284 
BEVOLTJTIONAKT EVENTS. 
mation ana general refinement of manners. Within the inter- 
val embraced by the span of one life, we have seen the reign of 
terror m France, the expedition to St. Domingo,* the politi- 
cal re-aotion m Jfaples and Spain, I may also adi the 
massacres of Ohio, Ipsara, and IMissolonghi, the worlc of the 
barbarmns of Eastern Europe, which tlie civilized nations of 
the north and west did not deem it their duty to prevent. In 
slave countries, where the effect of long habit teiids to legiti- 
mize institutions the most adverse to justice, it is vain to 
count on the influence of iniormation, of intellectual culture, 
or rebneinent of manners, except in as much as all those 
benefits accelerate the impulse given by governments, and 
lacilitate the execution of measures once adoiitod. Without 
the directive action of governments and legislatures, a peace- 
lul 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 
ot neighbouring countries, the faults and the duties of -Govern- 
ments have been revealed : in such cases tranquiUitv can be 
restored only by a ruling authority, which in the noble coii- 
seiousness ot its power and nght, sways events by entering 
itselt on tlie career ot improvement. 
uaslle- 'contain, the following 
Conflicts with slaves fighting for their freedom, are not only 
^t even t ® atrocities to which they give rise on both sides ; 
out even afUi freedom has been gamed, they lielp to confound every sen- 
t iment 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 bv the example of 
h^reJac r the"" consequX 
sur Smnt DSue!"'"''^""" ^‘'arault, 
