Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-02-10
MISCELLANY.
FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE,
SYSTEM OF SLAVERY.


In our REMARKS Oh MicheIets History of France
we begin, as is customary, al the beginniDg.-
Gau was Roman province before it became the
Kingdom OF France, and we must assist at the
transformation.
In speaking says M. Guizot in passage quo
ted by Michelet-in speaking OF that invasion
which overthrow the Western Empire, We often
hear such expressions used as the intimidation OF
barbarians sweeping all before it-a sort of human
deluge carrying away all The monuments OF civil
ization. Such expressions deceive us TO the
true nature of the event. No great and sudden
disaster overthrow tho Roman Empire, nor did It's
laws and civilization die this violent death. A
number OF invasions-- partial, successve-0f men
banded together for predatory excursion, more fire.
quenty Than of armies raised for territorial con-
quest-these wore down the strength, wasted, and
finally destroyed the Roman Empire in the West.
1t was thus, more especially, that Gaul was con-
quered. No mortal blow was ever struck, but a
general insecurity Of life and property for long
time afflicted the province; no part OF the country
was safe no one knew whose land, whose viii
lage would he next laG waste; communication
from one town TO another was cut off or rendered
dangerous the organization of society was assail-
ed, imPeded in It's action broken up, Destroyed
There was dissolution gradual but irrepnrable,
Of the vast body ofihe State--its repeated wounds
healed Rot but limb after limb suffered mortfca-
tion, and paralysis and decay. The masters OF
gether, TO keep in systematic action their mulila-
ted Empire; they were compelled 10 relinqush
even those parts which had as yet been spared by
the invader; from great part OF Gau!, aud from
Great Britain, the imperial administration dslibsr.
ately Withdrew, leaving the territory TO DO divided
or contested for amongst the rival hordes of bar
bsrians.
IL such be the true character Of the event, how
can the success OF The barbarians be accounted
for ?-how came the Empire 10 fall under a series
Of invasious nothing comparable to those which the
Republic sustained Shall we attribute the weak
ness of the Empire to the vices Of the lmperia
Government? But an Imperial Government is
at all events, we'll calculated for the purposes O
war; and the provinces we're more wisely and just
ly governed under the sway Of an Autocrat, thai
under those Projects which the Senate annual,
sen, forth, and whose great anxiety was 10 enrci
themselves before their SUCCESSORS drove ,hen
from the field. The worst Of the Emperors wer'
often exceedingly popular and beloved in tho prov
inces, Rome itself being theatre large enough
for the practice of all their vices and their tyraIl
NY. Jurisprudence, and the administration of In
civil law, continued in the steady course of i'm
provenent. Ii was an Internal evil certainly thu
destroyed the Empire, but not one Of Poiilico
nalure--it was a Social malady-one which Ia
In the very organization OF Society--one whic
no administrative power could reach--it was III
system which committed the cultivation of Ill
soil, and other branches Of manual industry, to IN
hands Of the Slave--it was this that, like slo,
poison in the constitution, wilhered up the strengt
Of the Roman Empire.
When Rome made her vast conquests, sh
brought in, from every part Of the World troop
oil capIves. With these the rich Patricians cult
vhied Their enormous estates the race Of sIna
prtprIsiors xlnnl
and the mobiles committed their extended fielt
and their vast tracts Of pasture TO the care ofthes
imported Slaves Throughout the Empire III
land wa. generally cultivated by Slaves, or by "a,
rleuiturai laDorers bounn to the soil, and but OF
degree removed from Slavery Arts and Man,
features were praclised by the Slave The ndustr
OF country, in which consists the wealth Of
country, was entrusted 10 The energy Of the Sav
Doubtless there were olher causes operating
the destruction of the Roman Empire bu, all oil
or causes, without this, are insufficient TO expla