Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/419

 what is to be done, when a people feel themselves into- lerably oppressed, my answer is ready: — Overturn the government. But do not, I beseech you, carry matters to this length, without provocation. Wait at least until some infringement is made upon your rights, and which cannot otherwise be redressed; for if ever you recur to another change, you may bid adieu for ever to repre- sentative government. You can never exchange the present government, but for a monarchy. If the admi- nistration have done wrong, let us all go wrong together, rather than split into factions, which must destroy that union upon which our existence hangs. Let us pre- serve our strength for the French, the English, the Ger- mans, or whoever else shall dare to invade our territory, and not exhaust it in civil commotions and intestine wars.^ He concluded, by declaring his design to exert himself in the endeavour to allay the heart-burnings and jealousies which had been fomented in the state legisla- ture ; and he fervently prayed, if he was deemed un- worthy to effect it, that it might be reserved to some other and abler hand, to extend this blessing over the community. ^^

This was the substance of the speech written down at the time by one of his hearers. " There was," says the writer, " an emphasis in his language, to which, like the force of his articulation, and the commanding expression of his eye, no representation can do justice; yet I am conscious of having given a correct transcript of his opinions, and in many instances his very expres- sion.''

Such was the last effort of Mr. Heniy's eloquence: the power of the noon day sun was gone; but its set- ling splendours were not less beautiful and touchin.2;.

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