University of Virginia Library

LXII.

LXII. FRANCIS FAUQUIER.

LXII. Lieutenant-Governor.

LXII. June 7, 1758, to March 3, 1768.

Francis Fauquier was born in 1703, and was appointed
Lieutenant-Governor of Virginia, February 10, 1758. He
arrived in the Colony on June 7, following. Though he is
sometimes described as having been a man of fashion, with
frivolous tastes, he is by others reputed as one of the wisest
of the colonial governors. Thomas Jefferson says of Governor
Fauquier, that he was "the ablest man who had ever
filled that office." In the first year of his administration,
the coveted French fortress of Fort du Quesne fell into the
hands of the English, and Governor Fauquier has the credit
of having coincided with Washington in his views as to the
importance of gaining this stronghold. It fell, finally, into
the hands of the English, without a blow, and with its fall
ended the war between the French and English, upon the
frontiers of Virginia. Louisburg had been conquered by
the English, who, on July 26, 1758, took entire possession of
the Island of Cape Breton; Fort du Quesne fell on November
25, following, and Ticonderoga, Niagara, and Quebec,
resulted in the final conquest of Canada. The story of the battle
upon the Plains of Abraham affords a thrilling picture in
American history. Wolfe and Montcalm, the central figures
in that bloody scene, each fell, as only heroes fall.
The one, the conqueror Wolfe, died in the arms of victory,
saying with his expiring breath, "Then I die happy";
the other, the conquered Montcalm, when told his wound
was mortal, exclaimed, "I am glad of it; so much
the better; I shall not then live to see the surrender of
Quebec."

In the midst of these triumphs to the British arms, the
King of England, George II., died suddenly, October 25,
1760, and was succeeded by George III., his grandson.

Affairs in Virginia now progressed quietly, and her population
increased rapidly. Washington, after several years of
active service against the Indians and the French, had laid
down his sword and retired for a season to the shades of Mount
Vernon. Virginia was slowly preparing herself, all unconscious
of her destiny, for those high duties which the future
held in store for her. In 1765, the passage of "The Stamp
Act," in London, waked the Slogan in America. It was
viewed as a violation of the British Constitution, and as
destructive of the first principles of liberty. At this momentous
period, there arose in Virginia a man whose burning
eloquence fired the souls and nerved the arms of the Colonists
to strike for "liberty or death." It was a memorable
day, when in the House of Burgesses, Patrick Henry stood,
holding in his hand the Resolutions (against submitting to
the Stamp Act,) which he had traced with a pencil upon the
leaf of an old book. Portentous hour! Quivering in the
balance—a race of vassals, or a great and liberated people!
Henry was unknown to fame, and with his plain, coarse
garb and awkward mien, gave to the world no outward sign
of the veiled genius hidden there. But, like Olympian Jove,
he shook his Ægis and the tempest rolled! Felt were the
thunder and the lightning of his power, and the Resolutions
passed. It is much to be regretted that this burst of passionate
appeal has not been preserved, and that only its
conclusion has come down to us. "Cæsar," he cried, "had
his Brutus, Charles I. his Cromwell, and George III."—
Here he was interrupted by loud cries of "Treason!
treason!" Henry knew that he stood upon the edge of a
precipice, that the daring words he would have uttered would
reveal too much; so with a prudence as masterful as was
his valor, he continued, "and George III. may profit by
their example. If this be treason, make the most of it!"
The news of the adoption of these celebrated Resolutions
spread like wildfire throughout the whole country. They set

forth the facts that Virginians had a right to all the privileges
of English subjects; that, having no representatives in
Parliament, they should not be taxed by Parliament; that
the right of these Colonies to tax themselves had always been
recognized by the Kings and Parliaments of England; and
that no one had a right to tax Virginians but the General
Assembly of Virginia, and to submit to anything else would
destroy American freedom. The other Colonies adopted
similar resolutions, and determined that nothing bearing
the stamp of England should come into the country. This
had the effect of encouraging home institutions, and was
another step in the gradual cutting loose from old relations.

Governor Fauquier, in the progress of all these stirring
events, preserved the respect of the people over whom he
presided. He died March 3, 1768, and until the arrival of
Lord Botetourt in October following, the government again
devolved on John Blair, President of the Council.

The following address and resolutions of the patriots of
the Northern Neck of Virginia, in the year 1765, immediately
after the passage of the Stamp Act, were drawn up by Richard
Henry Lee. It is said to have been the first public association
in the land for resistance to that Act, and fittingly finds
a place under this brief review of Governor Fauquier's term
of office.