Part 28 (2/2)
[460] MS
[461] Lee, _Observations_, etc 116
[462] Gibbs, _Adton_, etc i 337; see, also, Has_, iv 148
[464] Entire letter in Wirt, 385-387
CHAPTER XXII
LAST DAYS
The intihter, in the sue in a public career, he yet ht be compelled by ”some unlooked-for circumstance” to make ”a transient effort” for the public safety, was not put to the test until nearly three years afterward, when it was verified in the midst of those days in which he was suddenly to find surcease of all earthly care and pain
Our story, therefore, now passes hurriedly by the year 1797,--which saw the entrance of John Adareat anger at the men who had recalled him, the publication of Jefferson's letter to Mazzei, everywhere an increasing bitterness and even violence in partisan feeling In the same manner, also, must we pass by the year 1798,--which saw the popular uprising against France, the ainst her, the suspension of coton to coainst the ene upon the country the naturalization act, the alien acts, the sedition act; then the Kentucky resolutions, as written by Jefferson, declaring the acts just named to be ”not law, but utterly void and of no force,” and liable, ”unless arrested on the threshold,” ”to drive these States into revolution and blood;” then the Virginia resolutions, as written by Madison, denouncing the sa infractions of the Constitution;” finally, the preparations secretly inia[465] for arovernment of the United States
Just seven days after the passage of the Virginia resolutions, an eminent citizen of that State appealed by letter to Patrick Henry for some written expression of his views upon the troubled situation, with the i in the election of John Marshall, who, having just before returned from his baffled eress, and was encountering assaults directed by every energy and art of the opposition In response to this appeal, Patrick Henry wrote, in the early part of the year 1799, the following remarkable letter, which is of deep interest still, not only as showing his discern a complete answer to the taunt that his mental faculties were then fallen into decay:--
TO ARCHIBALD BLAIR
RED HILL, CHARLOTTE, 8 January, 1799
DEAR SIR,--Your favor of the 28th of last month I have received Its contents are a fresh proof that there is cause for inia It is possible thatfactions are sincere, and act from honest motives But it is e in government To effect this, I see no way so practicable as dissolving the confederacy And I ament, most of the measures lately pursued by the opposition party, directly and certainly lead to that end If this is not the system of the party, they have none, and act 'ex tee that I ament on the present politics of the world The wide extent to which the present contentions have gone will scarcely perh in detail to enable hieneral But, as to France, I have no doubt in saying that to her it will be calareat faovernment; because its existence is incompatible with that of all others within its reach And, whilst I see the dangers that threaten ours froues and her arms, I a the great pillars of all governion This is the armor, my friend, and this alone, that renders us invincible These are the tactics we should study If we lose these, we are conquered, fallen indeed In vain may France show and vaunt her diplo as our er But believing, as I do, that these are in danger, that infidelity in its broadest sense, under the na, and that, under the patronage of French ht to be dear to man is covertly but successfully assailed, I feel the value of those st us, who hold out to the world the idea, that our continent is to exhibit an originality of character; and that, instead of that imitation and inferiority which the countries of the old world have been in the habit of exacting froround upon which nature has placed us, and that Europe will alike cease to rule us and give us
But I must stop short, or else this letter will be all preface These prefatory reht proper to st our countrymen ues exhibited the American character as respectable France, in the period of her most triumphant fortune, beheld them as unappalled Her threats left theht that, with these senti to prejudice General Marshall's election? Very far froratification I felt froh in my esteem as a private citizen His temper and disposition were always pleasant, his talents and integrity unquestioned These things are sufficient to place that gentleress But, when you add the particular inforained, and is able to co that even blindness itself should hesitate in the choice Tell Marshall I love him, because he felt and acted as a republican, as an Aain to undertake public concerns
I live s fro acknowledgoodness to ue one other blessing, it should be, that my countrymen should learn wisdos that pertain to their peace Farewell
I am, dear Sir, yours, PATRICK HENRY[466]
