On March 23, 1775, the newly created Virginia Provincial Convention met at St. Johns Episcopal Church to debate a set of resolutions, introduced by Patrick Henry, calling for the colony to organize and arm the militia. No one could predict whether the resolutions would pass or fail. Lord Dunmore, the Governor of the colony, had, after he had repeatedly shut down the increasingly rebellious Virginia House of Burgesses, fled to a British warship but by all accounts the delegates to the provincial convention were evenly split between the “radicals,” who favored independence, and the “loyalists,” who wanted to remain within the British Empire. Even though fighting had broken out in Boston, it was still an open question whether the Virginians would take formal action to defend itself against British troops.

Patrick Henry, a self-educated lawyer and fiery orator, had been the leader of the “radicals” for over ten years since 1765 when he stood on the floor of the Virginia House of Burgesses and denounced the Stamp Act. Many of the “loyalists” had considered his actions to be treasonous against the mother country. Despite the repeal of the Stamp Act, the British government had continued for the last ten years to commit “a long train of abuses and usurpations” by imposing new taxes without representation, shutting down local legislative assemblies, quartering their troops in the homes of colonists, and trying colonists in London. King George III and Parliament had said that since sovereign power was not divisible, the colonies would never have authority to run their own domestic affairs and would be forever subject to the crown in “all matters whatsoever.” The residents of Virginia stood at the crossroads. Would they hold out the hope for peace and reconciliation? Or would they fight?

On that spring day, St Johns Church was packed with delegates, including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, and the windows were thrown open so that the colonists could see and hear the debate, when Patrick Henry rose to speak to the resolutions. “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,” said Patrick Henry. But the petitions had been “spurned with contempt” from “the foot of the throne.” Patrick Henry told the delegates and the colonists peeking through church windows that “there is no longer any room for hope,” and if “we wish to be free – if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending,” then “we must fight – I repeat it, sir, we must fight!”

Patrick Henry concluded with one of the most famous calls to action in history, “Gentlemen may cry, peace, peace – but there is no peace.” Eyewitnesses tell us that his voice, at this point, grew louder and louder. “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 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 resolutions narrowly passed but the people of Virginia had made a firm commitment to defending themselves against tyranny. Many of those colonists who saw and heard Patrick Henry’s words through the windows of St. John’s Church may not have immediately realized that they were, on that fateful day, witnessing a giant leap forward toward independence. The colonists started to organize and fight for their freedom. Almost a year and a half later, the colonies would become united and as representatives of the United States of America declare their independence and absolve all ties to the British Crown.

Throughout his life, Patrick Henry showed that he was not afraid, despite the prevailing opinion of the rich and powerful, to speak up for what was right. He didn’t need a Gallup poll, a public relations man, or image consultant tell him what to do or say. On this Independence Day, I would like to salute all the men and women in our history who have taken leadership positions and showed similar political courage. I would also like to salute all those citizens who are unafraid to jump into the arena and fight for what is right by writing letters to their representatives or to their local newspaper, who attend community and governmental meetings, and who convince their neighbors to also get involved. For if those who are committed to the public interest become weary and tired of the political process, we will cede our precious democratic institutions to those who quest for power for power’s sake and to the narrow special interests. As Patrick Henry said in St. John’s Church, “the battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.”

Copyright 2002 The Auburn Sentinel