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ADDRESS OF GEORGE GILMER TO THE INHABITANTS OF ALBEMARLE (late April, 1775)

Notwithstanding the censure and illiberal abuse I have received in particular for appearing active in the Weighty affairs of my Country and County ; Notwithstanding the ungenteel reflections thrown out against the conduct of persons in public business, I cannot help once more addressing you….

The Need to Unite and Act

We now can have no doubts of the B[ritish] Parliament’s determined resolve to enforce, if possible, those oppressive acts which are subversive of our rights, whether natural, acquired, or obtained on the faith of Kings…. Were we subject to the control of B. Parliament (which thinks itself Omnipotent), who amongst you would relish being in perpetual awe of a Board of Commissioners, by them appointed and vested with full power of forcibly entering your houses, when any one shall, out of whim of his own brain, please so to do, there to break up and destroy all such furniture as he shall suspect to contain contraband goods…?

Some amongst you may be much surprised that this important contest between Great Britain and her Colonies should have originated from such a trivial incident as it did…, Had we yielded in this point, where is the power that would have stood forth and boldly asserted that the Parliament of G. B. should go thus far and no farther? Persons unacquainted with the avarice and Luxury of an infamous set of Ministers cannot Judge how ruinous our submitting to the Parliament of G. B. would be. Who could suffer, as their poor constituents do, merely to support a small circle of debauched nobility and pensioned sycophants, To have their Land enormously taxed ? Who could suffer their Barley, Malt, hops, beer, soap, candles, and almost every convenience in life to be burthened with an enormous, tax, their windows, chimneys, and a thousand other taxes under which they groan?

I now know there are some, God knows too many, amongst us, of such confined views and sordid principles, that they overlook or despise every danger that is distant, and are totally regardless of evils that do not threaten an immediate or contingent fall on themselves. Let such be animated by the glorious example of Numbers who have gone down, left their seats of ease, peace and security, determined to exert their utmost abilities in defence of their Just rights. Should we be less warm than those who have left their secure homes to enter into the field of danger? Ought not we to glow with uncommon ardor when we observe with what cheerfulness and willingness the most distant people embark in the cause of liberty and their Country?

….Their fortitude and resolution will, I hope, convince that Tyrant, Dunmore, that they depend not on multitudes, but on the valour which has hitherto crowned their arms with success. We who are remote from danger on either side, at least the timid part of us, will multiply and anticipate misfortunes that a distempered imagination may persuade us may accrue from a determined resistance. Such as cannot, at this distance from the seat of war, feel its distresses, may want resolution to repel force by force; let me suppose we want inclination, but remember, where there is no wanting every duty becomes urxsome, but a strong desire and willing mind will overcome all our difficulties, and when we unite the head and heart, we shall find the labor of rescuing our country from destruction and our posterity from slavery, to be of more value than all sublunary Joys.

Who, when the most powerful law of nature, that of self-preservation, loudly calls upon him can, at this important crisis, lay unconcerned and undisturbed? Let not ease or imaginary self-interest predominate to your destruction. Make the good of posterity, and our country’s wellfare be our ruling principle, to that are we indebted that we enjoy the inestimable priviledges which our forefathers sacrificed their lives in transmitting whole and entire to us ; and corrupt and degenerate as we are, I hope we shall yet shew that we retain as much of their public virtue as on this occasion to pursue a conduct that shall not entail on us the curse of posterity.

But if we are lost to all public virtue, if we are deaf to every consideration but such as lead to the ease of our precious selves and for the present moment only, it befits such temporizing wisdom, such mean deserters of their country’s cause, to consider whether the evils which may result from their present conduct are so uncertain, are so distant, are so trifling, are so totally undetached from their interests, as that they may repose in security regardless of every evil, every consequence that may ensue. We did all in our power to prevent this contest occasioning the effusion of blood by a method that seemed most plausible to the wisdom of Congress, it is now certain that we only threatened an interruption of trade with Great Britain if the acts complained of were not repealed ; but this threat we have been compelled to execute. Great Britain supposed we should by this plan draw on ourselves the ridicule of the world for idly threatening what they foolishly thought we could not perform. They are now convinced that their foresight was but short.

