member who introduced it was a man of great ability and great
influence; it was supported by James Duane and John Jay; it was
pronounced by Edward Rutledge to be "almost a perfect plan;" and in
the final trial it was lost only by a vote of six colonies to five.
Could it have been adopted, the disruption of the British empire would
certainly have been averted for that epoch, and, as an act of
violence and of unkindness, would perhaps have been averted forever;
while the thirteen English colonies would have remained English
colonies, without ceasing to be free.

The plan, however, was distrusted and resisted, with stern and
implacable hostility, by the more radical members of the Congress,
particularly by those from Massachusetts and Virginia; and an outline
of what Patrick Henry said in his assault upon it, delivered on the
very day on which it was introduced, is thus given by John Adams:--

"The original constitution of the colonies was founded on
the broadest and most generous base. The regulation of our
trade was compensation enough for all the protection we ever
experienced from her.

"We shall liberate our constituents from a corrupt House of
Commons, but throw them into the arms of an American
legislature, that may be bribed by that nation which avows,
in the face of the world, that bribery is a part of her
system of government.

"Before we are obliged to pay taxes as they do, let us be as
free as they; let us have our trade open with all the world.

"We are not to consent by the representatives of
representatives.

"I am inclined to think the present measures lead to
war."[116]

The only other trace to be discovered of Patrick Henry's activity in
the debates of this Congress belongs to the day just before the one
on which Galloway's plan was introduced. The subject then under
discussion was the measure for non-importation and non-exportation. On
considerations of forbearance, Henry tried to have the date for the
application of this measure postponed from November to December,
saying, characteristically, "We don't mean to hurt even our rascals,
if we have any."[117]

Probably the most notable work done by this Congress was its
preparation of those masterly state papers in which it interpreted and
affirmed the constitutional attitude of the colonies, and which, when
laid upon the table of the House of Lords, drew forth the splendi