The appeal from Archibald Blair, which evoked this iested to the old statesman no effort which could not be made in his retirement Before, however, he was to pass beyond the reach of all human appeals, two others were to be addressed to hiton, both asking hi for his help in averting ith France, the latter for his help in averting the triuerous counsels at ho himself free of his partisan counsellors,--all hot for ith France,--suddenly changed the course of history by sending to the Senate the names of these three citizens, Oliver Ellsworth, Patrick Henry, and William Vans Murray, ”to be envoys extraordinary and ministers plenipotentiary to the French republic, with full powers to discuss and settle, by a treaty, all controversies between the United States and France” In his letter of the 16th of April declining the appoint been ”confined for several weeks by a severe indisposition,” and as being ”still so sick as to be scarcely able to write this” ”My advanced age,” he added, ”and increasing debility co my country, where the scene of operation is far distant, and her interests call for incessant and long continued exertion I cannot, however, forbear expressing, on this occasion, the high sense I entertain of the honor doneyou, sir, to presentthem that this mark of their confidence inproof of their consideration towardsshort of an absolute necessity could induce me to withhold my little aid from an administration whose ability, patriotisratitude and reverence of all their fellow citizens”[467]
Such was John Adams's appeal to Patrick Henry and its result The appeal to hiton--an appeal which he could not resist, and which induced him, even in his extreme feebleness of body, to enius--happened in this wise On the 15th of January, 1799, fro letter, reat frankness his own anxieties respecting the dangers then threatening the country:--
”It would be a waste of ti to the view of a person of your observation and discern us to disquiet the public n every act of the adovernment; and to embarrass all its measures Equally useless would it be to predict what must be the inevitable consequences of such a policy, if it cannot be arrested
”Unfortunately,--and extreinia has taken the lead in this opposition It has been said that the great mass of the citizens of this State are well-affected, notwithstanding, to the general govern to believe it, nay, do believe it But how is this to be reconciled with their suffrages at the elections of representatives,who are men opposed to the former, and by the tendency of their measures would destroy the latter? One of the reasons assigned is, that theus will not co dear and valuable to us is assailed; when this party hangs upon the wheels of govern every measure that is calculated for defence and self-preservation, abetting the nefarious views of another nation upon our rights;when measures are systematically and pertinaciously pursued, which must eventually dissolve the Union, or produce coercion; I say, when these things have becoht characters who are best able to rescue their country froht they not to come forward, and by their talents and influence stand in the breach which such conduct has made on the peace and happiness of this country, and oppose the widening of it?
”I coood Sir, to the object of my letter, which is to express a hope and an earnest wish, that you will coress, which youfrom home), as a candidate for representative in the General assembly of this Commonwealth
”There are, I have no doubt, very many sensible men who oppose themselves to the torrent that carries away others who had rather sith, than stem it without an able pilot to conduct theislation, nor well known in the coht of character and influence in the House of Representatives would be a bulwark against such dangerous sentiments as are delivered there at present It would be a rallying point for the ti In a word, I conceive it to be of immense importance at this crisis, that you should be there; and I would fain hope that all minor considerations will be made to yield to the measure”[468]
There can be little doubt that it was this soleton which induced the old statesun to lay his icy hands, to co buried, and offer hihbors, as their representative in the next House of Delegates, there to give check, if possible, to the inia upon violent courses, and the republic into civil war Accordingly, before the day for the usual March[469] court in Charlotte, the ent out through all that country that old Patrick Henry, whose wondrous voice in public no man had heard for thosethe dead ones of their heroic days foregone, was to appear before all the people once ive to theers which alone could have drawn hirave
When the ion thereabout the people began to stream toward the place where the orator was to speak
So widespread was the desire to hear hie of Hampden-Sidney--suspended its work for that day, and thus enabled all its members, the president himself, the professors, and the students, to hurry over to Charlotte court-house