Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/372

 348 ' SKETCHES OF THE

fate of the people of Ireland? A great part of that island was confiscated, though the Irish people thought thf^mselves engaged in a laudable cause. What confis- cation and punishments were inflicted in Scotland? The plains of Cnlloden, and the neighbouring gibbets^ would show you. I thank heaven, that the spirit of liberty, under the protection of the Almighty, saved us from experiencing so hard a destiny. But had we been subdued, would not every right have been wrested from us? What right would have been saved? Would debts have been saved? Would it not be absurd to save debts, while they should burn, hang, and destroy? Before we can decide with precision, we are to consi- der the dangers we should have been exposed to, had w^e been subdued. After presenting to your view this true picture of what would have been our situation, had we been subjugated — surely a correspondent right will be found, growing out of the law of nations, in our favour. Had our subjugation been effected, and we pleaded for pardon — represented that we defended the most valuable rights of human nature,, and thought they were wrong — would our petition have availed? I feel myself impelled from what has past, to ask this ques- tion. I would not wish to have lived to see the sad scenes we should have experienced. Needy avarice and savage cruelty would have had full scope. Hungiy Germans, blood-thirsty Indians, and nations of another colour, would have been let loose upon us. The sad effects of such warfare have had their full influence on a number of our fellow-citizens. Sir, if you had seen the sad scenes which I have known; if you had seen the simple but tranquil felicity of helpless and unoffending women and children, in little log huts on the frontiers, disturbed and destroyed by the sad effects of British

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