Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/162

 138 SKETCHES OF THE

highest importance to American Hberty. In order to give greater dignity and authority to die decisions of that meeting, he convoked to the same place, the county committee. When assembled, he addressed them with all the powers of his eloquence: laid open the plan on which the British ministry had fallen to reduce the colonies to subjection, by robbing them of all the means of defending their rights: spread before their eyes in colours of vivid description, the fields of Lexington and Concord, still floating with the blood of their coun- trymen, gloriously shed in the general cause; showed them that the recent plunder of the magazine in Wil- hamsburg, was nothing more than a part of the general system of subjugation; that the moment was now come in which they were called upon to decide, whether they chose to live free, and hand down the noble inheritance to their children, or to become hewers of wood, and drawers of water to those lordlings, who were them- selves the tools of a corrupt and tyrannical ministry — he painted the country in a state of subjugation, and drew such pictures of wretched debasement and abject vassalage, as filled their souls with horror and indigna- tion — on the other hand, he carried them by the powers of his eloquence, to an eminence like Mount Pisgah; showed them the land of promise, which was to be w on by their valour, under the support and guidance of heaven; and sketched a vision of America, enjoying the smiles of liberty and peace, the rich productions of her agriculture waving on eveiy field, her commerce whitening every sea, in tints so bright, so strong, so glowing, as set the souls of his hearei-s on fire. He had no doubt, he said, that that God, who in former ages had hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he might show forth his power and glory in the redemption of his

�� �