书城公版The Origins of Contemporary France
35302100000573

第573章

[29] Moniteur, XV. 184 to 233 (the roll-call of those who voted for the death of Louis XVI).--Dumouriez, II. 73 (Dumouriez reaches Paris Feb. 2, 1793, after visiting the coasts of Dunkirk and Antwerp): "All through Picardy, Artois, and maritime Flanders Dumouriez found the people in consternation at the tragic end of Louis XVI. He noticed that the very name of Jacobin excited horror as well as fear."[30] This number, so important, is verified by the following passages:

-- Moniteur, session of Dec. 39, 1792. Speech by Birotteau: "Fifty members against 690. . . About twenty former nobles, fifteen or twenty priests, and a dozen September judges (want to prevail against) 700deputies." -- Ibid., 851 (Dec.26, on the motion to defer the trial of the king): "About fifty voices, with energy, No! no! " -- Ibid., 865, (Dec.27, a violent speech by Lequinio, applauded by the extreme "Left"and the galleries; the president calls them to order): "The applause continues of about fifty members of the extreme 'Left.' " -- Mortimer-Ternaux, VI. 557. (Address by Tallien to the Parisians, Dec.23, against the banishment of the Duke of Orleans): "To-morrow, under the vain pretext of another measure of general safety, the 60 or 80members who on account of their courageous and inflexible adherence to principles are offensive to the Brissotine faction, will be driven out." -- Moniteur, XV. 74 (Jan. 6). Robespierre, addressing Roland, utters this expression: "the factious ministers." "Cries of Order! Avote of censure! To the Abbaye/ 'Is the honest minister whom all France esteems,' says a member, 'to be treated in this way?' -- Shouts of laughter greet the exclamation from about sixty members." -- Ibid., XV. 114. (Jan. 11). Denunciation of the party of anarchists by Buzot.

Garnier replies to him: "You calumniate Paris; you preach civil war!""Yes! yes! 'exclaim about sixty members. -- Buchez et Roux, XXIV. 368(Feb. 26). The question is whether Marat shall be indicted. "Murmurs from the extreme left, about a dozen members noisily demanding the order of the day."[31] Mercier, "Le nouveau Paris," II. 200.

[32] Buchez et Roux, XIX. 17. XXVIII. 168. - The king is declared guilty by 683 votes; 37 abstain from voting, as judges; of these 37, 26, either as individuals or legislators, declare the king guilty.

None of the other 11 declare him innocent.

[33] "Dictionnaire biographique," by Eymery, 1807 (4 vols). The situation of the conventionists who survive the Revolution may here be ascertained. Most of them will become civil or criminal judges, prefects, commissaries of police, heads of bureaus, post-office employees, or registry clerks, collectors, review-inspectors, etc. The following is the proportion of regicides among those thus in office:

Out of 23 prefects 21 voted for the king'' death; 42 out of 43magistrates voted for it, the 43rd being ill at the time of the sentence. Of 5 senators 4 voted for his death, and 14 deputies out of 16. Out of 36 other functionaries of various kinds 35 voted for death.

Among the remaining regicides we again find 2 councillors of state, 4diplomatic agents and consuls, 2 generals, 2 receiver-generals, 1commissary-general of the police, 1 minister in the cabinet of King Joseph, the minister of police, and the arch-chancellor of the empire.

[34] Buchez et Roux, XIX, 97, session of Sept. 25, 1792. Marat states:

" 'I have many personal enemies in this assembly.' 'All! all!' exclaim the entire Assembly, indignantly rising." - Ibid., XIX. 9, 49, 63, 338.

[35] "Right" and "Left", only refers to the right and left wings of the hemicycles of the hall in which the Assembly meets. The Plain and the Mountain refer to the same Assembly but here to those on the lower or the upper benches.(SR).

[36] Meillan, "Mémoires," 20. - Buchez et Roux, XXVI. Session of April 15, 1793. Denunciation of the Twenty-two Girondists by the sections of Paris: Royer-Fonfrède regrets "that his name is not inscribed on this honorable list. 'And all of us - all! All!' exclaim three-quarters of the Assembly, rising from their seats."[37] The Philosophe Denis Diderot (1713-84) was largely responsible for the 28 volume Encyclopédie (1751-729, which incorporated the latest knowledge and progressive ideas, and which helped spread the ideas of the Enlightenment in France and in other parts of Europe.

(Guinness Encyclopedia).

[38] "Archives Nationales," A.F. 45. Letter of Thomas Paine to Danton, May 6, 1792 (in English). "I do not know better men or better patriots." This letter, compared with the speeches or publications of the day, produces a singular impression through its practical good sense. This Anglo-American, however radical he may be, relies on nothing but experience and example in his political discussions.

[39] Cf. The memoirs of Buzot, Barbaroux, Louvet, Madame Roland, etc.

[40] And for some incomprehensible reason still in fashion at the end of the 20th Century. (SR).

[41] Buchez et Roux, XXIV. 102. (Plan drawn up by Condorcet, and reported in the name of the Committee on the Constitution, April 15and 16, 1793.) Condorcet adds to this a report of his own, of which he publishes and abstract in the Chronique de Paris.

[42] Buchez et Roux, XXIV. 102. Condorcet's abstract contains the following extraordinary sentence: "In all free countries the influence of the populace is feared with reason; but give all men the same rights and there will be no populace."[43] Cf. Edmond Biré. "La Légende des Girondins," on the part of the Girondists in all these odious measures.