Give Me Liberty, or Give Me Death - Short Biography of Patrick Henry

Patrick Henry, born in 1736, was a lawyer and twice governor of Virginia, but he is remembered most for his political speeches.

It was a young Henry who presented The Virginia Resolutions Against the Stamp Act of 1765 to the House of Burgesses (a fifth resolution was dropped the next day):

"Whereas the honorable House of Commons in England have late drawn into question how far the general assembly of this colony has power to enact laws for laying taxes and imposing duties payable to the pope of this his majesty's most ancient colony - For settling and ascertaining the same to all future times, the House of Burgesses of this present general assembly have come to the several following resolutions:

"Resolved, That the first adventurers and settlers of this his majesty's colony and dominion of Virginia brought with them and transmitted to their posterity and all other his majesty's subjects since inhabiting in this his majesty's colony, all the privileges and immunities that have at any time been held, enjoyed, and possessed by the people of Great Britain.

"Resolved, That by the two royal charters granted by King James the First, the colonists aforesaid are declared entitled to all privileges of faithful, liege, and natural born subjects, to all intents and purposes, as if they had been abiding and born within the realm of England.

"Resolved, That his majesty's liege people of this his most ancient colony have enjoyed the right being thus governed by their own assembly, in the article of taxes and internal police; and that the same have never been forfeited or any other way yielded up, but have been constantly recognized by the King and people of Great Britain.

"Resolved, Therefore, that the general assembly of the colony, together with his majesty or his substitute have in their representative capacity the only exclusive right and power to levy taxes and impositions on the inhabitants of this colony and that every attempt to vest such a power in any person or persons whatsoever other than the general assembly aforesaid is illegal, unconstitutional, and unjust, and has a manifest tendency to destroy British, as well as American freedom."

When accused of treason during the proceedings, Henry cried: "Caesar had his Brutus; Charles the First his Cromwell; and George the Third may profit by their example. If this be treason, make the most of it!"

Henry wasn't a fan of Machiavelli - they came later in the Republic. Not a follower of Machiavelli's adage "... it is better to be feared than loved," Henry instead reasoned that "Fear is the passion of slaves." He summed up the pursuit of American liberty - "When the American spirit was in its youth, the language of America was different: Liberty, sir, was the primary object."

As war broke out in 1775, Henry's frank speech and outrage gave life to the revolution: "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!" (Speech at St. John's Church, 1775)

Obviously, Henry sometimes crossed boundaries and made political speeches at church. At times inconsistent, he offered this on Freedom of Religion and the Separation of Church and State:

"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ! For this very reason, peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here." (Virginia House of Burgesses speech, 1765)

To hear a good portrayal of Patrick Henry, readers should visit Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia; the adrenalin rush makes it worthwhile.

Henry's speeches still enlighten, and more will be presented in the next of this series.