A Biography of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, and of Washington and Patrick Henry: With an appendix, containing the Constitution of the United States, and other documentsJudson, L. Carroll (Levi Carroll)
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A Biography of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, and of Washington and Patrick Henry: With an appendix, containing the Constitution of the United States, and other documents
Judson, L. Carroll (Levi Carroll)
Henry, Patrick, 1736-1799; United States. Declaration of Independence -- Signers; Washington, George, 1732-1799
Thus oppressed by want and disease, he was unable to again take his
seat in Congress, but was ever ready to give counsel and advice, and
was often consulted. His opinions had great weight, and in this way his
country continued to be benefitted long after disease had fastened its
iron hand upon him. Among his complicated afflictions he had a cancer
upon the neck, which rendered his situation painful in the extreme.
He endured his sufferings with christian fortitude until the 28th of
February, 1781, when death relieved him from his burden of afflictions,
and assigned him a place amongst the peaceful dead. He died at his
native residence, near Princeton, in the 51st year of his age, mourned,
_deeply_ mourned, by all his numerous acquaintances and by his country.
Thus prematurely ended the brilliant career of one of Columbia’s
noblest sons. He was a man of general science and universal knowledge.
He was the first chief justice of his native state under the new
constitution. As a lawyer he stood pre-eminent; as a judge he was
impartial, sound, and lucid; as a statesman, able, discreet, and
wise; as a patriot, firm, fearless, and devoted; as a gentleman,
polished, urbane, and graceful; as a citizen, liberal, peaceful, and
generous; as a friend, true, sympathetic, and charitable; as a husband,
kind, affectionate, and provident; as a father, faithful, tender,
and instructive; as a christian, open, frank, and consistent; as a
man, honest, noble, and brave; and as a whole, he was an ornament in
society, an honour to his country, and a blessing to mankind.
SAMUEL ADAMS.
It is a fact worthy of remark, that many of the most eminent sages
of the American revolution were devoted and consistent professors of
christianity, and some of them ministers of the cross. They all seem
to have been actuated by motives pure as Heaven, and influenced alone
by the demands of imperious duty, based upon the inalienable rights of
man. They were not prompted to action from a love of conquest or of
military glory. Their pilgrim fathers fled from the clanking chains of
servile oppression, and planted the standard of civilization in the new
world, that they might enjoy FREEDOM in its native purity, and transmit
the rich behest to their offspring. The principles of rational liberty
were enforced upon the minds of each rising generation, and when
tyranny reared its hydra head, they readily recognised the monster, and
resolved, nobly resolved, to drive from their shores the invading foe.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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