one half of the human race. Its
adoption may involve the misery of the other hemisphere." Thus far the
stenographer had proceeded, when he suddenly stopped, and placed
within brackets the following note: "[Here a violent storm arose,
which put the House in such disorder, that Mr. Henry was obliged to
conclude.]"[396] But the scene which is thus quietly despatched by the
official reporter of the convention was again and again described, by
many who were witnesses of it, as something most sublime and even
appalling. After having delineated with overpowering vividness the
calamities which were likely to befall mankind from their adoption of
the proposed frame of government, the orator, it is said, as if
wielding an enchanter's wand, suddenly enlarged the arena of the
debate and the number of his auditors; for, peering beyond the veil
which shuts in mortal sight, and pointing "to those celestial beings
who were hovering over the scene," he addressed to them "an invocation
that made every nerve shudder with supernatural horror, when, lo! a
storm at that instant rose, which shook the whole building, and the
spirits whom he had called seemed to have come at his bidding. Nor did
his eloquence, or the storm, immediately cease; but availing himself
of the incident, with a master's art, he seemed to mix in the fight of
his ethereal auxiliaries, and, 'rising on the wings of the tempest, to
seize upon the artillery of heaven, and direct its fiercest thunders
against the heads of his adversaries.' The scene became insupportable;
and the House rose without the formality of adjournment, the members
rushing from their seats with precipitation and confusion."[397]

FOOTNOTES:

[362] _Writings of Washington_, ix. 265-266.

[363] MS.

[364] _Writings of Washington_, ix. 273.

[365] Madison, _Letters_, etc. i. 356.

[366] _Ibid._ i. 364-365.

[367] Madison, _Letters_, etc. i. 378.

[368] _Ibid._ i. 387.

[369] Madison, _Letters_, i. 388.

[370] Bancroft, _Hist. Const._, ii. 465.

[371] _Writings of Washington_, ix. 356.

[372] Rives, _Life of Madison_, ii. 544, note.

[373] Rives, _Life of Madison_, ii. 541.

[374] _Hist. Mag._ for 1873, 274.

[375] Elliot, _Debates_, i. 491; v. 502, 534-535.

[376] Elliot, _Debates_, iii.

[377] Curtis, _Hist. Const._ ii. 561, note.

[378] _Writings of Washington_, ix. 266, note.

[379] Elliot, _Debates_, iii. 161, 57, 63.

[380] Elliot, _Debates_, iii. 23, 52, 44, 156.

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