On  Wednesday,  the  12th  of  June  following,  that  declara-
tion of  rights  which  stands  prefixed  to  our  statutes,  was
reported   and  adopted  without  a  dissenting  voice  ;  as  was


PATRICK     HENRY.  215

also,  on  Saturday,  the  29th  of  the  same  month,  the  present

plan  of  our  government.*

The  salary  of  the  governor  to  be  appointed  under  the  new

constitution  was  immediately  fixed  by  a  resolution  of  the

house   at  one  thousand  pounds  per  annum ;  and  the  house

proceeded  to  elect  forthwith  the  first  republican  governor  for

the  commonwealth  of  Virginia.     This  was  the  touchstone  of

public  favour.     The  office  was  of  the  first  importance  ;  and

the  whole  state  was  open  to  the  choice  of  the  house.     The

question  was  decided  on  the  first  ballot.     The  vote  stood

thus  : —

For  Patrick  Henry,  jun.  Esq.     -     -     -     60

■Thomas  Nelson,  Esq.    -     -     -     -     45

John  Page,  Esq.        -----       1

*  The  striking  similitude  between  the  recital  of  wrongs  prefixed  to
the  constitution  of  Virginia,  and  that  which  was  afterward  prefixed
to  the  Declaration  of  Independence  cf  the  United  States,  is  of  itself
sufficient  to  establish  the  fact  that  they  are  from  the  same  pen.  But
the  constitution  of  Virgmia  preceded  the  Declaration  of  Independence,
by  nearly  a  month ;  and  was  wholly  composed  and  adopted  while  Mr.
