Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/346

 3-22 SKETCHES OF THE

viduals. But, when to the character of Christian you add the character of patriot, you are in a different situa- tion. Our mild and holy system of religion inculcates an admirable maxim of forbearance. If your enemy smites one cheek, turn the other to him. But you must stop there. You cannot apply this to your country. As members of a social community, this maxim does not apply to you. When you consider injuries done to your country, your political duty tells you of vengeance. Forgive as a private man, but never forgive pubhc inju- ries. Observations of this nature are exceedingly un- pleasant, but it is my duty to use them.^^

With the same primeval simplicity, he enters upon the argument; not making a formal division of the whole subject, but merely announcing the single proposition which he was about to maintain, for the time; thus, im- mediately after the exordium which has been quoted, he proceeds thus:

" The first point which I shall endeavour to establish will be, that debts, in common wars, become subject to forfeiture; and if forfeited in common wars, much more must they be so, in a revolution war, as the late contest was. In considering this subject, it will be necessary to define what a debt is. — I mean by it an engagement, or promise by one man to pay to another, for a valuable consideration, an adequate price. By a contract thus made, for a valuable consideration, there arises what, in the law phrase is called a lien, on the body and goods of the promissor or debtor. This interest which the creditor becomes entitled to, in the goods and body of his debtor, is such as may be taken from the creditor, if he be found the subject of a hostile country. This

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