Speech to the Second Virginia Convention

“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 siren till she transforms us into beasts.” 

This quote reveals patterns in the speech. Henry presented the speech as a direct appeal and often addresses the president of the convention, whom he calls both “Mr. President” and later “sir.” That man was Peyton Randolph. Henry says that while hope is natural, it is also misguided. He fears that the assembly is failing to fully acknowledge the grim reality of their situation, the extent of British infringement on the colonists’ rights. His allusion to a “siren” invokes mythical, mermaidlike creatures who lured sailors to their ruin with enchanted songs. Henry often invokes metaphors to represent colonists that are doomed unless they change their course.

“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 their temporal salvation?” 

The term “salvation” is and was regularly associated with practicing Christianity. Henry talks about “temporal salvation,” which suggests high stakes of biblical proportions. This is one of the first rhetorical questions that Henry employs in his speech.

“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.” 

Henry often makes dramatic statements. He says here that facing the truth of the colonists’ situation might fill his spirit with anguish—torment him—and yet he is willing to so that he might prepare and respond accordingly. This “I” statement, in which Henry speaks through his own experience, situates him on the same plane as his audience. His speech is aimed at illuminating the truth to the other men of the convention. He entices them to face the facts so they might have clarity and forge a plan.

“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.”

Henry’s argues that the colonists must prepare for war, as Britain had already proven itself untrustworthy and ruined hope for peaceful reconciliation. When Henry talks about a “lamp,” he means a guiding light—like a lantern—that illuminates a path through darkness. The “lamp of experience” would illuminate a path forward based on past lessons learned. In this case, the colonists should remember the decade-long struggle they have already had with the British and stop pretending that the relationship between the colonies and the British government is repairable.

“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.”

Henry presents the British as tricksters. He references a petition that the British apparently accepted kindly—at least superficially—just before the convention met. Henry implores the attendees not to be fooled by a façade. While British officials may appear sympathetic with colonists in isolated interactions, they orchestrated a drastic increase in British military presence among the colonists. Henry does not want his countrymen to be sidetracked and convinced that reconciliation is possible, for he thinks that there is no time left to delay in mobilizing for combat.

“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?”

These rhetorical questions develop Henry’s characterization of the British government and military. The “fleets and armies” were visible by this time in the cities and waters around Virginia. Henry asks whether their presence is warranted. He challenges his audience, through rhetorical questions, to recall actions that would warrant an armed threat. In the speech, Henry often presents multiple rhetorical questions back-to-back.

“Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No, sir, she has none. They are meant for us: they can be meant for no other.” 

Occasionally, Henry answers the questions that he presents, although they are still rhetorical in nature. In this case, since this point is so crucial to his argument, he takes to time to repeat and elaborate on an answer. Henry wants his audience to see the increase of British armed forces as an imminent threat. He says there is no reason for the military personnel to be stationed in the colonies other than to surveil and eventually attack the colonists. The British, he insists, have identified the colonists as enemies and targeted them directly.

“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 supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament.”

Henry insists that the colonists have exhausted all other options but war. He argues that the colonists acted appropriately and with deference to a government that failed to return the same respect. Henry uses some exaggeration. He says that the colonists “have prostrated [themselves] before the throne,” which means to kneel and bow deeply to a ruler as a sign of total subjugation. He says that the colonists have remained loyal to their king, blaming other British officials who made legislative decisions for the colonists. The colonists abandoned this deference for the king when they moved toward independence.

“There is no longer any room for hope.”

Henry concludes that there is no hope left for a reconciliation between the colonies and Great Britain. This is a blunt and uncharacteristically short sentence in the speech, which makes it stand out. Instead of wallowing in hopelessness, Henry suggests that the colonists mobilize.

“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!”

This marks a change in tone from the previous sentence, in which Henry said that there was no more hope. Henry changes his tone to a rally. He says twice, “We must fight!” He reiterates that they are out of other options. He reminds his audience that they have been fighting a “noble struggle” worthy of their full effort and sacrifice. He says they could finally obtain the “glorious object” they have long desired and worked for. He briefly mentions God, an appeal which he will expand upon. He wants to move the men to action.

“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.”

One of the ways Henry tries to sway his audience is by insisting that because their cause is just and right, God will be on their side and offer help. It is as though the colonists are fated to succeed in Henry’s view, even if many die in the fight. There is Henry’s reference to “friends.” The colonists did end up with a critical friend: France. The French offered experienced military assistance that greatly aided the colonists against the British. Henry anticipated a broader coalition than what the colonists could forge themselves.

“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 was very common in revolutionary-era documents for white male authors—who resided atop the social hierarchy—to use slavery to describe the colonists’ position in relation to the British. Henry uses that image in this quote. He suggests that to lose to the British would lead to “submission and slavery,” as if the British treatment of the colonists violates all of their rights and freedoms. He says that chains for this bondage are already forged because of the past actions the British had taken. He invites war so that the colonists may actively resist and win their freedom.

“The war is actually begun!”

This is a key component of Henry’s overall argument. Henry presents armed defense as a necessity partially because the British have, in his view, already instigated a war by mistreating the colonists and establishing a threatening military presence within the colonies. Henry says that to not mobilize would be to passively accept attack and defeat.