Page:Sketches of the life and character of Patrick Henry.djvu/53

 at liberty to consult their own safety; that they had coiisulted it by the act of 1758, which, therefore, not- withstanding the dissent of the king and his council, ought to be considered as the law of the land, and the only legitimate measure of the claims of the clergy.

The nature of this topic, and the earnest and un- daunted manner in which Mr. Henry is said to have pursued and maintained it, proves, that even at this pe- riod, which has been marked as the era of our greatest attachment and devotion to the parent country, his mind at least, was disposed to piy into the course of the regal administration, and to speak forth his sentiments without any fear of the consequences. The reception which the people gave to the argument, proves that they also, had no superstitious repugnance to the considera- tion of such topics, nor any very insuperable horror at the idea of a separation. Not that there is ground to suspect that any one had at this time, realized such an event, or even contemplated it as desirable. The sug- gestion, therefore, which I have sometimes heard, that Mr. Henry was already meditating the independence of the colonies, and sowing the seeds of those reflections which he wished to ripen into revolt, is in my opinion, rather curious than just. I believe that he thought of nothing beyond success in his cause; and since the des- perate postiu'e in which he found it, demanded a daring and eccentric course, he adopted that which has been already stated. The character of his argument, proves indeed, that he was naturally a bold and intrepid en- quirer, who w^as not to be overawed from his purpose by the name even of sovereignty' itself; and of course that he was made of good revolutionary materials. But an adequate provocation had not, at this time, been given: and it would be imputing to Mr. Hemy a crimi-

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