March 23, 1775
Mr. President, it is natural to 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 of 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 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 to 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 is capable; but it has been all in
vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What
terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? 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. In vain, after these things, may
we 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 it, 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 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 those means which
the God of nature has 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 were 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 be heard on the plains
of Boston! The war is inevitable and let it come!! I repeat it,
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 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!
From the Capitol
Link of The National Center for Public Policy Research
After Patrick Henry made this
famous speech before the Virginia House of Burgesses at St. John's
Church, his resolution to organize the militia of Virginia and
to put the colony of Virginia on a war footing was unanimously
adopted in that colony. Henry's famous speech comes about a month
before fighting began around Boston and he appears to anticipate
the outbreak of fighting in his speech. The speech was critical
in mobilizing Virginia, a key Southern colony, in armed support
of Massachusetts. It was also critical in helping to prepare public
opinion for the more carefully worded Declaration of Independence
that came the following year.
