按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
to them。 And all the more readily because the usurpers offer to
resign； in effect； the Convention has just solemnly declared that once
the Constitution is adopted； the people shall again be convoked to
elect 〃a new national assembly 。 。 。 a new representative body
invested with a later and more immediate trust；〃＇11＇ which will allow
electors； if they are so disposed； to return honest deputies and
exclude the knaves who now rule。 Thereupon even the insurgent
departments； the mass of the Girondins population； after a good deal
of hesitation； resign themselves at last to voting for it。＇12＇ This
is done at Lyons and in the department of Calvados only on the 30th of
July。 A number of Constitutionalists or neutrals have done the same
thing； some through a horror of civil war and a spirit of
conciliation； and others through fear of persecution and of being
taxed with royalism；＇13＇ one conception more： through docility they
may perhaps succeed in depriving the 〃Mountain〃 of all pretext for
violence。
In this they greatly deceive themselves； and； from the first； they are
able to see once more the Jacobins interpretation of electoral
liberty。 At first； all the registered；＇14＇ and especially the
〃suspects；〃 are compelled to vote； and to vote Yes； otherwise； says a
Jacobin journal；＇15＇ 〃they themselves will indicate the true opinion
one ought to have of their attitudes； and no longer have reason to
complain of suspicions that are found to be so well grounded。〃 They
come accordingly； 〃very humbly and very penitent。〃 Nevertheless they
meet with a rebuff； and a cold shoulder is turned on them； they are
consigned to a corner of the room； or near the doors； and are openly
insulted。 Thus received； it is clear that they will keep quiet and
not risk the slightest objection。 At Macon 〃a few aristocrats
muttered to themselves； but not one dared say No。〃＇16＇ It would；
indeed； be extremely imprudent。 At Montbrison； 〃six individuals who
decline to vote；〃 are denounced in the procès…verbal of the Canton；
while a deputy in the Convention demands 〃severe measures〃 against
them。 At Nogent…sur…Seine； three administrators； guilty of the same
offense； are to be turned out of office。＇17＇ A few months later； the
offense becomes a capital crime； and people are to be guillotined 〃for
having voted against the Constitution of 1793。〃＇18＇ Almost all the
ill…disposed foresaw this danger； hence； in nearly all the primary
assemblies； the adoption is unanimous； or nearly unanimous。＇19＇ At
Rouen； there are but twenty…six adverse votes； at Caen； the center of
the Girondin opposition； fourteen； at Rheims； there are only two； at
Troyes； Besan？on； Limoges and Paris； there are none at all； in fifteen
departments the number of negatives varies from five to one； not one
is found in Var； this apparent unity is most instructive。 The
commune of St。 Donau； the only one in France； in the remote district
of Cotês…du…Nord； dares demand the restoration of the clergy and the
son of Capet for king。 All the others vote as if directed with a
baton； they have understood the secret of the plebiscite； that it is a
Jacobin demonstration； not an honest vote； which is required。＇20＇ The
operation undertaken by the local party is actually carried out。 It
beats to arms around the ballot…box； it arrives in force； it alone
speaks with authority； it animates officers； it moves all the
resolutions and draws up the report of proceedings； while the
representatives on mission from Paris add to the weight of the local
authority that of the central authority。 In the Macon assembly 〃they
address the people on each article； this speech is followed by immense
applause and redoubled shouting of Vive la République！ Vive la
Constitution！ Vive le Peuple Fran？ais！ 〃 Beware； ye lukewarm； who do
not join in the chorus！ They are forced to vote 〃in a loud；
intelligible voice。〃 They are required to shout in unison； to sign the
grandiloquent address in which the leaders testify their gratitude to
the Convention； and give their adhesion to the eminent patriots
delegated by the primary assembly to bear its report to Paris。＇21＇
IV。
The Delegates reach Paris。 Precautions taken against them。
Constraints and Seductions。
The first act of the comedy is over and the second act now begins。
The faction has convoked the delegates of the primary assemblies to
Paris for a purpose。 Like the primary assemblies； they are to serve
as its instruments for governing； they are to form the props of
dictatorship； and the object now is to restrict them to that task
only。 Indeed； it is not certain that all will lend themselves to
it。 For； among the eight thousand commissioners； some； appointed by
refractory assemblies； bring a refusal instead of an adhesion；＇22＇
others； more numerous； are instructed to present objections and point
out omissions：＇23＇ it is very certain that the envoys of the Girondist
departments will insist on the release or return of their excluded
representatives。 And lastly； a good many delegates who have accepted
the Constitution in good faith desire its application as soon as
possible； and that the Convention should fulfill its promise of
abdication； so as to give way to a new Assembly。 … As it is important
to suppress at once all these vague desires for independence or
tendencies for opposition a decree of the Convention 〃authorizes the
Committee of General Security to order the arrest of 'suspect'
commissioners；〃 it is especially to look after those who； 〃charged
with a special mission； would hold meetings to win over their
colleagues； 。 。 。 。 and engage them in proceedings contrary to
their mandate。〃＇24＇ In the first place； and before they are admitted
into Paris； their Jacobinism is to be verified； like a bale in the
customs…house； by the special agents of the executive council； and
especially by Stanislas Maillard； the famous September judge； and his
sixty…eight bearded ruffians； each receiving pay at five francs a day。
〃On all the roads； within a circuit of fifteen or twenty leagues of
the capital；〃 the delegates are searched； their trunks are opened； and
their letters read。 At the barriers in Paris they find 〃inspectors〃
posted by the Commune； under the pretext of protecting them against
prostitutes and swindlers。 There； they are taken possession of； and
conducted to the mayoralty； where they receive lodging tickets； while
a picket of gendarmerie escorts them to their allotted domiciles。＇25＇
Behold them in pens like sheep； each in his numbered stall； there
is no fear of the dissidents trying to escape and form a band apart：
one of them； who comes to the Convention and asks for a separate hall
for himself and his adherents； is snubbed in the most outrageous
manner； they denounce him as an intriguer； and accuse him of a desire
to defend the traitor Castries； they take his name and credentials；
and threaten him with an investigation。＇26＇ The unfortu