Stamp Act Patrick Henry

patrick henry s treason speech before house of burgesses in 1851 painting peter f. rothermel

in wake of parson s cause, henry began gain following in backwoods virginia, because of oratory defending liberties of common people, , friendly manner. boosted standing further in 1764 representing nathaniel west dandridge, elected hanover county, in election contest before burgesses. dandridge alleged have bribed voters drink, practice common illegal. henry said have made brilliant speech in defense of rights of voters, text not survive. henry lost case, met influential members on committee of privileges , elections, such richard henry lee, peyton randolph , george wythe. in 1765, william johnson, brother of thomas johnson (who had been 1 of henry s clients in parson s cause), resigned burgess louisa county. henry owned land in county (acquired father settle loan), eligible candidate, , won seat in may 1765. left williamsburg session had begun.

the expense of 7 years war (1756–1763) had doubled britain s national debt, , of war had taken place in , around north america, british government looked ways of directly taxing american colonies. 1765 stamp act both means of raising revenue , 1 of asserting authority on colonies. burgesses instructed agent in london, edward montague, oppose measure, , other colonial legislatures instructed representatives. considerable debate began on proposed measure, , in virginia pamphleteers developed arguments henry had made in parson s cause.

patrick henry sworn sleepy session of legislature on may 20; many of members had left town. on may 28, ship arrived urgent letter montague: stamp act had passed. on may 29, henry introduced virginia stamp act resolves. first 2 resolutions affirmed colonists had same rights , privileges britons; next 2 stated taxation should exacted 1 s representatives. fifth provocative, named virginia legislature, general assembly, representatives of virginia empowered tax. 2 other resolutions offered, though authorship uncertain. edmund , helen morgan, in account of stamp act crisis, suggested henry acted saw stamp act both threat virginians rights, , opportunity advance himself politically.

there no verbatim transcriptions of henry s speech in opposition stamp act. texts reconstructions, part based on recollections decades later time both speech , henry had become famous. example, jefferson, still in studies @ nearby college of william , mary, recalled splendor of henry s oratory. no attempt made reconstruct henry s words until 1790, when james madison wrote former burgess edmund pendleton, madison learned pendleton had not been present; second attempt did not occur until wirt began work on biography of henry in 1805. french traveler, name not known, , journal discovered in 1921, recorded @ time of henry s speech 1 of members stood , said had read in former times tarquin , julius had brutus, charles had cromwell, , did not doubt american stand up, in favour of country . henry had seemingly called killing of king george iii, there cries of treason! in chamber, including speaker, john robinson. john tyler sr. (father of future president), standing jefferson watched session, called 1 of trying moments decisive of character , , both recalled henry did not waver: if treason, make of it! .

the burgesses adopted first 5 resolutions—the 2 others, denied right of other body general assembly tax virginians, , branded stated parliament had right enemy of colony, not passed. according morgans, passed resolutions differed little language in petitions sent burgesses london in 1764, , opposition henry may have been in part because upstart in virginia politics. on may 31, henry absent , returning home, burgesses expunged fifth resolution, , royal governor, francis fauquier, refused allow of them printed in official newspaper, virginia gazette. official texts of passed resolutions denied them, newspapers in colonies , in britain printed 7 resolutions, of them presented resolves of influential colony of virginia. resolutions, more radical group passed, reached britain mid-august, first american reaction passage of stamp act. in north america, galvanized opposition stamp act, , made virginia leader in opposition parliament s action. according thad tate in henry s american national biography article, not in virginia across mainland british colonies, henry established reputation uncompromising opponent of imperial policy. morgans noted, in virginia stamp act provided opportunity patrick henry s spectacular entry politics .