March 23, 1775, St John’s Church, Richmond, Virginia
Speech by the honorable Patrick Henry of Virginia
FAST FORWARD:
JULY 4, 2020, Ventura, California, an emulation, borrowing from Patrick Henry on behalf of all American patriots (modern revisions/additions to Patrick Henry’s original words are in blue).
A CALL FOR REPENTANCE, A NEW AWAKENING, AND A STURDY STANCE FOR LIBERTY
To delegates of freedom-loving Americans, from Uncle Sam, USA!
No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen and gentlewomen of the Constitutional leadership in our nation. But different people often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope that it will not be thought disrespectful to those citizens, if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve.
This is no time for ceremony. The question before the nation is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery (bondage of tyranny); and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfil the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason toward my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.
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 people, 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 American or foreign-born anarchists for the last ten or so decades in the USA 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, patriots; 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 quest for peace amongst wolves comports with those warlike preparations and attacks already crashing into many cities of our darkened lands. Are armies of these enemies to our Constitution and peaceful people necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Let us not deceive ourselves, folks. These are the implements of war and subjugation—the last arguments to which the evil resort. I ask you, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force the peace-loving Americans to submission? Can we assign any other possible motive for these constant attacks all over our country? Have these enemies of the cities and states in our quarter of the world any other motives for them than to bring anarchy suddenly and all at once to our beloved land?
No sir, madam, they are meant for us law-abiding citizens; they can be meant for no other. These enemies trained and came to our land to bind and rivet upon us those chains they have been so long forging to oppose our Constitution and way of life. And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? We have nothing new to offer when we try to reason with these monsters. Nothing.
We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable—or should have by now. But it has all been in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication to bad, insufficient Leftist leaders? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted?
We have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have seen weak leaders in our cities, failure to support the police in our major towns and cities, and cutback on funding for law enforcement. We have tried to cooperate with the Leftist leaders in the House of Representatives. We have tried to counteract the obnoxious, fake-news media. We have sent our men in blue into the fray without full support of cities and legislators and implored them to arrest the tyrannical hands of the wicked who are tearing down monument statues all across our beloved land. But we have rarely seen arrests, and many arrested without bail leave jail the next day in complete freedom.
Elected representatives have slighted our petitions; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications, appeals, and hands-off policies toward destroyers of city, personal, and state property have been disregarded and spurned with contempt by the culturally communist attackers. In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope, unless Americans, our leaders, and our churches—and all right-spirited residents in our nation—rise up.
If we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending (against which our government schools, our mainstream media, our secular government politics, our murdering of preborn babies, our sexual perversion, our court system, etc., have all waged war)—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, WE MUST FIGHT for our children, for our free-enterprise system, for churches, for the poor, the weak, the aged, for baseball, for truthful teaching in classrooms (requiring a private-enterprise system of education), for control of our borders, for morality and unity, etc. An appeal to arms and to the Triune God of Hosts is all that is left us! He is worthy.
Americans need to repent of our personal and national sins—we know what they are. They tell us 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 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?
No, we are not weak, if we make a proper use of the means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. Umpteen 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, 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 is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. 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 in the cities of America! The war against thugs and thieves and arsonists and insurrectionists is already with us and is inevitable—let it come! I repeat it, let it come!
It is vain to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen and women may cry, “Peace, peace!”—but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from across our borders will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! It already has in Democrat-led cities. Our patriot brethren are needed in the culture and in the field! The cry is for law and order! Our police/peace officers have been in the battle for weeks. Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen and women 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 & UNCLE SAM (aka Gerald Christian Nordskog)
(a current rendition for today’s culture in our beloved AMERICA, utilizing the format and many apt words from patriot Patrick Henry)
We need more of this, God Bless.
I
“I’ll STAND UP – – next to you … …”
Amen Jerry
Ben Gilmore
Jerry, I empathize with your pain. I can only take solace in the knowledge that every sign points to the eminent return of Christ. In which case, such things must occur. Every night and often during the day I pray for a restoration of constitutional government (not necessarily the United States of America). In a very real sense our union and our States through the ignorance of the people, have been like a car rolling down a hill with the engine off. It has momentum and appears to from all external appearances just like a car under power, but it is not. It is difficult to steer. The brakes are compromised. Unless the engine is turned on, it will roll to a stop. That engine is Christ. Unless Christ is again our King, unless there is a revival just like the one that forged and inspired our formation, no matter how hard we turn the key, the engine will not catch. As John Adams aptly stated, our form of government is fit only for a moral and religious people, a people self controlled who do not need a multitude of laws and officers to keep order. As I have studied Locke, for the purpose of my commentary, I am only more convinced that those in government, at every level, do not comprehend the trust placed in their hands, and are therefore, incapable of administering it.
Great modern rentirion, Jerry!
And Dan- wonderful analogy! We’re in ths fight, like it or not! We must stand firm, armed with the Word of God, and ike David, fearless against our enemy. We stand as one!
We are fellow warrors.