HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
considered as the author of their 
calamities, the rage of the populace 
gainst him knew no_ bounds. 
eir hatred was soon participated 
ay his own soldiers, who had for- 
merly idolized him. With a levity 
peculiar to the French character, 
ad, with a barbarity characteristic 
the times, in a few days they 
forgot their former affection, rose 
on their benefactor, and murder- 
d him, with every circumstance of 
savage atrocity. 
Affairs now prospered with Gre- 
goire, Brissot, Robespierre, and the 
| Teaders of the Jacobins, ‘They had 
the prospect of seeing their wishes 
| speedily crowned with success. All 
| was confusion in the. colonies: the 
planters were in disgrace; they 
mselves were every way gaining 
luence at home.. Trusting to 
ir strength, they now determin- 
edto call on the supreme legisla- 
ies authority of France to give ef- 
t to their projects. A formida- 
| ble obstacle here opposed their pro- 
gress: for it may be remembered 
| that the National Assembly, on the 
8th of March, 1790, renounced all 
| right to interfere in the internal re- 
| gulations of the colonies, How- 
ver they did not despair, but be- 
| gan, by every art, to bend the pub- 
ic mind to their purposes. All 
the argumentative reasoning of 
Srissot, all the metaphysical powers 
. of Condorcet, all ot emanate 
eloquence of the Abbé Gregoire, 
were employed to reprobate the 
planters, and to shewthe equity and 
licy of the complete entranchise- 
t of the mulattoes. Fortune 
‘oured them; for at this critical 
ment the news of the fate of 
e unfortunate Ogé arrived in 
France ; which excited the deepest 
| Tegret, and the most lively indigna- 
atl 
L77 
tion. To heighten the effect, Ro- 
bespierre procured a company of 
players to represent his tragical end 
in pantomime upon the stage. 
Such odium was by that means re- 
flected upon the planters then resi- 
dent in Paris, that for some time 
they durst not appear in the streets. 
Now confident of success, the 
Abbé Gregoire, on the 15th of 
May 1791, brought the business be- 
fore the National. Assembly, and 
moved that the people of colour 
resident in the French colonies, 
born of free parents, should be al- 
lowed, as their right, all the privi- 
leges of French citizens, and, among 
others, those of having votes in the 
choice of representatives, and of 
being eligible to seats both in the 
parochial and colonial,,assemblies. 
This motion he supported with all 
the powers of eloquence. Strong op- 
position was made. . If such a de- 
cree was passed, it was predicted by 
some, that it would: prove the ruin. 
of the colonies, ‘* Perish the colo- 
nies,”’? said Robespierre,. ‘ rather 
than sacrifice one zota of our vrin- 
ciples.” The advocates for the 
planters were overpowered and cun- 
founded ; and the motion was pass- 
ed by a great majority, amidst the 
applause of the multitude. 
Very different was the effect pro- 
duced by this event among the white 
people inthe colonies. They utter- 
ed the most dreadful imprecations 
against the National Assembly, and 
censured the members of it as their 
most cruel and implacable enemies. 
Great preparations had been every- 
where made for a general federa- 
tion on the 14th of July. They 
now unanimously resolved to refuse 
the civic oath. ‘The national cock- 
ade was trodden under foot. 
This furious indignation, and this 
spirit 