Had they looked thro’ the glass of reason, and brought within their prospect the dangers they, as well as ourselves, were to encounter, they would then have been convinced that liberty is the choicest gift of heaven; that a brave people, possessed with a full Idea of its real value, would encounter not only the greatest difficulties, but even death itself, rather than submit to its loss. Some amongst us are alarmed, and think we expose ourselves to too great inconveniences for want of the manufactures of Great Britain. These inconveniences (if they are such) are no greater than people of ordinary courage, supported by ordinary motives, may easily overcome. What can we want in a Climate which providence seems to have blessed with his peculiar care, every enjoyment of life we have within ourselves ; but say the lazy, unthinking and indolent, wherewithal shall we be cloathed, or where shall we get implements for carrying on manufactures?

….Let not such imaginary evils Afright us, but let us be united and firm in our opposition ; if we now give way after our brethren have fallen upon us in a hostile manner, and justice bids us defend ourselves by every power which God has given us. We have been hitherto so located as not to avoid the immediate inconveniences and horrors of war, but we have now come to dread that after we have commiserated the calamities of those worthies who have gloriously shone forth in the cause of liberty, sympathized with the distressed widow, felt the orphans’ cries for their fathers slain, lamented the hard fate of thousands burnt out of their habitations, sent naked and helpless from the height of affluence; when we have exhausted ourselves with lamentations for the sufferings of the men, women and children confined to the town of Boston, deprived of their all, in danger every instant of famine and slaughter, we can duly paint distress.

Those who have seen and felt these woes, what anguish must they suffer? But I say when we have felt for the above sufferings, Dunmore will in his turn endeavor to make us experience the same distresses. We have now to dread that tears will sooner cease to flow than the cause to shed them cease. Are we not insulted and attacked by our enemies from every quarter? can we hear these facts and not determine like men of valour and virtue to regard ourselves during the contest no longer as the same people with Great Britain. Let parents instill in their children’s minds inveterate resentment, revenge; nay, the mosthostile disposition towards those people that are our declared foes. Let us all be bound by the most solemn oaths to revenge our countrie’s wrongs. Let us pray for Washingtons, Putnams, Schuylers, to spring up from the wilds of America, and may the torrent of their just rage be sufficient to beat down all tyrannical opposition till Great Britain is influenced by her misfortunes to adopt milder measures with her children from that of blood and slaughter. If we now yield, who is there prophet enough to say what may be the dreadfull consequences. I dare not utter, nor will I pretend to anticipate, evils too great for mortals to support.

Rather than live and behold ourselves subdued, may the Great God of Gods grant me an honorable death in the field of opposition to Tyrants who are aiming our destruction; or rather, O, God ! grant us all resolution and power sufficient, like the strong man, to pluck up the rotten pillars of the British Constitution and bring down the building on the ears of our oppressors. Should Britain be found able to curb our efforts for the present, let keen and just resentment, disgust, and a never-ceasing jealousy fire the breast of every American.

You, my brethren, whose consciences teach you to favour the doctrine of non-resistance, let me beg, before you determine to follow implicitly the dictates of your own consciences, that you would first examine if you have the necessary intelligence to determine the point. If you have not you can neither decide nor undertake any Judgment without being rash and inconclusive ; reason first on the impropriety of your conduct. Give thy cloak to him that took thy coat; Turn the other cheek, are proverbial expressions which are not applicable to the present contest. The Scriptures do not, in general, require any acts of kindness to our enemies which are confessedly prejudicial to our own interests; they do not lay us open and defenceless to the injurious assaults of our enemies. They forbid private revenge, but do not prohibit acts of public justice and an assertion of our important rights against the invaders of them.

I pray none in human shape shall take on the cloak of any particular sect or faith to exclude him from the difficulties and dangers of war; none surely can be base enough to deny contributing their proportion towards the Just cause. …Remember the Convention is the only method we have of getting the voice of the people, and if your delegates should proceed in a manner that you think unjustifiable, take care to elect better men; be carefull to elect disinterested men, men of Candour, who you are convinced will estimate matters independently of temporary whim or opinion and always act for the public good.

