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Show 1DHO SAID "I am not a Virginian but an American." TJAD Patrick Henry lived 50 years later than lie did, would we have clung to his asxenon that he was a citizen of the United States, rather than of Virginia? It was on this question of whether I be citizens of the United States were citizens of the nation or of the state in which they lived that the Civil war was fought and finally decided in favor of those holding to the theory j here enunciated by l'ati'ick Henry. ! V course, maiu nn) L"" I fore the real development of the I1H' ! tion into states. They were but loose-i loose-i iv organized colonies before the Revo-1 Revo-1 lutlonarv war and their structure had j not changed greatly before death claimed ti.e renowned orator. Had Patrick Henry lived later in the his-I his-I trv of bis country it is quite likely ' that bis intense love for Virginia ! would have caused him to alter the I declaration quoted above. Patrick Henry was born In Irglnia in liaii He was given a good education educa-tion and In 17G0 he was admitted to j the bar .,f his native state. Henrys ; ability soon became evident. No other public speaker of his time could sur- pass him in his hold upon -Ids audience ! and his impassioned addresses played i a prominent part in lining up the col-! col-! onists against the British. He was I one of the most bitter opponents of ; the Stamp Act and it was his repeated speeches against It that made its enforcement en-forcement practically Impossible. The one declaration best remembered remem-bered of this orator is the famous one: "I know not what course others may take: but as for me give me liberty or give me death." Patrick Henry died in 1709 Wayne D. McMurray. ( George Matthew Adams.) O |