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their destitute situations。 That is why； writes Saint Just：＇45＇
〃Opulence is a disgrace； for every thousand livres expenditure of
this kind a smaller number of natural or adopted children can be
looked after。〃 …
〃The richest Frenchman；〃 says Robespierre； 〃ought not to have now more
three thousand livres rental。〃 …
Beyond what is strictly necessary； no property is legitimate； we have
the right to take the superfluous wherever we find it。 Not only to…
day； because we now require it for the State and for the poor； but at
all times； because the superfluous； in all times； confers on its owner
an advantage in contracts； a control of wages； an arbitrary power over
the means of living； in short； a supremacy of condition worse than
preeminence in rank。 Consequently； our hand is not only against the
nobles； but also against the rich and well…to…do bourgeois＇46＇ the
large land…owners and capitalists； we are going to demolish their
crafty feudalism from top to bottom。＇47＇ … In the first place； and
merely through the effect of the new institutions； we prevent any
capitalist from deducting； as he is used to do； the best portion of
the fruits of another's labor； the hornets shall no longer； year after
year； consume the honey of the bees。 To bring this about； we have
only to let the assignats （paper money） and their forced rate （of
exchange） work things out。 Through the depreciation of paper…money；
the indolent land…owner or capitalist sees his income melting away in
his hands； his receipts consist only of nominal values。 On the 1st of
January； his tenant pays him really for a half term instead of a full
term； on the 1st of March； his farmer settles his account with a bag
of grain。＇48＇ The effect is just the same as if we had made fresh
contracts； and reduced by one…half； three…quarters； or； even more； the
rate of interest on loans； the rent of houses and the leases of farm
lands。 … Whilst the revenue of the landlord evaporates； his capital
melts away； and we do the best we can to help this along。 If he has
claims on ancient corporations or civil and religious establishments
of any description； whether provincial governments； congregations；
associations； endowments or hospitals； we withdraw his special
guarantee； we convert his title…deeds into a state annuity； we combine
his private fortune with the public fortune whether he will or not； we
drag him into the universal bankruptcy； toward which we are conducting
all the creditors of the Republic。＇49＇ … Besides； to ruin him； we
have more direct and prompt means。 If an émigré； and there are
hundreds of thousands of émigrés； we confiscate his possessions。 If
he has been guillotined or deported； and there are tens of thousands
of these； we confiscate his possessions。 If he is 〃recognized as an
enemy of the Revolution；〃＇50＇ and 〃all the rich pray for the counter…
revolution；〃＇51＇ we sequestrate his property； enjoying the usufruct of
it until peace is declared； and we shall have the property after the
war is over。 Usufruct or property； the State； in either case；
inherits； at the most we might grant temporary aid to the family；
which is not even entitled to maintenance。
It is impossible to uproot fortunes more thoroughly。 As to those
which are not at once eradicated we get rid of them piecemeal； and
against these we employ two axes：
On the one hand； we decree the principle of progressive taxation； and
on this basis we establish the forced loan：＇52＇ in incomes； we
distinguish between the essential and the surplus； we fix according as
the excess is greater or less we take a quarter； a third or the half
of it； and； when above nine thousand francs； the whole； beyond its
small alimentary reserve； the most opulent family will keep only four
thousand five hundred francs income。
On the other hand； we cut deep into capital through revolutionary
taxes； our committees and provincial proconsuls levy arbitrarily what
suits them； three hundred； five hundred； up to one million two hundred
thousand francs；＇53＇ on this or that banker； trader； bourgeois or
widow； payable within a week； all the worse for the person taxed if he
or she has no money on hand and is unable to borrow it； we declare
them 〃suspects；〃 we imprison them； we sequestrate their property and
the State enjoys it in their place。
In any event； even when the amount is paid； we force him or her to
deposit their silver and gold coin in our hands； sometimes with
assignats as security； and often nothing； henceforth； money must
circulate and the precious metals are in requisition；＇54＇ everybody
will deliver up what plate he possesses。 And let nobody presume to
conceal his hoard； all treasure； whether silver…plate； diamonds；
ingots； gold or silver； coined or un…coined； 〃discovered； or that may
be discovered； buried in the ground or concealed in cellars； inside of
walls or in garrets； under floors； pavements； or hearthstones； or in
chimneys and other hiding places；〃＇55＇ becomes the property of the
Republic； with a premium of twenty per cent。 in assignats to the
informer。 As； furthermore； we make requisitions for bed…linen；
beds； clothes； provisions； wines and the rests； along with specie and
precious metals； the condition of the mansion may be imagined；
especially after we have lodged in it； it is the same as if the house
had been on fire； all movable property and all real estate have
perished。 … Now that both are destroyed they must not be allowed to
accumulate again。 To ensure this；
1。 we abolish； according to rule； the freedom of bequest；＇56＇
2。 we prescribe equal and obligatory divisions of all
inheritances；＇57＇
3。 we include bastards in this under the same title as legitimate
children；
4。 we admit representation à l'infini；＇58＇ 〃in order to multiply
heirs and parcel out inheritances；〃＇59＇
5。 we reduce the disposable portion to one…tenth； in the direct line；
and one…sixth in a collateral line；
6。 we forbid any gift to persons whose income exceeds one thousand
quintals of grain；
7。 we inaugurate adoption； 〃an admirable institution；〃 and
essentially republican； 〃since it brings about a division of large
properties without a crisis。〃
Already； in the Legislative Assembly a deputy had stated that 〃equal
rights could be maintained only by a persistent tendency to uniformity
of fortunes。〃＇60＇
We have provided for this for the present day and we likewise provide
for it in the future。 … None of the vast tumors which have sucked the
sap of the human plant are to remain； we have cut them away with a few
telling blows； while the steady…moving machine； permanently erected by
us； will shear off their last tendrils should they change to sprout
again。
VI。
Conditions requisite for making a citizen。 … Plans for suppressing
poverty。 Measures in favor of the poor。
In returning Man to his natural condition we have prepared for the
advent of the Social Man。 The object