Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/293

 ibrmed us of Iwnrors which he felt, of apprehensions in his mind, which made him tremblingly fearful of the fate of the commonivealth. Mr. Chairman, was it pro- per to appeal to the fear of this house? The question before us belongs to the judgment of this house; I trust he is come to judge and not to alarm. I trust that he, and every other gentleman in this house, comes with a firm resolution, coolly and calmly to examine, and fairly and impartially to determine.^^

In the further progress of his speech, general Lee again said, rather tauntingly, of Mr. Henry: — " The gentleman sat down as he began, leaving us to ruminate on the horrors with which he opened.^^

Mr. Henry rising immediately after these sarcastic remarks, gave a striking specimen of that dignified self- command, and that strict and uniform decon^im, by which he was so pre-eminently distinguished in debate. Far from retorting the sarcasms of his adversary, he seemed to have heard nothing but the compliments with which they stood connected, and rising slowly from his seat, with a countenance expressive of unaffected humility, he began with the following modest and disqualifymg exordium. ^^ Mr. Chairman — I am much obliged to the very worthy gentleman for his encomium. I wish I was possessed of talents, or possessed of any things that might enable me to elucidate this great subject. I own, sir, I am not free from suspicion. I am apt to entertain doubts. I rose on yesterday, not to enter upon the discussion, but merely to ask a question which had arisen in my own mind. When I asked that ques- tion, I thought the meaning of my interrogation was obvious. The fate of America may depend on this question. Have they said, ive^ the states? Have they

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