Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/420

396 After this speech, the polls were opened; and he was elected by his usual commanding majority.

His intention having been generally known for some time before the period of the state elections, the most formidable preparations were made to oppose him in the assembly. Mr. Madison, (the late president of the United States,) Mr. Giles of Amelia, Mr. Taylor of Caroline, Mr. Nicholas of Albemarle, and a host of young men of shining talents, from every part of the state, were arrayed in the adverse rank, and commanded a decided majority in the house. But heaven in its mercy, saved him from the unequal conflict. The disease which had been preying upon him for two years, now hastened to its crisis; and on the sixth day of June, 1799, this friend of liberty and of man, was no more.

Here let us pause. The storm of 1799, thank heaven! has passed away; and we again enjoy the calm and sunshine of domestic peace. We are able, now, to see with other eyes, and to feel with far different hearts. Who is there, that, looking back upon the part which he bore in those scenes, can say that he was at no time guilty of any fault of conduct, any error of opinion, or any vicious excess of feeling? The man who can say this, is either very much to be pitied, or most exceedingly to be envied. But whatever we may be disposed to say or to think of ourselves, there can be very little doubt, that that Being, who is the searcher of hearts, sees very much during that period, to be forgiven in us all. It would indeed, be presumptuous in the extreme, amid the universal admission which is made, of the imperfection of human nature, in the happiest