Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/363

 might imagine that they saw the objects at the very instant when they vanished in the distance, and became commingled with the air: and all this too, without any affected pause to give it effect; without any apparent effort on his part; but with all the quickness of thought and all the ease of nature.) " The case of sovereign and independent nations at war, is far different; because there, private right is respected, and domestic asylum held sacred. — Was it the case in our war? No, sir. — Daggers were planted in your chambers, and mischief!, death and destruction, might meet you at your fireside. There is an essential variance between the late wai* and common wars. In common wars, children arc not obliged to fight against their fathers, nor brothers against brothers, nor kindred against kindredf Our men were compelled, contrary to the most sacred ties of humanity, to shed the blood of their dearest connec- tions. In common wars, contending parties respect municipal rights, and leave, even to those they invade, the means of paying debts, and complying with obliga- tions: they touch not private property. For example, when a British arn)y lands in France, they plundei* nothing: they pay for what they have, and respect the tribunals of justice, unless they have a mind to be call- ed a savage nation. — Were we thus treated.^ Were we permitted to exercise industiy and to collect debts, by which we might be enabled to pay British creditors? Had we a power to pursue commerce? No, sir. — What became of our agriculture? Our inhabitants were mer- cilessly and brutally plundered, and our enemies pro- fessed to maintain their army by those means only. Our slaves carried away, our crops burnt, a cruel war carried on against our agriculture — disability to pay debts produced by pillage and devastation^ conti^ry to

�� �