The  eclat  and  brilliancy  which  have  distinguished  that  gen-
tleman, the  honours  with  which  he  has  been  dignified,  and
the  brilliant  talents  which  he  has  so  often  displayed,  have
attracted  my  respect  and  attention. On  so  important  an
occasion,  and  before  so  respectable  a  body,  T  expected  a  new
display  of  his  powers  of  oratory :  but,  instead  of  proceeding
to  investigate  the  merits  of  the  new  plan  of  government,  the
xoorthy  character  informed  us  of  horrors  which  he  felt,  of


286  WIRt'sLIFEOF

apprehensions  in  his  mind,  which  made  liim  tremblingly
fearful  of  the  fate  of  the  comtnonwealth. Mr. Chairman,
was  it  proper  to  appeal  to  the  fear  of  this  house  ?  The
question  before  us  belongs  to  the  judgment  of  this  house ;
I  trust  he  is  come  to  judge  and  not  to  alarm. I  trust  that
he,  and  every  other  gentleman  in  this  house,  comes  with  a
firm  resolution,  coolly  and  calmly  to  examine,  and  fairly  and
impartially  to  determine."

In  the  further  progress  of  his  speech. General  Lee  again
said,  rather  tauntingly,  of  Mr. Henry — "  The  gentleman  sat
down  as  he  began,  leaving  us  to  ruminate  on  the  horrors
with  which  he  opened."

Mr. Henry,  rising  immediately  after  these  sarcastic  remarks,
gave  a  striking  specimen  of  that  dignified  self-command,  and
that  strict  and  uniform  decorum,  by  which  he  was  so  pre-
eminently distinguished  in  debate. Far  from  retorting  the
sarcasms  of  his  adversary,  he  seemed  to  have  heard  nothing
but  the  compliments  with  which  they  stood  connected,  and
rising  slowly  from  his  seat,  with  a  countenance  expressive
of  unaffected  humility,  he  began  with  the  following  modest
and  disqualifying  exordium:  "Mr. Chairman — I  am  much
obhgcd  to  the  very  worthy  gentleman  for  his  encomium. I
wish  I  was  possessed  of  talents,  or  possessed  of  any  thing,
that  might  enable  me  to  elucidate  this  great  subject. I  own,
sir,  I  am  not  free  from  suspicion. I  am  apt  to  entertain
doubts. I  rose,  on  yesterday,  not  to  enter  upon  the  discussion,
out  merely  to  ask  a  question  which  had  arisen  in  my  own
mind. When  I  asked  that  question,  I  thought  the  meaning
of  my  interrogation  was  obvious. The  fate  of  America  may
lepend  on  this  question. 