Early in 1799, at George Washington's urging, Patrick Henry came out of retirement to seek Charlotte County's seat in the Virginia House of Delegates and delivered a speech here in March before a large crowd. Although he had opposed ratification of the U.S. Constitution in 1788 because he feared a strong federal government, he now warned that states must not undermine federal law. John Randolph of Roanoke, then a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, rose to defend states' rights. The occasion became Henry's last public speech and Randolph's first, and both men won election before Henry died three months later.