hose
rights. Now, if this code were admitted, he argued, the power of the
house could extend no further than to call the Canadians together to
choose a constitution for themselves. But the practical effects of such
a system might be seen in St. Domingo and the other French islands.
Until they heard of the Rights of Man they were flourishing and happy,
but as soon as this system arrived among them, Pandora's box, replete
with every mortal evil, seemed to fly open; hell itself to yawn; and
every demon of mischief to overspread the country. Blacks rose against
blacks, whites against blacks--and each against the other in murderous
hostility: subordination was destroyed, the cords of society snapped
asunder, and every man appeared to thirst for the blood of his
neighbour. The mother country, France, not receiving any pleasure in
contemplating this image of herself reflected in her child, sent out a
body of troops to restore order and tranquillity. But these troops, well
instructed in the new principles, immediately upon their arrival felt
themselves bound to become parties in the universal rebellion; and, like
most of their brethren at home, began the assertion of their freeborn
rights by murdering their own general! Should such an example induce
us to ship off for Canada a cargo of the Rights of Man?" Burke next
proceeded to describe the deplorable condition of France itself, and to
comment on the conduct of the national assembly towards their monarch.
In the midst of his speech he was called to order by Mr. Baker, and a
scene of indescribable confusion ensued, and much time was wasted in
violent altercation: one side of the house contending that Burke was
in order, and the other that he was out of order. In the midst of this
discord Fox sarcastically said, that he conceived his honourable friend
could hardly be said to be out of order, since it seemed to him that
this was a day of privilege, upon which any gentleman might abuse any
government he chose, whether it had any reference or not to the question
before the house. Nobody had said a word about the French revolution,
but nevertheless his right honourable friend had risen up and abused
that event. Burke had certainly as much right to abase the revolution,
as Fox and his party had to extol it; and he attempted to explain why
he thought that he was in order, but the roar of voices which was raised
from the opposition benches drowned his voice, so that he was compelled
to