Part 19 (1/2)

With great regard, I have the honor to be, Sir, your most obedient servant,

P HENRY[303]

On the first of June, Thomas Jefferson was elected to succeed him in office, but by a ht[304] On the following day Patrick Henry, having received certain resolutions fro hiraciously closed this chapter of his official life by the following letter:--

GENTLEMEN,--The House of Delegates have done reat honor in the vote expressive of their approbation of entlemen, to convey to that honorable house rateful reh honor they have now conferred on me[306]

In the midst of these frank voices of public appreciation over the fidelity and efficiency of his service as governor, there were doubtless the usual murmurs of partisan criticism or of personal ill-will For example, a few days after Jefferson had taken his seat in the stately chair which Patrick Henry had just vacated, St George Tucker, in a letter to Theophilus Bland, gave expression to this sneer: ”_Sub rosa_, I wish his excellency's activity ree But if he should tread in the steps of his predecessor, there is not ainst a taunt like this, one can scarcely help placing the fact that the general of the armies who, for three stern years, had been accustoinia, and who never paid idle coence, zeal, and vigorous activity of Governor Henry's adton writes to him: ”In several of my late letters I addressed you on the distress of the troops for want of clothing Your ready exertions to relieve thehest satisfaction”[308] On the 19th of February, 1778, Washi+ngton again writes to hi distresses will engage your most serious consideration, and that the full force of that zeal and vigor you have manifested upon every other occasion, will now operate for our relief, in a matter that so nearly affects the very existence of our contest”[309] On the 19th of April, 1778, Washi+ngton once ed to the legislature for the ready attention which they have paid to my representation of the wants of the army, and to you for the strenuous manner in which you have recommended to the people an observance of my request”[310] Finally, if any ton for estireat office, surely those inia legislature It is quite possible that their first election of hinorance of his real qualities as an executive officer; but this cannot be said of their second and of their third elections of him, each one of which was made, as we have seen, without one audible lisp of opposition Is it to be believed that, if he had really shown that lack of executive efficiency which St George Tucker's sneer ier, would have twice and thrice elected hihest executive office in the State, and that, too, without one dissenting vote? To say so, indeed, is to fix a farcensure upon them than upon hin in the Illinois_, 95-97, where Governor Henry's public and private instructions are given in full

[294] MS

[295] _Jour Va House Del_ 30, 36, 66; also Hening, ix 474-476; 477-478; 530-532; 584-585

[296] MS

[297] Sparks, _Corr Rev_ ii 261-262

[298] MS

[299] MS

[300] Burk, _Hist Va_ iv 338

[301] MS

[302] Burk, _Hist Va_ iv 350

[303] Wirt, 225

[304] _Jour Va House Del_ 29

[305] Burk, _Hist Va_ 350

[306] _Jour Va House Del_ 32

[307] _Bland Papers_, ii 11

[308] MS

[309] MS

[310] MS

CHAPTER XVI

AT HOME AND IN THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES