One fairly well known Founding Father is Patrick Henry of Virginia. Henry did not sign the Declaration of Independence and he declined to participate in the Constitutional Convention, because he was concerned that the American President might devolve into a monarch. But, I have included Henry in my review here because he played a significant role in the American Revolution and also in the adoption of the Bill of Rights. Henry originally opposed the Constitution because it did not contain a Bill of Rights.

In 1765 Henry had been elected to the Virginia House of Burgess in Williamsburg. In that year the British Parliament passed the Stamp Act, a form of direct taxation. Henry organized dissent against the Act in the House of Burgess, presenting seven resolutions condemning it. But, it was on March 23, 1775, as British troops were marching on Richmond, Virginia, that Henry gave the speech that he is best known for, advocating for the mobilization of military action to meet the advancing British.

Henry is not known to have written into text the speech that he gave from Saint John’s Church that day, so there are no written versions in his own hand. But, there are first-hand accounts of the words he spoke. The accounts are somewhat conflicting, but mostly consistent. One remarkable thing about Henry’s speech, remarkable in light of the impolite and acidic nature of modern-day political disagreement, is its tone. The tone was one of gentlemanly discourse and disagreement, a tone that was typical of his day.

Henry started by expressing his respect for the men who had spoken before him, with whom he was about to strongly disagree: “No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as 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 shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve.” What a breath of fresh air it would be to hear political disagreement expressed in such tones today.

Then, Henry proceeded to set the stage for his call to action, explaining the lengths to which the Colonies had gone to reason with England – the Revolution was not a rash act: “we have done everything 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, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation.” Henry saw the coming war as the final and only resort.

Henry saw the war as essential for the preservation of liberty and freedom: “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 it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us! 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?”

Henry closed with a resounding proclamation of his personal dedication to the cause: “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!” By William Wirt's account, Henry’s speech had its intended effect, the crowd jumped up and shouted "To Arms! To Arms!"

Lord give us leaders like this today.

This speech can be found in Sketches of the Life and Character of Patrick Henry by William Wirt (James Webster: 1818) pages 119-123.