Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/332

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that were necessaiy for cariying it into effect. Hav- ing thus shown thenisehes obedient to the voice of their constituents, all America will find, that so far as it depends on them, that plan of government will be car- ried into immediate operation. But the sense of the people of Virginia, would be but in part complied with, and but little regarded, if we went no further. In the very moment of adoption, and coeval with the ratifica- tion of the new plan of government, the general voice of the convention of this state, pointed to objects no less interesting to the people we represent, and equally entitled to your attention. At the same time, that from motives of affection for our sister states, the convention yielded their assent to the ratification, they gave the most unequivocal proofs, that they dreaded its opera- tion mider the present form.

'' In acceding to a government under this impression, painful must have been the prospect, had they not de- rived consolation from a full expectation of its imper- fections being speedily amended. In this resource, therefore, they placed their confidence — a confidence, that will continue to support them, whilst they have reason to believe, they have not calculated upon it in vain.

" In making known to you the objections of the peo- ple of this commonwealth to the new plan of govern- ment, we deem it unnecessary to enter into a particular detail of its defects, which they consider as involving all the great and unalienable rights of freemen: For their sense on this subject, we refer you to the proceed- ings of their late convention, and the sense of this general assembly, as expressed in their resolutions of the day of.

"We think proper, however, to declare that, in our

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