Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/230

206 to attempt to balance a suspicion, without the shadow of proof, against the whole course of a long and patriotic life. The charge, moreover, seems preposterous. What advantage could a rational man promise himself from the dictatorship of a single state, embarked with twelve other sovereign and independent states, in one common cause; a cause too, now so well understood by the whole body of the American people, and in which all their souls were so intensely engaged? The man who was at the head of the armies of the union, might have played the part of Cæsar or Cromwell, had he possessed their wicked spirit; but what could the dictator of a single state do, and that too, a state of firm and enlightened patriots?

It is impossible to believe that the legislature themselves could have entertained a doubt of Mr. Henry's innocence; since at the next annual election for governor, which took place on the 30th of May 1777, he was re-elected unanimously; the house being composed of nearly the same members, and the same colonel Cary being speaker of the senate. This honourable proof of confidence, by those who best knew the whole case—who watched with a scrutiny so severely jealous, the conduct of our prominent men—and among whom, were some who derived no pleasure from the public honours of Mr. Henry—will be decisive of this question, with every man who is dispassionately searching for the truth, and is willing to find it.

This very honourable mark of the confidence of the legislature, in re-electing him unanimously to the office of governor, affected Mr. Henry most sensibly; and to the committee who announced it to him, he gave the following answer: