Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/299

 iiig their liberty to be wTested from them, have groaned under intolerable despotism! Most of the human race are now in this deplorable condition. And those na- tions who have gone in search of grandeur, power, and splendour, have also fallen a sacrifice, and been the victims of their own folly. While they acquired those visionary blessings, they lost their freedom. My great objection to this government is, that it does not leave us the means of defending our rights, or of wag- ing war against tyrants. It is urged by some gentlemen^ that this new plan will bring us an acquisition of strength, an army, and the militia of the states. This is an idea extremely ridiculous: gentlemen cannot be in earnest. This acquisition ivill trample on your fallen liberty! Let my beloved Americans guard against that fatal lethargy that has pervaded the universe. Have we the means of resisting disciplined armies, when our only defence, the militia, is put into the hands of con- gress.^ The honourable gentleman said, that great danger would ensue, if the convention rose without adopting this system. I ask, where is that danger? I see none. Other gentlemen have told us within these walls, that the union is gone — or, that the union will be gone. Is not this trifling with the judgment of their fel- low-citizens? Till 'they tell us the ground of their fears, I will consider them as imaginary. I rose to make in- quiry where those dangers were; they could make no answer: I believe I never shall have that answer. Is there a disposition in the people of this country to re- volt against the dominion of laws? Has there been a single tumult in Virginia? Have not the people of Vir- ginia, when labouring under the severest pressure of accumulated distresses, manifested the most cordial acquiescence in the execution of the laws? WhdX could

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