- Patrick Henry's famous 'liberty or death' speech is perhaps
the most stirring example of the original American commitment to individual
liberty. However, the story behind Henry's passionate oration is largely
untold.
-
- As a young Christian lawyer riding into Culpepper, Virginia
in March of 1775, Patrick Henry had witnessed the brutal public flogging
of a preacher. Tied to a whipping post in the middle of the town square,
the preacher's back laid bloody and bare with the bones of his ribs showing.
He had been scourged mercilessly like Jesus, with a leather whip laced
with metal.
-
- What heinous crime, what foul act had this man committed
to deserve such barbarous torture? He was one of twelve who were locked
in jail because they refused to take a license from the Crown. Three days
later, the martyred minister was again flogged -- this time, to death.
-
- This was the incident which sparked Patrick Henry to
write the famous words which later ignited the Revolution: 'What is it
that Gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so
sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it,
Almighty God! I know no what course others may take, but as for me, give
me liberty or give me death!' He later made this a part of his famous speech
which he delivered at Saint John's Episcopal Church in Williamsburg, Virginia.
-
- Those who today apply for a marriage license, driver's
license, fishing license, hunting license, occupational license, building
permit, ad nauseam, would be well served to ponder the ramifications of
their voluntary act.
-
- Would that same executed preacher, were he alive today,
rush to apply for a 501(c)(3) 'exemption' from the IRS? How many churchgoers
today are prepared to pay the price of true liberty when it's easier to
just pass the plate and 'write it off' next April 15th?
-
- When we contemplate the raw sacrifices made by so many
of our nation's forebears, we are reminded that Patrick Henry did NOT exclaim
'Give me liberty, or give me benefits!'. It is remarkable how little the
founders expected from the government they forged.
-
- Yet with over 100 million Americans currently receiving
-- or living in the expectation of one day receiving -- Social Security,
Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, welfare vouchers, subsidized housing,
free cheese and other Marxist forms of congressional welfarism, I think
it only fair to call the 4th of July by its proper term: 'Co-Dependence
Day'.
-
- Below is the full transcript of the great orator's legendary
speech, followed by the observations of John Roane who was present and
had the great pleasure of watching Patrick Henry deliver it. If Roane's
remarks don't give you a lump in your throat, I don't know what will.
-
- ***
-
- GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH
-
- By Patrick Henry March 23, 1775
-
- 'No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism,
as well as the abilities of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed
the house. But different men often see the same subject in different lights,
and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen,
if, entertaining as I do, opinions of a character very opposite to theirs,
I should speak forth my sentiments freely, and without reserve.
-
- 'This is no time for ceremony. The question before the
house is one of awful moment to this country. Should I keep back my opinions
at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself
as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward
the majesty of heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.
-
- 'Mister President, it is natural for man to indulge in
the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth
- and listen to the song of that siren, till she transforms us into beasts.
Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for
liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those, who having eyes,
see not, and having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern
their temporal salvation?
-
- 'For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost,
I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide
for it. I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that is the
lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging the future but by the past.
And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct
of the British ministry for the last ten years, to justify those hopes
with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the house?
-
- 'Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has
been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your
feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves
how this gracious reception of our petition comports with those warlike
preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and
armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves
so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back
our love?
-
- 'Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements
of war and subjugation - the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask
gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to
force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motive
for it? Has Great Britain any enemy in this quarter of the world, to call
for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No sir, she has none. They
are meant for us; they can almost be meant for no other. They are sent
over to bind and rivet upon us those chains, which the British ministry
have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose them?
-
- 'Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that
for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer upon the subject?
Nothing. We have held the subject up in every light of which it was capable;
but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication?
What terms shall we find that we have not already exhausted? Let us not,
I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves longer.
-
- 'Sir, we have done every thing that could be done, to
avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned - we have remonstrated
- we have supplicated - we have prostrated ourselves before the throne,
and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the
ministry and parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances
have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been
disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of
the throne.
-
- 'In vain, after these things, we may indulge the fond
hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope.
