Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-06-14

II
that of the press enlarged, that OF con-
science established, all the privileges
of individuals, of classes, of corpora
tons, of provinces, abrogated, seryi-
tude and feudality entirely abolished,
and a people Of vassals become ma
ton of reeholders:-Allt these together
form mass Of improvements, radi-
cal change in the internal policy OF
France, far greater than ever had been
effected, within the same time, in any
age or in any country. For almost if
not all those advantages were obtained
in the course of the three first years OF
the French revolution, OF that short
period, during which alone you had an
influence, and a most powerful inAu-
ence, over the affairs OF France.
No, Sir, you have not lived in vain
any more for France than for America.
The foundation is laid, and the life Of
nations is not TO be computed by years,
but BY generations. 1t does not belong
to us to say what further improvements
may still be wanted.-what are suita-
Bile to the state of France. We can
only pray that, whatever they may be,
they should flow from persuasion, and
not be due to force; that they may be
the result of mutual confidence restor-
ed, and not of new commissions, Of re-
newed sanguinary conflicts.
1t did not depend on you that such
should have been the early, the imme-
diate termination of the French revo-
luton. Taught, permit me the ex-
preston, taught at lhe school of ration
al liberty, under the illustrious foun-
ders of this republic, you were not a
more energetic defender of the cause
of liberty on the floor of the National
Assembly Of France, than conspicuous,
as commander-in-chief of her Nation
al Guards, in preserving order, in
checking excuses, in preventing
crimes, in averting the effusio of blood.
You were ever the refuge, often the
protector Of innocence and misfortune:
And where your efforts failed, it was
because the task was beyond the pow
ers OF man TO perform.
When that Constitution, which you
and your enlightened colleagues had
thought best calculated to secure the
liberties and to promote the welfare
Of France; when that Constitution,
which you had sworn to support, in
vain threatened from abroad, was as
sailed from within by an Infatuated
band; with prophetic spirit you fore
saw the impending ruin. Faithful to
your oaths, faithful to the people, re-
CARELESS OF forms, careless of personal
consequences, you threw yourself in the
breach and, on that memorable occa-
sion, to the cause of the people you
sacrificed your own popularity-.you,
to whom the appreciation and the love
of the people were the only worldly re-
wards, which you ever deemed worthy
Of any consideration.
The sequel is we'll known. For,
having attempted to save the country,
you were prosecuted, prescribed, des-
poiled of the inheritance Of yourfathers,
as if you had been an enemy to the
country. You did not expect to re-
ceive abroad the reward Of your SER
vice in the cause Of liberty and Of
France. But, in foreign land, the
prescribed patriot found no asylum but
a dungeon. Immured for years, letters
might bind your limbs: your mind re-
NAMED unconquered, unbroken, * free.
Your prescription was the signal for
the woes that awaited your devoted
country. will not dwell on the de-
plorable scenes that ensued. Liberty
fed from a land polluted by crimes
committed in her sacred name: for, if
that first of blessings must be conquer
ed by courage, virtue and wisdom can
alone preserve it When, after lapse
of years, YOU were restored to France,
you found her in the hands of that ex-
traordinary man, who had been design
ed to rule for awhile her dcstinies and
those of Europe. France was miners
ed in sea of glory: she was no longer
free, You rejoiced in the successes
obtained over foreign enemies: you adj
mired all that was great: you approved
all that was good. But the honors, the
dignities, the splendor, the glories of
the new government you sternlv refus-
ed to share. The right of suffrage was
limited to few electors designated
by the Executive; the Legislature was
dumb, personal liberty insecure, that
Of the press annihilated, all the powers
were conferred in one man. You with
drew into honorable retirement, where,
surrounded by beloved family, you
were, for near fourteen years, pat
tern of every domestic, as you had
been model ofevery civic virtue. The
baubles Of ambition never were the OBJ
ject of pursuit; and, in the simplicity
of your heart, you did not even think
that you made a sacrifice: but there
still remained one to be made to your
principles.
Your only son, the worthy inherito,