se to
opposition, and the commencement of the tax at hand, and
that no person was likely to step forth, I determined to
venture; and alone, unadvised, and unassisted, on a blank
leaf of an old law book, wrote the within.[83] Upon
offering them to the House, violent debates ensued. Many
threats were uttered, and much abuse cast on me by the party
for submission. After a long and warm contest, the
resolutions passed by a very small majority, perhaps of one
or two only. The alarm spread throughout America with
astonishing quickness, and the ministerial party were
overwhelmed. The great point of resistance to British
taxation was universally established in the colonies. This
brought on the war, which finally separated the two
countries, and gave independence to ours.

Whether this will prove a blessing or a curse, will depend
upon the use our people make of the blessings which a
gracious God hath bestowed on us. If they are wise, they
will be great and happy. If they are of a contrary
character, they will be miserable. Righteousness alone can
exalt them as a nation.

Reader! whoever thou art, remember this; and in thy sphere
practice virtue thyself, and encourage it in others.

P. HENRY.[84]

But while this renowned act in Patrick Henry's life had consequences
so notable in their bearing on great national and international
movements, it is interesting to observe, also, its immediate effects
on his own personal position in the world, and on the development of
his career. We can hardly be surprised to find, on the one hand, that
his act gave deep offence to one very considerable class of persons in
Virginia,--the official representatives of the English government, and
their natural allies, those thoughtful and conscientious colonists
who, by temperament and conviction, were inclined to lay a heavy
accent on the principle of civil authority and order. Of course, as
the official head of this not ignoble class, stood Francis Fauquier,
the lieutenant-governor of the colony; and his letter to the lords of
trade, written from Williamsburg a few days after the close of the
session, contains a striking narrative of this stormy proceeding, and
an almost amusing touch of official undervaluation of Patrick Henry:
"In the course of the debate, I have heard that very indecent