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Home , Patrick Henry

WHAT ACCOMPLISHED AND WHAT HE STOOD FOR by James M. Elson

With our forthcoming commemoration of the 200th anniversary of Patrick Henry's death, and after more than a decade of studying his life, character, and works, I am prompted to write down my understanding of Mr. Henry's accomplishments and the ideals for which he stood. These thoughts are my own and do no represent the official views of the Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation. They are still a work in progress. We intend to discuss them at our "Patrick Henry Journey" Symposium on June 5th at entitled "Patrick Henry's Legacy to the 21st Century." I welcome your comments.

HAT PATRICK HENRY new federal government being advanced by ers as well as good winners. Revolutions ACCOMPLISHED some of the men who had previously sup- are undertaken only as the very last resort. Patrick Henry was the voice of ported the ratification of the Constitution. I beg pardon of this house for having 1American liberty in his time and Henry was elected, but died before he could taken up more time than came to my share. should represent the spirit of lib- take office. I thank them for the patience and polite erty in ours. attention with which I have been heard. If Patrick Henry, starting with his HAT PATRICK HENRY I shall be in the minority, I shall have those Stamp Act Speech of 1765, STOOD FOR 2 Above all else, liberty! painful sensations, which arise from a con- through his service as a delegate to the First viction of being overpowered in a good and Second Continental Congresses (1774 1 If the people would not die or be free, it is cause. Yet I will be a peaceable citizen! My and 1775), his "Liberty or Death" Speech head, my hand, and my heart shall be at (1775), and his march at the head of militia of no consequence what sort of govern- ment they live under. liberty to retrieve the loss of liberty, and to the colonial capitol at Williamsburg remove the defects of that system--in a con- (1775), was a prime mover in initiating the Statement to Judge , ca. 1765 Give me liberty or give me death! stitutional way. I wish not to go to violence, in the thirteen Ameri- but will wait with hopes that the spirit can colonies and the prime mover in Vir- "Liberty or Death" Speech, St. John's Church, Richmond, 1775 which predominated in the revolution is ginia. not yet gone, nor the cause of those who Patrick Henry was 's first Liberty, the greatest of all earthly blessings--give us that precious jewel are attached to the revolution yet lost. I 3American governor. As a wartime shall therefore patiently wait in expecta- leader he furnished both men and supplies and you may take everything else. Virginia Convention on the Ratification of tion of seeing that government changed so to the continental armies fighting to the as to be compatible with the safety, liberty north and to the south of Virginia and com- the Constitution of the United States, Rich- mond 1788 and happiness of the people. missioned the successful George Rogers Virginia Convention on the Ratification Clark expedition which secured the North- Distrust of overweening govern- ment power and the necessity for of the Constitution of the United States, west from the British. 2 Richmond, 1788 Patrick Henry opposed the ratifi- individual rights. There are suspicions of power on the If I am asked what is to be done when 4cation of the Constitution of the a people feel themselves intolerably op- United States by Virginia in 1788 because one hand and absolute and unlimited con- fidence on the other. I hope to be one of pressed, my answer if ready: "Overturn the the document originally contained no Bill government." But do not, I beseech you, of Rights and because it called for what he those who have a large portion of suspicion...Too much suspicion may be cor- carry matters to this length without provo- believed to be too great a concentration of cation. Wait at least until some infringe- power in the proposed federal government. rected. If you give too little power today, you may give more tomorrow. But the re- ment is made upon your rights which can- Patrick Henry was a gracious not be otherwise redressed; for if ever you loser after his fight against the verse of the proposition will not hold. If 5 you give too much power today, you can- recur to another change, you may bid ratification of the Constitution. Still, he con- adieu forever to representative govern- tinued to exert his considerable political not retake it tomorrow: For tomorrow will not come for that purpose. ment. power for the addition of a Bill of Rights His last speech, as candidate for the Vir- and persisted until the first ten amendments The necessity of a Bill of Rights ap- pears to me to be greater in this govern- ginia Legislature, Charlotte Court House, were added to the Constitution in 1791. 1799. In 1799, the last year of his life, ment that ever it was in any government before. A deep religious faith, tempered 6Patrick Henry, although terminally with a tolerance of the beliefs of ill, came out of retirement at the request of Virginia Convention on the Ratification 4 of the Constitution of the United States, others. ex-president to run for That religion, or the duty which we the Virginia Legislature. In his last public Richmond, 1788 The democratic-republican form owe to our CREATOR and the manner of speech, Henry warned against advocacy for discharging it, can be directed only by rea- secession from or revolution against the 3of government requires good los- son and conviction, not by force of vio- am drawn along by the general inconve- rior privilege of being one in that chosen lence, and therefore all ment are equally nience of living here without them. I will age to which providence entrusted its fa- entitled to the free exercise of religion, ac- not, I cannot justify it. vorite work. cording to the dictates of conscience; and In a letter to Quaker leader In a letter to Henry ("Light Horse that it is the mutual duty of all to practice , 1773 Harry") Lee, 27 June 1795 Christian forbearance, love, and charity Whereas, intermarriage between the Without virtue the blessings of towards each other. citizens of this commonwealth and the In- 7liberty will be worth little. Article 16 of the Virginia Declaration of dians living in its neighborhood may have Whether this [American liberty] will Rights, adopted 12 June 1776, which, ac- great effect in conciliating the friendship prove a blessing or a curse will depend cording to 's History of and confidence of the latter, whereby not upon the use our people make of the bless- Virginia, was proposed by Patrick Henry. only their civilization may in some degree ings which a gracious God hath bestowed Views on slavery and race at vari- be finally brought about, but in the mean- upon us. If they be wise, they will be great 5ance with those prevalent in his time their hostile inroads be prevented... and happy. If they are of a contrary char- time and place, although Henry, like most Preamble to "A Bill for the Encouragement acter, they will be miserable. Righteous- Virginia plantation owners, was himself a of Marriage with the Indians," introduced ness alone shall exalt them as a nation. slaveholder. by Patrick Henry into the Virginia Legis- Reader! whoever thou art, remember this, Is it not amazing that at a time, when lature in 1784. The bill passed twice, but and in thy sphere practice virtue thyself, the rights of humanity are defined and un- was rejected upon its final reading when and encourage it in others. derstood with precision, in a country about Henry was removed from the legislature The concluding lines of a note found with all others, fond of liberty, that in such an by his election of governor. his will after Patrick Henry's death in 1799 age and in such a country, we find men A strong sense of patriotism and professing a religion the most humane, mild, 6faith in America. (James Elson is the Executive Vice Presi- gentle and generous, adopting a principle The American Revolution was the dent of the Patrick Henry Memorial Foun- [slavery] as repugnant to humanity, as it grand operation, which seemed to be as- dation at Red Hill, Virginia, Henry's an- is inconsistent with the Bible and destruc- signed by the Deity to the men of this age cestral home. The Woman's Auxiliary of the tive to liberty?...Would anyone believe I am in our country, over and above the com- Foundation is the national sponsor of Ora- the master of slaves of my own purchase! I mon duties of life. I ever prized the supe- tory.)