If we wish to be free - if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable
privileges for which we have been so long contending - if we mean not basely
to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and
which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon, until the glorious object
of our contest shall be obtained - we must fight! - I repeat, sir, we must
fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left us!
-
- 'They tell us, sir, that we are weak - unable to cope
with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it
be next week or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed,
and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather
strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual
resistance by lying supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom
of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot?
-
- 'Sir, we are not weak, if we make a proper use of those
means the God of Nature hath placed in our power. Three millions of people
armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which
we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against
us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just
God who presides over the destinies of nations; and who will raise up friends
to fight our battles for us.
-
- 'The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to
the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election.
If we are base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the
contest. There is no retreat, but in submission and slavery! Our chains
are forged. Their clanking may heard on the plains of Boston! The war is
inevitable - and let it come! I repeat, sir, let it come! It is in vain,
sir to extenuate the matter.
-
- 'Gentlemen may cry, peace, peace - but there is no peace.
The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will
bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already
in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it the gentlemen wish? What
would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased
at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God - I know not
what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me
death!'
-
- Observations of John Roane who was present and witnessed
the speech:
-
- 'You remember, sir, the conclusion of the speech, so
often declaimed in various ways by schoolboys, 'Is life so dear, or peace
so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid
it Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me,
give me liberty, or give me death!'
-
- 'He gave each of these words a meaning which is not conveyed
by the reading or delivery of them in the ordinary way. When he said, 'Is
live so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains
and slavery?' he stood in the attitude of a condemned galley slave, loaded
with fetters, awaiting his doom. His form was bowed; his wrists were crossed;
his manacles were almost visible as he stood like an embodiment of helplessness
and agony.
-
- 'After a solemn pause, he raised his eyes and chained
hands towards heaven, and prayed, in words and tones which thrilled every
heart, 'Forbid it Almighty God!' He then turned towards the timid loyalists
of the house, who were quaking with terror at the idea of the consequences
of participating in proceedings which would be visited with the penalties
of treason by the British crown; and he slowly bent his form yet nearer
to earth, and said, 'I know not what course others may take,' and he accompanied
the words with his hands still crossed, while he seemed to be weighted
down with additional chains. The man appeared transformed into an oppressed,
heart-broken, and hopeless felon.
-
- 'After remaining in this posture of humiliation long
enough to impress the imagination with the condition of the colony under
the iron heel of military despotism, he arose proudly, and exclaimed, 'but
as for me,' -- and the words hissed through his clenched teeth, while his
body was thrown back, and every muscle and tendon was strained against
the fetters which bound him, and, with his countenance distorted by agony
and rage, he looked for a moment like Lacoon in a death struggle with coiling
serpents; then the loud clear, triumphant notes, 'give me liberty' electrified
the assembly.
-
- 'It was not a prayer, but a stern demand, which would
submit to no refusal or delay. The sound of his voice, as he spoke these
memorable words, was like that of a Spartan paean on the Field of Plataea,
and, as each syllable of the word 'liberty' echoed through the building,
his fetters were shivered; his arms were hurled apart, and the links of
his chains were scattered to the winds.
-
- 'When he spoke the word 'liberty' with an emphasis never
given it before, his hands were open, and his arms elevated and extended;
his countenance was radiant; he stood erect and defiant; while the sound
of his voice and the sublimity of his attitude made him appear a magnificent
incarnation of Freedom, and express all that can be acquired or enjoyed
by nations and individuals invincible and free.
-
- 'After a momentary pause, only long enough to permit
the echo of the word 'liberty' to cease, he let his left hand fall powerless
to his side, and clenched his right hand firmly, as if holding a dagger
with the point aimed at his breast. He stood like a Roman senator defying
Caesar, while the unconquerable spirit of Cato of Utica flashed from every
feature, and he closed the grand appeal with the solemn words, 'or give
me death!' which sounded with the awful cadence of a hero's dirge, fearless
of death, and victorious in death, and he suited the action to the word
by a blow upon the left breast with the right hand, which seemed to drive
the dagger to the patriot's heart.'
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