Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/322

 298 ^SKETCHES OF THE

the spirit which predominated in the revokition, is not yet gone; nor the cause of those who are attached to the revokition, yet lost — I shall therefore patiently wait, in expectation of seeing that government changed, so as to be compatible with the safety, liberty, and hap- piness of the people/'

The objections however, which had been urged, and the arguments by which they had been supported, al- though they had not succeeded in preventing the ratifi- cation of the constitution, had produced a very serious effect on the house. Before their final dissolution, they agreed to a bill of rights, and a series of amend- ments (twenty in number) embracing and providing for the objections of Mr. Henry and his associates. A copy of these amendments engrossed on parchment, and sign- ed by the president of the convention, was ordered to be transmitted to congress, together with the instru- ment of ratification. Similar copies were ordered to be transmitted to the executives and legislatures of the several states; and fifty copies of the ratification and proposed amendments, were ordered to be struck for the use of each county in this commonwealth*

Mr. Heniy lost no ground with the people, at the time, for the part which he had taken on this occasion: and when afterwards the constitution began to develope its tendencies by practical operation, so many of his pre- dictions were believed by a majority of the people of Virginia to be fulfilled, and so many more in a rapid progress of fulfilment, that his character for political penetration rose liigher than ever. That he had lost no ground at the time, two signal proofs were given in the session of assembly immediately following that of the convention. The latter body rose on the 27th of

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