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vigorous spring； always finds some outlet； the people declare that
〃the gendarmes and National Guard〃 who come to restrain them 〃are
priests and gentlemen in disguise。〃 … The new theories； moreover；
have struck down to the lowest depths； and nothing is easier than to
draw from them the abolition of debts； and even the agrarian law。
At Ribérac； which is invaded by the people of the neighboring
parishes； a village tailor； taking the catechism of the Constitution
from his pocket； argues with the procureur…syndic； and proves to him
that the insurgents are only exercising the rights of man。 The book
states； in the first place； 〃that Frenchmen are equals and brethren；
and that they should give each other aid；〃 and that 〃the masters
should share with their fellows； especially this year； which is one
of scarcity。〃 In the next place； it is written that 〃all property
belongs to the nation；〃 and that is the reason why 〃it has taken the
possessions of the Church。〃 Now； all Frenchmen compose the nation；
and the conclusion is clearly apparent。 Since； in the eyes of the
tailor； the property of individual Frenchmen belongs to all the
French； he； the tailor； has a right to at least the quota which
belongs to him。 … One travels fast and far on this downhill road；
for every mob considers that this means immediate enjoyment； and
enjoyment according to its own ideas。 There is no care for
neighbors or for consequences； even when imminent and physical； and
in twenty places the confiscated property perishes in the hands of
the usurpers。
This voluntary destruction of property can be best observed in the
third department； that of Corrèze。＇77＇ Not only have the peasants
here refused to pay rents from the beginning of the Revolution； not
only have they 〃planted maypoles； supplied with iron hooks； to hang
〃 the first one that dared to claim or to pay them； not only are
violent acts of every description committed 〃by entire communes；〃
〃the National Guards of the small communes participating in them；〃
not only do the culprits； whose arrest is ordered； remain at
liberty； while 〃nothing is spoken of but the hanging of the
constables who serve writs；〃 but farther； together with the
ownership of the water…sources； the power of collecting； directing；
and distributing the water is overthrown； and； in a country of in a
country of steep slopes； the consequences of such an operation may
be imagined。 Three leagues from Tulle； in a forming a semi…circle； a
pond twenty feet in depth； and covering an area of three hundred
acres； was enclosed by a broad embankment on the side of a very deep
gorge； which was completely covered with houses； mills； and
cultivation。 On the 17th of April； 1791； a troop of five hundred
armed men assembled by the beat of a drum； and collected from three
villages in the vicinity； set themselves to demolish the dike。 The
proprietor； M。 de Sedières； a substitute…deputy in the National
Assembly； is not advised of it until eleven o'clock in the evening。
Mounting his horse； along with his guests and domestics； he makes a
charge on the insane wretches； and； with the aid of pistol and gun
shots； disperses them。 It was time； for the trench they had dug was
already eight feet deep； and the water was nearly on a level with
it： a half…hour later and the terrible rolling mass of waters would
have poured out on the inhabitants of the gorge。 … But such
vigorous strokes； which are rare and hardly ever successful； are no
defense against universal and continuous attacks。 The regular
troops and the gendarmerie； both of which are in the way of
reorganization or of dissolution； are not trustworthy； or are too
weak。 There are no more than thirty of the cavalry in Creuse； and
as many in Corrèze。 The National Guards of the towns are knocked up
by expeditions into the country； and there is no money with which to
provide for their change of quarters。 And finally； as the elections
are in the hands of the people； this brings into power men disposed
to tolerate popular excesses。 At Tulle； the electors of the second
class； almost all chosen from among the cultivators； and； moreover；
catechized by the club； nominate for deputies and public prosecutor
only the candidates who are pledged against rentals and against
water privileges。 … Accordingly； the general demolition of the
dikes begins as the month of May approaches。 This operation
continues unopposed on a vast pond； a league and a half from the
town； and lasts for a whole week； elsewhere； on the arrival of the
guards or of the gendarmerie； they are fired upon。 Towards the end
of September； all the embankments in the department are broken down：
nothing is left in the place of the ponds but fetid marshes； the
mill…wheels no longer turn； and the fields are no longer watered。
But those who demolish them carry away baskets full of fish； and the
soil of the ponds again becomes communal。 … Hatred is not the
motive which impels them； but the instinct of acquisition： all these
violent outstretched hands； which rigidly resist the law； are
directed against property； but not against the proprietor； they are
more greedy than hostile。 One of the noblemen of Corrèze；＇78＇ M。 de
Saint…Victour； has been absent for five years。 From the beginning
of the Revolution； although his feudal dues constitute one…half of
the income of his estate； he has given orders that no rigorous
measures shall be employed in their collection； and the result is
that； since 1789； none of them were collected。 Moreover； having a
reserve stock of wheat on hand； he lent grain； to the amount of four
thousand francs； to those of his tenants who had none。 In short； he
is liberal； and； in the neighboring town； at Ussel； he even passes
for a Jacobin。 In spite of all this； he is treated just like the
rest。 It is because the parishes in his domain are 〃clubbist；〃
governed by associations of moral and practical levelers； in one of
them 〃the brigands have organized themselves into a municipal body；〃
and have chosen their leader as procureur…syndic。 Consequently； on
the 22nd of August； eighty armed peasants opened the dam of his
large pond； at the risk of submerging a village in the neighborhood；
the inhabitants of which came and closed it up。 Five other ponds
belonging to him are demolished in the course of the two following
weeks； fish to the value of from four to five thousand francs are
stolen； and the rest perish in the weeds。 In order to make this
expropriation sure； an effort is made to burn his title…deeds； his
chateau； twice attacked in the night； is saved only by the National
Guard of Ussel。 His farmers and domestics hesitate； for the time
being； whether or not to cultivate the ground； and come and ask the
steward if they could sow the seeds。 There is no recourse to the
proper authorities： the administrators and judges； even when their
own property is concerned； 〃dare not openly show themselves；〃
because 〃they do not find themselves protected by the shield of the
law。 〃 … Popular will； traversing both the old and the new law；
obstinately persists in its work； and forcibly attains its ends。
Thus； whatever the grand terms of liberty； equality； and fraternity
may be； with which the Revolution graces itself； it is； in its
essence； a transfer of property； in this alone consists its chief
support； its enduring energy； its primary impulse and its historical
significance。 … Formerly； in antiquity； similar movements were
accomplished； debts were abolished or lessened； the possessions of
the rich were confiscated； and the public lands were divided； but
this operation was confined to a city and limited to a small
territory。 For the first time it takes place on a large scale and
in a modern State。 … Thus far； in these vast States； when the
deeper foundations have been disturbed； it has ever been on account
of foreign domination or on account of an oppression of conscience。
In France in the fifteenth century； in Holland in the sixteenth and
in England in the seventeenth century； the peasant； the mechanic；
and the laborer had taken up arms against an enemy or in behalf of
their faith。 On religious or patriotic zeal has followed the
craving for prosperity and comfort； and the new motive is as
powerful as the others； for in our industrial； democratic； and
utilitarian societies it is this which governs almost all lives； and
excites almost all efforts。 Kept down for centuries； the passion
recovers itself by throwing off government and privilege； the two
great weights which have borne it down。 At the present time this
passion launches itself impetuously with its whole force； with
brutal insensibility； athwart every kind of proprietorship that is
legal and legitimate； whether it be public or private。 The
obstacles it encounters only render it the more destructive ； beyond
property it attacks proprietors； and completes plunder with
proscriptions。