Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/294

 270 SKETCHES OF THE

made a proposal of a compact between states. If they had, this would be a confederation; it is, otherwise, most clearly, a consolidated goveiiiment. The whole question turns, sir, on that poor little thing; the ex- pression, we, the people, instead of, the states of America/^

He then proceeded to set forth, in terrible array, his various objections to the constitution; not confining himself to the clauses under debate, but ranging through the whole instrument, and passing from objection to objection, as they followed each other in his mind. This departure from the rule of the house, although at first view censurable, was insisted upon by himself and his colleagues, as being indispensable to a just exami- nation of the particular clause under consideration; because the policy or impohcy of any provision, did not always depend upon itself alone, but on other provisions with which it stood connected, and indeed, upon the whole system of powers and checks that were associated with it in the same instrument, and thus formed only parts of one entire whole. The truth of this position, in relation to some of the provisions, could not be justly denied; and a departure once made from the rigour of the rule, the debate became at large, on every part of the constitution; the disputants at every stage, looking forward and backward throughout the whole instru- ment, without any controul other than their own dis- cretion. Thus freed from restraints, under which his genius was at all times impatient, uncoupled and let loose to range the whole field at pleasure, Mr. Henry seemed to have recovered, and to luxuriate in all the powers of his youth. He had, indeed, occasion for them all; for while he was supported by only three effective

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