This military preparation we are compelled to make is a new scene to us; war is a science we can not expect to become masters of at once. Time, experience and union will soon accomplish everything necessary to command success in our righteous contest. It is impossible for any single person or collective body of men to give universal satisfaction. Nay, some people are so censorious that the best concerted schemes, if brought forth by a person against whom they have the least personal prejudice, they will undertake to condemn the plan because they dislike the person.

When a plan is established, any innovation or disapprobation, unless in a Regular and Constitutional manner, can only be productive of confusion and party. If every man or every neighborhood are to alter and change the plans of the whole community merely for their own convenience, we can never all act together.

The Minutemen Plan

The Minute plan proposed should be executed with all expedition for the immediate advantage and safety of the State. We may object to parts of that system, but till we have made a fair tryal of it, we can not certainly rectify what may be incomplete. The factious and dissatisfied say it is calculated to exempt the gentlemen and to throw the whole burthen on the poor; what poverty of genius must such men have that throw forth these false suggestions. Did we not all indiscriminately mix together as Volunteers ; was there ever any partiality or distinction shewn?

The whole country are yet to be Soldiers. The only point left for emulation is who shall be ready first. I know not from what cause, but every denomination of the people seem backward; the Convention have altered the name Volunteers to that of Minute Men, and behold! what a wondrous effect it has had. Out of near three hundred Volunteers there are how many Minute Men? So few that I am afraid to name them. The Minute Men are to be in Battalion for 20 days; a heavy duty to an unwilling mind, but to such as cheerfully enter the list, the necessity of this duty must obliterate every calculation of inconvenience. We have all to learn to be Soldiers.

There are few amongst us, and nothing but practice in the Military way will or can make us masters of war. I never thought myself ambitious, but am now provoked to wish myself esteemed a person of sufficient importance to actuate one person to think as I do : That a good Soldier is now the most important character in the State, and that he who counteracts or endeavors to dissuade from the service is guilty of high Treason against the Constitution, and that he merits the severest punishment. …It must be sufficiently [clear] to all who will think that every man who participates in the conveniences of the Society of which he is a member should exert himself to the utmost of his abilities, in proportion to each man’s circumstances, to protect and defend the privileges and rights of that Society, and not that a few should sacrifice everything to protect numbers that lay by and do nothing, when the matter in dispute is of equal importance to the whole.

….For our Country’s sake, for the sake of future generations that may spring from our loins, let us all contribute liberally and cavail not ; public protestations are in general little regarded. I have, however, such Confidence in some few of you, that I hope you’l believe me, when, before heaven, I declare to you, I had rather die in the very arms of poverty than yield one jot to Tyrants whose lusts and corruptions have already brought the first Kingdom in the world to the very brink of destruction.

….At this juncture all private interest should be sacrificed to the public good. Yet, notwithstanding the importance of this admonition, the history of mankind instructs us that this disinterested conduct is rare to be met with. Heaven send us patriots possessed of virtue and wisdom enough to render them independent of every other object but the good of their country. ….I am averse to any distinction of people or places, yet I can not help this observation, that the People of Albemarle have been applauded everywhere for their earnestness in the Volunteer business. But hitherto there has been nothing for them to do. There now appears a manifest certainty of our being attacked both by sea and land. How shall those be esteemed who were the most forward on a former emergency, if they now fall back, when every day is big with danger ?

This is a matter. Gentlemen, that requires your most serious attention, on your own, as well as your Countrie’s account. We were once all fire, now most of us are become inanimate and indifferent. Let us all rouze what spirit resides in our constitutions and now put in practice what before we only boldly talked of. Let me recommend your being all ready for action on a minute’s notice — become regularly Minute men, or we shall not know who to call on in the moment of danger. I have, Gentlemen, by the earnest solicitation of several, got liberty of Capt. Nicholas Lewis (with whom I enlisted as Minute soldier) to accept the Captain’s command for the other company to be raised in this county.

….I am now ready and willing to submit to the determination of such as are or intend to become minute men, whether I shall continue Captain or become a common soldier; in whichever station you think I can render the cause most service, I will most cheerfully act. ….The name we are called by, declares we are to be always ready for action on a minute’s warning. If we consider this matter well, we shall find we ought to conduct ourselves with the greatest prudence and circumspection, not to do anything that shall render us incapable of acting up to the name, The first step towards becoming a good soldier is becoming in every respect a good man.

