The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-05-09
Robespierre.


olive colored coat, with fixed eye, contracted
brow and shril voice, accompanied by hard
gestures, Robespierre was pleading at the Til
bune for the peoples cause, Mirabeau, in The
midst of whisperings and mockeries, had been
seen to.contempate impressive curiosity that
man-pale yisage and strangely smiling, whose
physiognomy breathed forth, as it were, drea.
ry gentleness, in whom all things spoke a pas
sion for order, and who appearedfull ofrespect
for himself-so careful was he ofhis attire, so
grave in his attitude SO studied in his speech.
Who might this new conner be-, on whom
fingered thus the presentiments ofgenius, and
what part was he to play in the revolution :
He was to demand justice for all men, for all,
without exception he was to, he the preacher
Of right, With him there was to be no com.
promise; foris not truth one9 Let no party
claim him; he is of the party Of his own con.
vctions that suffices. At his first step in the
career where he was to leave the trace of his
blood and name accursed, he earned the sur
name Of The hcorruptibze. As simple ad,
vocate, honest people quoted his integrity ; as
Legislator, the wicked feared him. Always
ready to defend the people, he knew not how
to fatter ffem; he had at once too much.pride
and too much virtue. In the midst ola society
in disorder, he Worshiped regulation. Anarchy
beabhorred. Popularity, earned by cynical
habits and language, be despised. He never
concealed his disdain for extravagancesi in thee.
ry or action ( Yet Freron admired him. Her.
bert respected him and he forced Marat to praise
him.
His life was laborious, austere; his manners
did honor for his principles. Others, among
knownETribunes, might, display suspicious
opulence, sup by the light Of the golden chan
deers, and i,toxicate themselves with wine
luxury. He occupied in the Rue .Santonga, a
wretched apartment, shared and half paid for
by companion youth. He spent. scarcely
thirty sous for his meals, and vent on foot
where duty called him, and uut of his salary as
deputy piuusly diminished by an annuity paid
to his sister, could not always set aside suffi-
ciert to buy him q coat.
But if there are imperfections which on i'm.
perfect nature willingly covers with its sympa-
thy, there are weaknesses which we adore; these
Robesperre had not Something impenetra
be enseloped his mind. His virtue, like q
sickly star, shone without beaming. Even on
the lips which commonly opened only to ex.
alt him, it seemed as il his presence checked
light praises and familiar smiles. When he
spoke of mercy, he awakened fears. Yet at
Arras; where he was born, his childhood, we
are assured, had given evidence of frankness
and Of charming states. Although already in.
cined to serious meditation, laughter, even to
tears came easily to him, for an .aviary in those
times formed his republic, Early an orphan,
he tenderly loved his brothers, and idoized his
sisters next to them came his dear birds. La.
ter when he left the College of Louis le Grand
the doors Of which had been opened for him
BY the affection Of the Able, de Waast, and
where he had Camille Desmoulnsas q fellow.pu
pill, his thoughts began to turn towards love,
and took form in gallant verses. He en-
tered the society of the Rosatis, celebrated the
light songster Of Vert Vert, in a tone worthy of
.his hero, and earned the academical crowns. of
his province. What shall we add3 The oath
which Mmlle. Deshortis swore to hiGl, that
she would never be an"thers. but only his
that oath of love broken in absence-Plunged
him into prodigious and Intellectual grief.
cs.s I. Louis .Blasle:A
.