On Federal Healthcare Reform: The Ghost of Patrick Henry

January 20, 2010

The questing before the House [and Senate] is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery… Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country…

… it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. [And a majority did in the last presidential election]…

…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 [progressives, liberals, socialists, communists, fascists and collectivists of all ilk]… to justify those hopes with which [Democrat leaders] have been pleased to solace themselves [in] the House [and Senate]…. Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves. 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 implored [Presidential] interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the [Federal bureaucracy to be established by the House and Senate]. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional… insult; [we] have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the… [President and his minions]! In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of… reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free-- if we mean to preserve inviolate [our unalienable rights]… --if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle --we must fight [with our voices and our votes]! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! [Speak out!] An appeal to [voting]… is all that is left us!

They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary [as the Chicago political machine]. 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 [an Acorn or SEIU] 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 [denied us the vote and the right of free speech on the airways]? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature [and our forbearers] hath placed in our power. The millions of people, [fired up] 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… The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. …There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are being forged [in the House and Senate]! [Yesterday, a response to] their clanking [was] heard on the plains of Boston! …

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace-- but there is no peace. …[The] gale [of press coverage] that sweeps from the north [has brought] to our ears the [crash] of [dynastic political machinery]! Our brethren are already in the [voting booth]! 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!