We should beware Of every species of debauchery; have all our affairs settled, and not when we are called upon say it does not suit — an excuse that some make at this period. Some few, no doubt, are so situated as to render it impracticable to become Minute Men, but numbers it does not suit because they have no inclination to sacrifice their own ease and interests to their country’s welfare; let these set down and calculate what an army we shall have if none were to act but such as it suited. Shame overtake such as have no better argument than their own convenience. Who does it suit to leave their dearest connections, perhaps never to return.

Ye fair, who feel for your offspring’s sakes, animate your husbands to the field of battle; bid them quit themselves like men, and fight ! Ye tender fair ! ye Virgins, whose hearts are on the brink of yielding to the fond one’s wish, boldly postpone the mingling Joys, and spurn the lover that would linger in this hour of danger when his country calls for his assistance. With what rapture will you receive your sweetheart’s returning from battles not fought in vain, loaded with honors and his country’s praise, then crown all his hopes with a heavenly welcome to all your charms.

Prayer for God’s Help

….May that God who carries Victory in his hands guide and conduct us all through every danger! Let us exert our utmost pow’er, and be carefull not to put too great confidence in our strength, nor trust too far to Chariots or horses. The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but God giveth the victory. Let us become united as one band of brothers, of one mind and one voice. Lord teach us to despise those who are slaves thro’ choice, and grant that we may never be such thro’ necessity! Now to Him, from whom all seek aid, the only interpreter of right, who breathes equity, and curbs too rigid law with impartial reason, Guide us in the day of battle, inspire us with that true courage which is not to be overcome.

Let us pray.

Omnipotent and Everlasting God, against whom no power can resist, to whom nothing is so insignificant as to be contemned by Thee, who suffereth not a sparrow to fall unnoticed, and numberest the hairs of our head, look upon our calamities with Thine eye of mercy, and let Thine infinite power vouchsafe to limit out some portion of deliverance unto us as to Thee shall seem most fitting. Let not our injuries triumph over us ; suffer our sins by Thy hands to be corrected ; permit not our unjust enemies to be the Ministers of Thy vengeance; but if in thy wisdom this be the aptest Chastisement for our sins and transgressions; if the effusion of blood be fittest for our enormities; if Our pride in not sufficiently humbling ourselves before Thee and adoring Thy name; If the corruption of our not enough humbled hearts be this to be broken, we yield;

we cannot resist Thy will, and must cheerfully embrace what sorrow Thou wilt have us suffer: Only thus, O God, let us pray of Thee let our prayers be accepted, since they even proceed from Thee; that by Thy goodness Thou wilt suffer some beam of Thy majesty so to shine in our minds, that we, who in our greatest affliction, acknowledge it our noblest title to be thy creatures, may still depend confidently on thee; let these, our present calamities, be the exercise, but not the overthrow, of our virtues. O let not their prevailing power be to our destruction; and if it be thy will that they more and more vex us, yet never let their wickedness so triumph over us, but that we may still carry a pure mind and steadfast resolution ever ‘to serve Thee without fear or presumption, yet with that humble confidence which may best please thee.

Teach us all, O God, to rely on Thy providence, at the same time suffer us not to become supine without concern for ourselves; we have no right to expect any miraculous interposition in our behalf, nor to be fed as the Israelites with food from heaven, or think that our territories, like Gideon’s fleece, shall be well watered, while all around is dry and barren. These particular vouchsafements of Thy Divine Providence we cannot expect. Teach us to exert those faculties Thou hast indulged us with to the utmost of our power; to acquit ourselves like diligent, industrious and provident men, that we may crown our labors with success, and reap the harvest of all our merits. We pray Thee, O God, speedily to relieve the distressed— pour Thy healing balm into their wounds, comfort them that mourn, reconcile us to our loss in the departure of our trusty friend and Brother, Peyton Randolph, our late worthy speaker, that truly honest Patriot, the noblest work of Thy hands. Hasten the time, O God, when ail Thy people shall assemble at one altar, adore one God, and at last enter Thine eternal Kingdom, thro’ the merits of Thy Son, our Saviour, Christ Jesus. Amen!