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| | Henry continued in opposition to the [[U.S. Constitution|document]] produced by the Convention, joining with [[George Mason]], [[James Monroe]], and several others to lead the Antifederalist faction in the Virginia ratification convention in 1788. Dominating much of the convention debate, Henry argued that the Constitution would produce the same kind of remote and arbitrary power against which the Americans had been fighting during the Revolutionary War, because it was based too much on abstract principles and not enough on practical experience and political traditions. In this, he insisted, he was being entirely consistent with his positions as a pre-war Whig. Though the Constitution was eventually ratified by a narrow majority, Henry nonetheless won a partial victory, as [[James Madison]] and other [[Federalists]] secured passage chiefly by arguing that the Constitution was, in its essentials, an Antifederalist document, and by pledging the passage of a [[Bill of Rights]]. | | Henry continued in opposition to the [[U.S. Constitution|document]] produced by the Convention, joining with [[George Mason]], [[James Monroe]], and several others to lead the Antifederalist faction in the Virginia ratification convention in 1788. Dominating much of the convention debate, Henry argued that the Constitution would produce the same kind of remote and arbitrary power against which the Americans had been fighting during the Revolutionary War, because it was based too much on abstract principles and not enough on practical experience and political traditions. In this, he insisted, he was being entirely consistent with his positions as a pre-war Whig. Though the Constitution was eventually ratified by a narrow majority, Henry nonetheless won a partial victory, as [[James Madison]] and other [[Federalists]] secured passage chiefly by arguing that the Constitution was, in its essentials, an Antifederalist document, and by pledging the passage of a [[Bill of Rights]]. |
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| | + | === Antifederalist position === |
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| | + | Patrick Henry's Opening Speech, "A Wrong Step Now and the Republic Will Be Lost Forever," as made on June 4, 1788 |
| | + | before the Virginia Ratifying Convention held June 2-27, 1788: |
| | + | {{cquote|But now when we have heard the definition of it, it is purely national. The honorable member James Madison was pleased to say, that the sword and purse included every thing of consequence. And shall we trust them out of our hands without checks and barriers? The sword and purse are essentially necessary for government every essential requisite must be in congress. Where are the purse and sword of Virginia? They must go to congress. What is become of our country? The Virginian government is but a name. It clearly results from his last argument that we are to be consolidated. We should be thought unwise indeed to keep 200 legislators in Virginia, when the government is in fact gone to Philadelphia or New York. We are as a state to form no part of the government. Where are your checks? The most essential objects of government are to be administered by congress. How then can the state governments be any check upon them? If we are to be a republican government it will be consolidated, not confederated.}} |
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| | Henry continued to serve in the Virginia legislature until 1791, in which capacity he maintained a strong Antifederalist presence in the state. Even after returning to private life, he continued to express his opposition to many Federalist policies, including [[Jay's Treaty]] and the economic innovations of [[Alexander Hamilton]]. To the surprise of many, though, he began to align with the Federalist Party by the late 1790s, and was even elected once more to the state legislature as a Federalist in 1799. There were several reasons for this seeming about-face, one being his personal animus toward Jefferson and Madison, now leaders of the [[Democratic-Republican|Republican]] opposition. At least as important, though, was his opposition to the [[French Revolution]]. Henry was sharply critical of the revolutionary regime in France for its violence and its anti-Christian behavior. In revolutionary France, he wrote, "everything that ought to be dear to man is covertly but successfully assailed." Republican enthusiasm for the Revolution was instrumental in driving Henry into the arms of the Federalists. | | Henry continued to serve in the Virginia legislature until 1791, in which capacity he maintained a strong Antifederalist presence in the state. Even after returning to private life, he continued to express his opposition to many Federalist policies, including [[Jay's Treaty]] and the economic innovations of [[Alexander Hamilton]]. To the surprise of many, though, he began to align with the Federalist Party by the late 1790s, and was even elected once more to the state legislature as a Federalist in 1799. There were several reasons for this seeming about-face, one being his personal animus toward Jefferson and Madison, now leaders of the [[Democratic-Republican|Republican]] opposition. At least as important, though, was his opposition to the [[French Revolution]]. Henry was sharply critical of the revolutionary regime in France for its violence and its anti-Christian behavior. In revolutionary France, he wrote, "everything that ought to be dear to man is covertly but successfully assailed." Republican enthusiasm for the Revolution was instrumental in driving Henry into the arms of the Federalists. |
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| | ==Character== | | ==Character== |
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| − | Henry was known during and after his lifetime for being a professing Christian, so much so that even liberal historians today have never been able to paint him as a Deist or rationalist. Some of his faith was instilled in him by his uncle, Rev. Patrick Henry, Sr., the local Anglican rector; however, he did not advocate for a single denomination in particular. In 1784 he pressed for a "plural establishment" scheme that would have given official recognition and tax support to multiple Christian faiths in Virginia, but was defeated by Madison and some others, who thought it likely to make the churches an arm of the government. | + | Henry was known during and after his lifetime for being a professing [[Christian]], so much so that even liberal historians today have never been able to paint him as a Deist or rationalist. Some of his faith was instilled in him by his uncle, Rev. Patrick Henry, Sr., the local Anglican rector; however, he did not advocate for a single denomination in particular. In 1784 he pressed for a "plural establishment" scheme that would have given official recognition and tax support to multiple Christian faiths in Virginia, but was defeated by Madison and some others, who thought it likely to make the churches an arm of the government. |
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| | Henry upheld the truth of Christianity in private and public life, once having reprinted and distributed a pamphlet by Soames Jenyns arguing for the rational nature of Christian belief. On his deathbed, having gathered his friends and family around, he commended his soul to [[Jesus Christ]] and "asked his skeptical physician to observe that the Christian faith made it easier for a man to die."<ref>Against the Barbarians (1992), M.E. Bradford, page 99</ref> | | Henry upheld the truth of Christianity in private and public life, once having reprinted and distributed a pamphlet by Soames Jenyns arguing for the rational nature of Christian belief. On his deathbed, having gathered his friends and family around, he commended his soul to [[Jesus Christ]] and "asked his skeptical physician to observe that the Christian faith made it easier for a man to die."<ref>Against the Barbarians (1992), M.E. Bradford, page 99</ref> |