Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/416

 39S SKETCHES OF THE

almost entirely, from all communication with those who were best able to explain the grounds, as well as the character and measure of opposition to the offen- jsive measures, which was intended; and the spirit and views of that opposition, were no doubt, aggravated to him by report. Acting as those things did, on the mind of an infirm old man; worn out by the toils and troubles of the past revolution, and naturally wishing for repose: alarmed too, and agonized by the hideous scenes of that revolution which was then going on in France; and tortured by the apprehension, that those scenes were about to be acted over again, in his own country — it is not surprising, that he was dismayed by the vehemence of that political strife which then agitated the United States; nor would it be surprising, if his sohcitude to allay the ferment and restore the peace of society, should in some degree, have obscured the decisions of his mind; and placed him, rather by his fears than his judgment, in opposition to the forcible resistance, which he had been erroneously led to consider, as meditated by the democratic party. In a mind thus prepared, the strong and animated resolutions of the Virginia assembly in 1798, in relation to the alien and sedition laws, con- jured up the most frightful visions of civil v^ar, disunion, blood, and anarchy; and under the impulse of these phan- toms, to make what he considered a virtuous effort for his country, he presented himself in Charlotte county, as a candidate for the house of delegates, at the spring election of 1799.

On the day of the election, as soon as he appeared on the ground, he was surrounded by the admiring and adoring crowd, and whithersoever he moved, the con- course followed him. A preacher of tbc Baptist chitich, whose piety was wounded by this homage paid to a

�� �