Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/371

 we will find, that the law and practise of that country support my position. In the wars which respect revo- lutions which have taken place in that island — life, for- tune, goods, debts, and everything else were confiscated. The crimen Icesce majestatis, as it is called, involved every thing. Every possible punishment has been inflicted on suffering humanity that it could endure, by the party which had the superiority in those wars, over the defeated party, which was charged with rebellion. What would have been the consequences, sir, if we had been conquered.^ Were we not fighting against that majesty.^ Would the justice of our opposition have been considered.^ The most horrid forfeitures, confisca- tions, and attainders, would have been pronounced against us. Consider their history, from the time of William the first, till this day. Were not his JVormans gratified with the confiscation of the richest estates in England.^ Read the excessive cruelties, attainders^ and confiscations, of that reign. England depopu- lated — its inhabitants stripped of the dearest privi- leges of humanity — degraded with the most igno- minious badges of bondage — and totally deprived of the power of resistance to usurpation and tyranny. This inability continued to the time of Henry the eighth. In his reign, the business of confiscation and attainder made considerable havoc. After his reign, some stop was put to that effusion of blood which preceded and happened under it. Recollect the sad and lamentable effects of the York and Lancastrian wars. Remember the rancorous hatred and inveterate detestations of con- tending factions — the distinction of the white and red roses. To come a little lower — what happened in that island in the rebellions of 1715 and 1745.^ If we had bten conquered, would not our men have shared the

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