emigrations?" Vergniaud spoke
against those pretended natural rights, and recognised, above all
individual rights, the right of society, which comprises and dominates
over all, just as the whole predominates over a portion: he compared
political liberty to the right of a citizen to do what he pleases,
provided he do nothing injurious to his country; but there he stops. Man
can, no doubt, materially use this right to abdicate the country in
which he was born and to which he belongs, as the limb belongs to the
body, but this abdication is treason; for it severs the union between
the nation and himself, and the nation no longer owes him or his
property any protection. After having on this principle destroyed the
puerile distinction between the functionary and the mere emigrant, he
proved that society falls into decay if she refuse herself the right of
retaining those who forsake her in her hour of danger and difficulty.
When she gave him all the universe for his country, she refused him that
which gave him birth. But what will be the consequence if this emigrant,
ceasing to play merely the part of a cowardly fugitive, becomes a foe,
and, assembling with his fellow-traitors, surrounds the nation with a
band of conspirators? What, shall attack be permitted to the emigres,
and good citizens forbidden to defend themselves?

XVI.

"But," continued he, "is France in this situation that she ought to fear
from these men, who are about to excite all the ancient hatreds of the
foreign courts against us? No; we shall soon see these proud mendicants,
who are now receiving the roubles of Catherine and the millions of
Holland, expiate in shame and misery the crimes their pride has entailed
on them. Moreover these kings hesitate to attack us; they know that, to
the spirit of philosophy that has infused into us the breath of liberty,
there are no Pyrenees; they dread that the foot of their soldiers should
touch a soil that blazes with this holy flame; they tremble, lest on the
day of battle the patriots of every country should recognise each other,
and two armies ready to combat be converted into a band of brethren,
united against their tyrants. But should it be necessary to appeal to
arms, we well remember that a thousand Greeks, combating for liberty,
trampled on a million of Persians.

"We are told 'the emigres have no evil designs against their country; it
is only a temporary absence: where are the legal proofs of what you
assert