It voted to melt up the lead weights upon the church
clock for bullets and use other metal in their stead. Although many loyalist
voices urged calm and absolute submission, others like Patrick Henry cried for
action. In his fiery speech before the Virginia House on March 23, 1775, Henry
proclaimed: Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last
ten years. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrance’s complaints have
produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been
disregarded; and we have been spurned with contempt from the foot of the
throne. 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 next week, or
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? 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 presides 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. 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!!!
On April 15, 1775, John Hancock, witnessing the growing
and ominous storm clouds of full scale war, called Massachusetts to a day of
prayer and fasting, explaining that: In circumstances dark as these, it becomes
us as men and Christians to reflect that whilst every prudent measure should be
taken to ward off the impending judgments all confidence must be withheld from
the means we use and reposed only on that God who rules in the armies of heaven
and without whose blessing the best human councils are but foolishness and all
created power vanity.
