must have had a wheel barrow to cart his testicles around. If you aren't convinced yet, let's continue.
I am sure many are familiar with the famous line, “Give me liberty or give me death!”. But have you read the entire speech? It is one of my favorite of all times. March 23, 1775 – The House of Burgesses. Consider the times these men found themselves in. Consider the environment. Consider that human nature was no different all those years ago, than it is today. Some wished to give into the crown's demands; some protested of how little harm the 'benevolent King' actually did from so far away; others voiced their unhappiness but were willing to do little else. I am not saying that these men were without character and virtue,quite the opposite. But what direction would this country have gone if Patrick Henry had been among this group instead of standing and saying this? Can you not feel the passion in his voice as you read it? I have read his speech many, many times and it still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand at attention. (If you want an audio interpretation, go here.) Accounts say that the gathered host of the House jumped to their feet and shouted, “To Arms! To Arms!” and I can see why.
On May 3, 1775 Patrick Henry showed that he was not a man made merely of words, but that he could and would act upon his beliefs. Lord Dunmore (Royal Governor of Colonial Virginia) became fearful of his citizens after they had made it clear that they were arming themselves. He thought it might be in his best interest to remove some of the gun powder from their reach and place it on a British ship out in the bay. His Royal Marines were discovered and the word of his theft spread like wildfire. Guess who was first to show up with a musket, leading a pissed off group of hayseeds – Patrick Henry. The Hanover Militia sat outside Williamsburg until negotiations yielded an agreement that Dunmore would release payment, from the royal treasury, for the powder he had taken. The militia left and Henry made his way back to his peers for the Continental Congress session. On May 6th, Dunmore issued a document naming Patrick Henry a criminal. We know how the story of the Revolution ends, but my man Patrick did not hang up his wig and retire to his estate. He faced a new threat to liberty in the newly wrought articles of the Constitution of the United States.
Henry was an Anti-federalist and believed that this new Document took power from the states and ultimately the individual. He was instrumental in getting the Bill of Rights added to the Constitution to allow his countrymen to maintain the freedoms they had just bled and died for.
I continue to study this man and the Federalist/Anti-federalist movement as they changed names and members during this period in history. I am still a bit fuzzy on how and why he is reported to have become a staunch Federalist by the late 1700's and will have to do more digging until my research gives up the goods. An American patriot in every sense of the word, Patrick Henry was a man among men in my book. May God grant this country more men and women with his character and determination.
Talk to ya soon.
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