284 BEVOLUTIONARY ETENT8. 



mation, ana general refinement of manners. "Within the inter- 

 val embraced by the span of one life, we have seen the reign of 

 terror in France, the expedition to St. Domingo,* the politi- 

 cal re-action in Naples and Spain, I may also add, the 

 massacres of Ohio, Ipsara, and Missolonghi, the work of the 

 barbarians of Eastern Europe, which the civilized nations of 

 the north and west did not deem it their duty to prevent. In 

 slave countries, where the effect of long habit tends to legiti- 

 mize institutions the most adverse to justice, it is vain to 

 count on the influence of information, of intellectual culture, 

 or refinement of manners, except in as much as all those 

 benefits accelerate the impulse given by governments, and 

 facilitate the execution of measures once adopted. "Without 

 the directive action of governments and legislatures, a peace- 

 ful revolution is a thing not to be hoped for. The danger 

 becomes the more imminent when a general inquietude per- 

 vades the public mind; when amidst the political dissensions 

 of neighbouring countries, the faults and the duties of govern- 

 ments have been revealed : in such cases tranquillity can be 

 restored only by a ruling authority, which in the noble con- 

 sciousness of its power and right, sways events by entering 

 itself on the career of improvement. 



* The North American Review for 1821, No. 30, contains the following 

 passage: " Conflicts with slaves fighting for their freedom, are not only 

 dreadful on account of the atrocities to which they give rise on both sides ; 

 but even after freedom has been gained, they help to confound every sen- 

 timent of justice and injustice. Some planters are condemning to death 

 all the male negro population above six years of age. They affirm that 

 those who have not borne arms will be contaminated by the example of 

 those who have been fighting. This merciless act is the consequence of 

 the result of the continued misfortunes of the colonies. " Charault, 

 Reflexions our Saint Domimjue. 



