From both those instances it is evident, that the greatest forces that can be brought into the field of revolutions, are reason and common interest.

Where these can have the opportunity of acting, opposition dies with fear, or crumbles away by conviction.

It is a great standing which they have now universally obtained; and we may hereafter hope to see revolutions, or changes in governments, produced with the same quiet operation by which any measure, determinable by reason and discussion, is accomplished.
When a nation changes its opinion and habits of thinking, it is no longer to be governed as before; but it would not only be wrong, but bad policy, to attempt by force what ought to be accomplished by reason.
Rebellion consists in forcibly opposing the general will of a nation, whether by a party or by a government.

There ought, therefore, to be in every nation a method of occasionally ascertaining the state of public opinion with respect to government.

On this point the old government of France was superior to the present government of England, because, on extraordinary occasions, recourse could be had what was then called the States General.