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Henry delivered his famous "Caesar-Brutus
Speech" in the debate about his Resolutions against the Stamp
Act. When Henry compared George III to the tyrants Julius
Caesar and Charles I, he was accused of treason.
Reconstructed texts of the Caesar-Brutus
Speech
"A private letter from Virginia," London
Gazetteer, August 13, 1765
Mr. [Henry] has lately
blazed out in the Assembly, where he compared [George III]
to a Tarquin, a Caesar, a Charles the First, threatening
him with a Brutus, or an Oliver Cromwell; yet Mr. [Henry]
was not sent to the Tower: but having prevailed to get some
ridiculous violent Resolutions passed, rode off in triumph.
John Burk, History of Virginia
(1805)
"Caesar," said he, "had
his Brutus, Charles his Cromwell, and (pausing) George the
third (here a cry of treason, treason was heard, supposed
to issue from the chair, but with admirable presence of
mind he proceeded) may profit by their examples. Sir, if
this be treason," continued he, "make the most of it."
Edmund Randolph, History of
Virginia (ca. 1809)
On May 29, 1765, Mr. Henry
plucked the veil from the shrine of parliamentary omnipotence.
He inveighed against the usurpation of Parliament in their
avowed purpose at a future day of charging stamp and other
duties in the colonies without their consent. . . . In his
harangue, he certainly indulged a strain never before heard
in the royal Capitol. This circumstance passed while he
was speaking: "Caesar," cried he, "had his Brutus; Charles
the first his Cromwell; and George the third -" "Treason,
sir," exclaimed the Speaker, to which Henry instantly replied,
"and George the third, may he never have either." This dexterous
escape or retreat, if it did not savor of lively eloquence,
was of itself a victory. He carried through the committee
of the whole house all the resolutions which he proposed.
But on the succeeding day, when they were reported to the
house itself, the two last, as being too inflammatory, were
laid aside. . . . The governor, after the public business,
omitted the civility of a parting speech and dissolved the
House of Burgesses by a simple fiat. Thus by the suspicion
attending colonial management and an excessive confidence
in their own security did the British ministry become the
pioneers to the dismemberment of the empire.
William Wirt, Life of Patrick Henry (1817)
It was in the midst of this magnificent debate, while he
was descanting on the tyranny of the obnoxious Act, that
he exclaimed, in a voice of thunder, and with the look of
a god, "Caesar had his Brutus - Charles the first, his Cromwell
- and George the third - ('Treason,' cried the Speaker -
'treason, treason,' echoed fro every part of the House.
- It was one of those trying moments which is decisive of
character. - Henry faltered not an instant; but rising to
a loftier attitude, and fixing on the Speaker an eye of
the most determined fire, he finished his sentence with
the firmest emphasis) may profit by their example. If this
be treason, make the most of it.
A visiting Frenchman's
account of Henry's Caesar-Brutus Speech
May the 30th. Set out early from half-way house in the chair
and broke fast at York[town], arived at Williamsburg at
12, where I saw three negroes hanging at the galous for
having robbed Mr. Waltho[w] of 300 pounds. I went immediately
to the Assembly which was seting, where I was entertained
with very strong debates concerning dutys that the Parlement
wants to lay on the America colonys, which they call or
stile stamp dutys. Shortly after I came in, one of the members
stood up and said he had read that in former time Tarquin
and Julius had their Brutus, Charles had his Cromwell, and
he did not doubt but some good American would stand up in
favour of his Country; but (says he) in a more moderate
manner, and was going to continue, when the Speaker of the
House rose and, said he, the last that stood up had spoke
traison, and [he] was sorey to see that not one of the members
of the House was loyal enough to stop him before he had
gone so far. Upon which the same member stood up again (his
name is Henery) and said that if he had afronted the Speaker
or the House, he was ready to ask pardon, and he would shew
his loyalty to His Majesty King George the third at the
expence of the last drop of his blood; but what he had said
must be attributed to the interest of his country's dying
liberty which he had at heart, and the heat of passion might
have lead him to have said something more than he intended;
but, again, if he said anything wrong, be begged the Speaker
and the House's pardon. Some other members stood up and
backed him, on which that afaire was droped.
May the 31st. I returned to the Assembly to-day, and heard
very hot debates stil about the stamp dutys. The whole House
was for entering resolves on the records but they differed
much with regard [to] the contents or purport thereof. Some
were for shewing their resentment to the highest. One of
the resolves that these proposed, was that any person that
would offer to sustain that the Parlement of England had
a right to impose or lay any tax or dutys whatsoever on
the American colonys, without the consent of the inhabitants
therof, should be looked upon as a traitor, and deemed an
enemy to his country: there were some others to the same
purpose, and the majority was for entring these resolves;
upon which the Governor disolved the Assembly, which hinderd
their proceeding.
Thomas Jefferson's recollection
of the Caesar-Brutus Speech
I well remember the cry of treason, the pause of Mr. Henry
at the name of George the Third and the presence of mind
with which he closed his sentence, and baffled the charge
vociferated.
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