The New Hampshire Gazette

A Lesson to Men of All Parties.

PATRICK HENRY of Virginia
opposed, with the utmost of his
abilities, the Constitution of the United
States, as submitted to the state
conventions, because he thought it defective
in some parts. The moment
however it was adopted by a majority
of his countrymen, he, like a good
citizen, and a man of a great and
magnanimous mind, most peaceably
and quietly acquiesced. At the ensuing
assembly, he proposed, and readily
carried, certain amendments to
the constitution: They
were added; being approved by a
majority of the states, as provided
for by the constitution. Soon after
this, he took, in the circuit court of
the United States, the oath to uphold
the constitution thereof. His
liberal and noble deportment, on that
important day, which gave the assent
of Virginia to the constitution which
he has now sworn to support, are well
known; and the truly republican and
generous sentiments, which he then
delivered. Dining with a considerable
number of the members of the
convention, who had supported him
in his opposition, and hearing several
of them express their mortification
and disappointment in terms which
he thought unbecoming, and throwing
out insinuations of rousing the
people to oppose the work which had
been done he silenced them by a few
concise observations, to which, I possess
not the capacity to do justice;
but they were of the following import:
"No, my friends, we must
not do so. Nor should we shew any
ill nature or resentment at what has
happened. We are all brethren. We
are one great family embarked in the
same vessel. With all our united wisdom
and strength, it may perhaps
not be easy for us to keep her clear
of the rocks and quicksands to which
she may be exposed; or to preserve
her safe, in tempestuous seasons. Let
us not then, add to our danger, by
bickerings, or jealousies among ourselves;
but join hand in hand with
our brethren of the other states, to
keep the national vessel right, and to
use our utmost endeavours to make
her more perfect, in the way pointed
out by the workmen, from whose
hands we have received her. But to
drop the allegory, my friends I have
opposed the constitution, from a conscientious
sense of duty. I may be wrong
in thinking it too defective for our
happiness and welfare. I hope and
trust in God, it will be proved that I
am wrong. Men whom I know to
possess great talents and great public
virtue, have differed from me on this
important occasion. It has been ably,
fully and fairly discussed. A majority
of our countrymen, having equal
interests, and equal stakes with ourselves,
have thought it their duty to
accept of the instrument. It therefore
becomes our duty, as we regard
the characters of orderly good citizens,
and as true republicans, to acquiesce,
and submit to a decision so
legally, and so fairly taken. For my
part, I mean not to complain of the
defeat we have sustained: But on the
contrary, I will go home, and use my
poor influence in suppressing everything
like discontent, whenever I shall
see it appear; trusting that those amendments
which I deem necessary
to the instrument, will be obtained."

[Reading, Penn. Weekly Adv.]