Final answer:
The excerpt from 'Speech in the Virginia Convention' is a call to action, using emphatic language to highlight the urgency for immediate action as war has already begun.
Step-by-step explanation:
The excerpt from "Speech in the Virginia Convention" demonstrates a call to action. The passage uses urgent and evocative language to rouse the audience into recognizing that war has begun and that action must be taken immediately. Sentences like "The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms!" and "Our brethren are already in the field!" aim to ignite a sense of urgency and mobilization among the listeners.