Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/285

 man of Mr. Henry's disposition and habits, at his time of Hfe, and tempest-beaten as he was, to resume the practise of such a profession as the law. He would not, however, undertake the technical duties of the profes- sion; his engagements were confined to the argument of the cause; and his clients had of course, to employ other counsel, to conduct the pleadings, and ripen their cases for hearing. Hence his practise was restricted to difficult and important cases; but his great reputation kept him constantly engaged: he was frequently called to distant courts: the light of his eloquence shone in every quarter of the state, and thousands of tongues were every where employed in repeating the fine effu- sions of his genius.

The federal constitution, the fruit of the convention at Philadelphia, had now come forth, and produced an agitation which had not been felt since the return of peace. The friends and the enemies to its adoption, were equally zealous and active in their exertions to promote their respective wishes; the presses through- out the continent, teemed with essays on the subject; and the rostrum, the pulpit, the field, and the forest, rung with declamations and discussions of the most animated character. Eveiy assemblage of people, for whatsoever purpose met, either for court or church, muster or barbacue, presented an arena for the poli- tical combatants; and in some quarters of the union, such was the public anxiety of the occasion, that gen- tlemen in the habit of public speaking, converted them- selves into a sort of itinerant preachers, going from county to county, and from state to state, collecting the people by distant appointments, and challenging all ad- versaries to meet and dispute with them, the propriety of the adoption of the federal constitution. All who

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