In the year 1778, the aspect of the revolution became exceedingly gloomy. Several dangerous intrigues were instituted to pull down the popularity of general Washing ton, and supplant him in the command of the army. One of the most serious occurrences of this sort was a cabal of general officers, members of congress, and some influential citizens. Their scheme against the amiable chief was to be effected by the circulation of anonymous letters to dis tinguished and influential gentlemen in various sections of the country, suggesting objections against the military con duct and character of the commander in chief. One was addressed to governor Henry, a man universally reputed a patriot of the first energy and influence. With his wont ed shrewdness, he instantly discerned, through the anony mous disguise, the real motives of the authors. Ile con cluded at once that the letter covered sinister, ambitious, and traitorous designs against his friend, in whom lie con tinued to repose immutable confidence. With the mag nanimity that belonged to his noble heart, a promptitude in spired by his devotion to the cause of liberty, and an indig nation at the manner in which his own integrity had been assailed, he decided against the calumniators of Washing ton ; and, to apprize linn of the danger that surrounded him, communicated the anonymous libel to him, with such remarks as the occasion required. The correspondence between the two It iends on this occasion was equally ho nourable to the candour, prudence, and intelligence of both.
Mr Henry retired from the government of Virginia, and sought some repose from the labours of public life, in the bosom of his family, and in the society of his neighbours ; but his heart continued earnestly importunate for the suc cess of the revolution. 'While in retirement, his conversa tion at home, and his con espondence with public function aries at a distance, imparted instruction, and inculcated zeal and perseverance in the great cause of national liberty.
In 1788, Mr Henry was a member of the convention in Virginia, which so ably and eloquently discussed the constitution of the United States, and the expediency of its adoption. The part he took in the convention is familiar with the public. He employed his masterly eloquence, day after day, in opposition to the proposed constitution. His hostility to it proceeded entirely from an apprehension that the federal government would swallow the sovereignty of the states ; and that ultimately the liberty of the people would be destroyed or crushed by an overgrown, ponderous consolidation of political power. Mr Henry would cordial ly have delegated to the government of the United States, a few specific powers, to preserve reciprocal interests, and constant alliance among the several states ; and to regulate the relations of the whole with foreign nations. This in a few words was the government he wished to see adopted. Every feature in his opposition to the constitution cannot here be traced. It is enough to affirm, that he opposed it from pure and patriotic motives, a fixed hatred of despot ism, jealousy of political power, and a constitutional en thusiasm in behalf of liberty. That such were the motives of his conduct, his future deportment amply testified. The constitution having been adopted, the government orga nized, and Washington elected president, his repugnance was measurably abated. The chapter of amendments con siderably neutralized his objections : but nevertheless it is believed, that his acquiescence resulted more from the con sideration of the citizen's duty, confidence in the chief ma gistrate, and a hopeful reliance on the wisdom and virtue of the people, rather than from any material change in his opinions. It is worthy of remark, that, in relation to the federal government, Mr Henry and Mr Hamilton, two of the most eminent men who have ever lived in the United States, entertained opposite fears. The first dreaded its energy ; the latter its imbecility. Many will suppose that experience has already shewn, that the jealousy of the pow ers delegated to the general government was morbid and fantastical : but it may be remarked, that a few years, cha racterised by fortuitous circumstances, is not an alchemy to analyze the properties of any form of government. The experience of the United States has shewn, in the period of twenty-eight years, that their government is energetic or feeble, according to the heads and hearts of their chief magistrates. This is probably true of every government.
In August 1795, Mr Henry was nominated by president Washington, secretary of state, in the room of Mr Edmund Randolph, resigned ; but considerations, wholly of a private nature, induced him to decline the honour. In the course
of the succeeding year, he was again elected governor of Virginia. He entered on the duties of the office : but in 2 few months retired to his domestic circle. Early in the year 1799, Mr Henry was selected by president Adams rim envoy with Messrs Ellsworth and Vans Murray to France. His advanced age, increasing debility, and a se vere indisposition, with which he was at the time afflicted, obliged him to decline the appointment. In the spring after wards, at the special solicitation of general Washington, he became a candidate, in the district composed of the counties of Halifax, Charlotte and Prince Edward, fat' a seat in the senate ol Virginia. Etients preliminary to the election are memorable. At the same election Mr John Randolph, for the first time, declared himself a candidate, in the congres sional district ol Buckingham, Cumberland, Prince Edward, and Charlotte, 14 a seat in the house of representatives of the United States, in competition with Mr Clement Car lington, a federalist, and ,Ur Po w hatan 'Bolling, a democrat. In canvassing before the election, Mr Randolph encounter ed Mr Henry, and his competitors for the honour of a seat in congress. It is a custom in Virginia for candidates to harangue the people in support of their personal preten sions and political principles. Mr Henry and Mr Ran dolph, on this occasion, conformed to this custom, and were publicly exhibited as political combatants, before the voters of Charlotte county. They met at the court-house, and supported a long and animated discussion of various topics. Mr Henry, in opening, maintained his long established re putation as a declaimer. On finishing his harangue, he literally descended into the arms of the obstreperous throng, and was borne about with triumphing exultation. His op ponent might well have been deterred from ascending the stage : but his courage decided otherwise. Mr Randolph rose in the face of the success of his predecessor. His sin gular person and peculiar aspect ; his novel, snrill, vibrato ry intonations ; his solemn, slow-marching, and swelling periods ; his caustic crimination of the prevailing political party ; his cutting satire ; the tout ensemble of his public debut, soon calmed the tumultuous crowd; and inclined all to listen to the strange orator, while he replied at length to the sentiments of the old favourite. When he had con cluded, loud huzzas rang through the welkin. This was a new event to Mr Henry. He had not been accustomed to a rival ; and little expected one in a beardless boy ; for such was the aspect of the champion, who now appeared to contend with him for the palm which he was wont to appro priate to himself. He returned to the stage and commenced a second address, in which he soared above his usual ve hemence and majesty. Such is usually the fruit of emula tion and rivalship. It has been admitted, that Mr Henry displayed his greatest splendour on this occasion. He fre quently adverted to his youthful competitor with parental tenderness ; complimented his rare talents with the libe rality of profusion ; and, while regretting what lie depre cated as the political errors of youthful zeal, actually wrought himself and his audience into an enthusiasm of sym pathy and benevolence that issued in an ocean of tears. The gesture, intonations, and pathos of Mr Henry, operated like an epidemic on the transported assembly. The contagion was universal. An histerical phrenzy pervaded the whole audience to such degree, that they were at the same mo ment literally weeping and laughing. At this juncture the speaker descended from the stage. Shouts of applause rent the air, and were echoed from the skies. The whole spec tacle, as it really was, would not only mock every attempt at description, but would almost challenge the imagination of any one who had not witnessed it. With a recollection of the event, Mr Randolph, eighteen years afterwards, in his place in the house of representatives of the United States, speaking of the general ticket law, which was carried by e democratic party by a majority of five votes only, in the popular branch of the Virginia assembly, said : " Had Patrick Henry lived, and taken his seat in the assembly, that law would never have passed. In that case the elec toral vote of Virginia would have been divided, and Mr Jefferson lost the election. Five votes! Mr Chairman! Patrick Henry was good for five times five votes." In the contest above mentioned, Mr Henry was elected to a seat in the senate of Virginia, and Mr Randolph a representa tive in congress. Mr Henry, however, did not live to take his seat. He died at Red Hill, in Charlotte county, on the 6th of June, 1799, aged sixty-seven years.