Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/314

 290 SKETCHES OF THE

^' This government is so new^ it ivants a name! I wish its other novelties loere, as harmless as this. We are told, however, that collectively taken, it is without an exam- ple! — that it is national in this part^ ^nd federal in that part, &c. We may be amused if we please, by a treatise of political anatomy. In the brain, it is national: the stamina are federal — some limbs are fedei^al, others luUioyud. The senators are voted for by the state legislatures — so far it is federal. Individuals choose the members of the first branch — here it is national It \s federal in conferring general powers; but national in retaining them. It is not to be supported by the states — the pockets of individuals are to be searched for its maintenance. What signifies it to me, that you have the most curious anatomical description of it in its crea- tion? To all the common purposes of legislation, it is a great consolidation of government You are not to have the right to legislate in any but trivial cases: you are not to touch private contracts: you are not to have the right of having armies, in your own defence: you can- not be trusted with dealing out justice between man and man. What shall the states have to do? Take care of the poor — repair and make highways — ei^ect hidges — and so on, and so on! Abolish the state legislatures at once. What purposes should they be continued for? Our legislature will indeed be a ludicrous spectacle — 180 men, marching in solemn farcical procession, exhi- biting a mournfid proof of the lost liberty of their conn- tty, withoid tJie power ofrestonng it. But sir, we have the consolation, that it is a mixed government! that is. it may work sorely in your neck; but you will have some comfort by saying, that it teas a federal government in its origin!^'

Notwithstanding this ridicule however, thrown on some of their arguments, Mr. Henry did not fail, on

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