3704. HENRY (Patrick), Force of oratory.—
Mr. Henry's first remarkable exhibition [
in the House of Burgesses] was on the
motion for the establishment of an office for
lending money on mortgages of real property.
* * * I can never forget a particular exclamation
of his in the debate in which he electrified
his hearers. It had been urged that from
certain unhappy circumstances of the Colony,
men of substantial property had contracted
debts, which, if exacted suddenly, must ruin
them and their families, but, with a little indulgence
of time, might be paid with ease.
“What, Sir!” exclaimed Mr. Henry in animadverting
on this, “is it proposed then to reclaim
the spendthrift from his dissipation and
extravagance, by filling his pockets with
money?” * * * He laid open with so much
energy the spirit of favoritism on which the
proposition was founded, and the abuses to
which it would lead, that it was crushed in
its birth.—
To William Wirt. Washington ed. vi, 364.
Ford ed., ix, 466.
(M.
1814)
