Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/227

 ��SECTION VII.

Shortly after Mr. Heniy^s election as governor, lord Dunmore was driven from Gw^inn^s island and from the state, to retm^n to it no more; and Virginia w^as left in repose from every external enemy. No opportunity, therefore, was afforded to the governor to distinguish himself in the exercise of that important constitutional power, which created him the commander in chief of the forces of the state. Duties however, of more importance than lustre, remained for the executive of the state — in keeping up the ardour of the common- wealth in the public cause — in furnishing and forward- ing their quota of military supplies to the grand conti- nental army — in awakening the spirit of the state to the importance of disciphne, and preparing the militia for the effectual discharge of their routine of duty — in watching and crushing the intrigues of the tories who still infested the state, and went about clandestinely, preaching disaf- fection to the patriot cause, and submission to Great Britain — in counteracting the schemes of speculating monopolists and extortioners, who sought to avail them- selves of the necessities of the times, and to grow rich by preying on the misfortunes of the people — in short, in eradicating and removing those numerous moral diseases, which spring up with so much fecundity, and flourish so luxuriantly, amid the calamities of a revolu- tion — and in keeping the body pohtic pure and healthy in all its parts. The numerous and well directed pro- clamations with which the papers of the day abound, attest the vigilance and energy with which these duties

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