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SPEECH ON THE BREAKING OUT OF THE WAR OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE.

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 syren, 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 our 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? any enemy in this quarter of the world, 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

Has Great Britain to call for all this

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 hath 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 pre

sides 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!--PATRICK HENRY (an American patriot, who distinguished himself by his speeches in favour of opposing Great Britain, at the breaking out of the revolutionary war).

SPEECH (1753) FOR REPEALING THE ACT CALLED THE JEW BILL.

MR. SPEAKER,-I see no occasion to enter at present into the merits of the bill we passed the last session for the naturalization of Jews; because I am convinced, that, in the present temper of the nation, not a single foreign Jew would think it expedient to take the benefit of that act; and, therefore, the repealing of it is giving up nothing. A wise government will know when to yield as well as when to resist; and there is no surer mark of littleness of mind in an administration than obstinacy in trifles. Public wisdom must, on some occasions, condescend to give way to popular folly, especially in a free country, where the humour of the people must be considered as attentively as the humour of a king in an absolute monarchy.

It has been, hitherto, the felicity of his Majesty's reign, that his subjects have enjoyed such a freedom from angry religious disputes, as has not been paralleled in any former times. The true Christian spirit of moderation, of charity, of universal benevolence, has prevailed in the people, has prevailed in the clergy of all ranks and degrees, instead of those narrow principles, those bigoted measures, that furious, that implacable, that ignorant zeal, which had often done so much hurt both to the church and the state. But, from the ill-understood, insignificant act of parliament which you are now moved to repeal, occasion has been taken to deprive us of this inestimable advantage. It behoves the piety, as well as the wisdom of Parliament, to disappoint their endeavours. The very worst mischief that can be done to religion, is to pervert it to the purposes of faction. Heaven and Hell are not more opposite than the benevolent spirit of the gospel, and the malignant spirit of party. The most impious wars ever made, were those called holy wars. He who hates another man for not being a Christian, or of his particular sect, is himself not a Christian. Christianity, sir, breathes love, and peace, and goodwill to man. A temper conformable to the dictates of that holy religion has lately distinguished this nation; and a glorious distinction it was! But there is latent, at all times, in the minds of many, a spark of enthusiasm, which, if blown by the breath of a party, may, even when it seems quite extinguished, be suddenly revived, and raised to a flame. The act of last session, for naturalizing Jews, has very unexpectedly administered fuel to the flame. To what a height it may rise, if it should continue much longer, one cannot easily tell; but, take away the fuel, and it will die of itself.

The repealing of this act appears to be a reasonable and safe condescension; but all beyond this would be dangerous weakness in government: it might open a door to the wildest enthusiasm, and to the most mischievous attacks of political disaffection working upon that enthusiasm. If you encourage and authorize it to fall on the synagogue, it will go from thence to the meeting-house, and, in the end, to the palace. Let us be careful to check its further progress. The more zealous we are to support Christianity,

the more vigilant should we be in maintaining toleration. If we bring persecution, we bring back the anti-Christian spirit of popery; and, when the spirit is here, the whole system will soon follow. Toleration is the basis of all public quiet. It is a charter of freedom given to the mind, more valuable, I think, than that which secures our persons and estates. Indeed, they are inseparably connected; for, where the mind is not free, where the conscience is enthralled, there is no freedom. Spiritual tyranny puts on the galling chains; but civil tyranny is called in, to rivet and fix them. We see it in Spain, and many other countries: we have formerly both seen and felt it in England. By the blessing of God, we are now delivered from all kinds of oppression. Let us take care that they may LORD LYTTLETON.

never return.

SPEECH ON THE SECOND READING OF THE
REFORM BILL, IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS.
Ост. 7тн, 1831.

You stand, my Lords, on the brink of a great event; you are in the crisis of a whole nation's hopes and fears. An awful importance hangs over your decision. Pause ere you plunge! There may not be any retreat! It behoves you to shape your conduct by the mighty occasion. They tell you not to be afraid of personal consequences in discharging your duty; I, too, would ask you to banish all fears; but, above all, that most mischievous, the most despicable, the fear of being thought afraid. If you will not take counsel from me, take example from the statesmanlike conduct of the noble Duke; while you also look back, as you may, with satisfaction on your own. He was told, and you were told, that the impatience of Ireland for equality of civil rights was partial, the clamour transient, likely to pass away with its temporary occasion; and that yielding to it, would be conceding to intimidation. What, nevertheless, did your Lordships do? Your duty! For you despised the cuckoo-note of the season, "not to be inti

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