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.