On this day in history, March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry of Hanover County, rose up in old St. John's Church in Richmond, Virginia before representatives assembled there from each Virginia county, all leading citizens of Virginia Colony, including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, and demanded they 'Give me liberty or give me death!'
The already famous Virginia orator called on his colony to raise troops to battle the British four weeks before the Battles of Lexington & Concord ignited the shooting phase of the American Revolution.

There is still a reenactment of the historic debate in St John's every Sunday in the warmer months.

"...Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves longer. Sir, 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.

... 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 the 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 the means which 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.
...
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 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 not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!"

Patrick Henry's home, the courthouse where he argued cases and the little church where he gave his ringing speech are all extant near or in Richmond. The pew in St. John's Church from which he gave his speech is still marked by a small silver plaque on the rail. If you're ever near, stop and see.

Thank you very much for posting this. Only the basic "Give me liberty or give me death" part of the dialog is ever seen, even when this, unfortunately, used to be included in history books, when American History was still taught in our high schools. Having the complete text of the oration to ruminate upon is extremely refreshing!

It also bears testament to the written word.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

Thanks for posting this. I haven't seen it in years. He was an extremely intelligent man and dedicated to freedom's cause and the preservation of this country. Most of his statements still ring true today.

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Why duck?? It's a 9mm!

Most modern politicians are mental midgets compared to the Founding Fathers. That is being shamefully demonstrated more and more every day.

They also wrote and spoke the King's English not the butchered word salads of today.

Part of statesmanship was/should be eloquence.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

Not many a "modern man" have the stones to say that and be willing to back it up with necessary action. Most would rather watch football. Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

You beat me to it, was just thinking the same. Noise…….

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Sure you did

“The times they are changing” , not for the good and close to the same as in 1775.

Historical Marker at the courthouse in Louisa VA.

Attached Images

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A very wise man.

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No baby we aint

One can gain much insight to Mr Henry by researching Thomas Jefferson’s comments about Patrick Henry. It's interesting reading.

Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on Patrick Henry, [before 12 April 18 …

Arguably, the most important political speech in American history…thanks for posting this.

Patrick Henry is buried on his farm in Red Hill, Virginia. On a motorcycle trip in that area years ago, I was able to pay my respects there and thank him for what he did for our country…

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Where Law Ends, Tyranny Begins

Agreed!

Curious, is the king’s English the same as Benny Hill’s English?

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213th FBINA

They sound the same, except for the choice of words...

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protocalldesign.com

Absolutely fascinating! Thanks for the link!

It would be difficult for 4 or 5 congressmen to represent the entire country.

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Because of the metric system?

Today, men with such command of the language would be mocked.

Not just mocked but they would cause the masses to pounce on their cellphone translator apps.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

Based on the few times I scanned past C-SPAN, I don't think those apps are currently in danger of crashing.

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Because of the metric system?

I just want to add this as to the sacrifices made by our founders:

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

My 5th great-grandfather wasn't a Signer, but was on the Virginia Committee of Safety, the Committee of Correspondence, was Commissioner of the Virginia Navy, and Treasurer of Virginia during and after the War of Independence.
As Treasurer, and later as Receiver of Taxes, he held the Virginia tax collections owed to the Federal Government in an iron chest on his brother's property. A British officer, wounded at the Battle of Yorktown in 1781, was too weak to bear the ship journey back to England after the battle, and was quartered during his recovery at the Treasurer's house. He stole the tax receipts, which my ggggg-grandfather Webb had to produce. Failing that, in a long series of back and forth letters over ten years, he petitioned for reimbursement or forgiveness of the monies owed.
Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton wrote to Congress in 1791, paraphrasing, " I am of the opinion that too much time has passed since the monies went missing, and Mr. Webb's petition is filed too late. While I sympathize with Mr. Webb's plight, I can find nothing in the Constitution that authorizes me to reimburse him for his loss."

To make good on the debt incurred as a result of his service and a misfortune of war, Mr. Webb sold both of his plantations, all of his slaves, all of his livestock, all of his furnishings and died penniless, his fortune gone, but with his honor intact, about nine years latter.

I used to help out on a Civics and Law Academy that was put on by the local bar association for high school students in the county. I took my lecture on voting rights back to the Founding Fathers and would recite the provision about "lives, fortunes and sacred honor." I must have ruffled some feathers because all of a sudden I didn't get informed about future Academies.

As a fourth grader, at Battlefield Park Elementary school in Hanover County, Virginia, we had to memorize this portion of the speech and stand in the front of the class and deliver it. I shocked my wife (a midwest girl) by still being able to recite it today.

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 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 not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!"

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John 3:16 .

As others have noted, command of the language has sadly diminished over centuries. Heck even over decades.

I fear forum retribution if I compare the level of personal integrity with today's politicos.