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of the Mountain leaders。
To conquer the last bastion of the Girondists all they have to do is
simultaneously in all sections to do what they used to do separately
in each section： substituting themselves； by fraud and by force； for
the Veritable people； they are able to conjure up before the
Convention the phantom of popular disapproval。 From the
municipality； holding its sessions at the H？tel…de…ville； and from the
conventicle established at the Evêché； emissaries are sent forth who
present the same formal communication in writing at the same time in
every section in Paris。＇106＇ 〃Here is a petition for signatures。〃
〃Read it。〃 〃But that is unnecessary it is already adopted by a
majority of the sections。〃 This lie is accepted by some and
several sign in good faith without reading it。 In others they read it
and refuse to sign it； in others； again； it is read and they pass to
the order of the day。 What happens？ The plotters and ringleaders
remain behind until all conscientious citizens have withdrawn； then；
masters of the debate； they decide that the petition must be signed；
and they accordingly affix their signatures。 The next day； on the
arrival of citizens at the section； the petition is handed to them for
their names； and the debate of the previous evening is advanced
against them。 If they offer any remarks； they are met with these
terrifying words：
Sign； or no certificate of civism！
And； as if approving this threat； several of the sections which are
mastered by those who draw up the lists of proscriptions； decide that
the certificates of civism must be renewed； new ones being refused to
those refusing to sign the petition。 They do not rest content with
these moves； men armed with pikes are posted in the streets to force
the signatures of those who pass。〃＇107＇ The whole weight of
municipal authority has been publicly cast into the scale。
〃Commissaries of the Commune； accompanied by municipal secretaries；
with tables； inkstands； paper and registers； promenade about Paris
preceded by drums and a body of militia。〃 From time to time； they make
〃a solemn halt；〃 and declaim against Brissot； Vergniaud； Guadet； and
then 〃demand and obtain signatures。〃＇108＇ Thus extorted and borne to
the Convention by the mayor； in the name of the council…general of the
Commune and of the thirty…five sections； the imperious petition
denounces twenty…two Girondists as traitors； and insolently demands
their expulsion。 Another day it is found that a similar summons and
similarly presented； in the name of the forty…eight sections； is
authorized only by thirteen or fourteen。＇109＇ Sometimes the
political parade is still more incautious。 Pretended deputies of the
Faubourg St。 Antoine appear before the Convention and assert the
revolutionary program。 〃If you do not adopt it；〃 they say； 〃we will
declare ourselves in a state of insurrection； there are 40；000 men at
the door。〃＇110＇ The truth is； 〃about fifty bandits； scarcely known in
the Faubourg；〃 and led by a former upholsterer； now a commissary of
police； 〃have gathered together on their route〃 all they could find in
the workshops 〃and in the stores；〃 the multitude packed into the Place
Vend？me not knowing what was demanded in their name。＇111＇ These
dummy tumults are； however； useful； they show the Convention its
master； and prepare the way for a more efficient invasion。 The day
Marat was acquitted； the whole of his sewer； male and female； came
along with him； under pretext of parading before the Convention； they
invaded the hall； scattered themselves over the benches and steps；
and； supported by the galleries； installed anew in the tribune； amidst
a tempest of applause and of tumult； the usual promoter of
insurrection； pillage and assassination。＇112＇ … And yet； however
energetic and however persistent the pressure； the Convention； which
has yielded on so many points； will not consent to mutilate itself。 It
pronounces the petition presented against the Twenty…two calumnious；
it institutes a special commission of twelve members to search the
papers of the Commune and the sections for legal proofs of the plot
openly and steadily maintained by the Jacobins against the national
representation； Mayor Pache is summoned to the bar of the house；
warrants of arrest are issued against Hébert； Dobsen and Varlet。
Since popular manifestations have not answered the purpose； and the
Convention； instead of obeying； is rebellious； nothing is left but to
employ force。
〃Since the 10th of March；〃 says Vergniaud； in the tribune；＇113＇
〃murder is openly and unceasingly fomented against you。〃 〃It is a
terrible time；〃 says an observer； 〃strongly resembling that preceding
the 2nd of September。〃＇114＇ That same evening； at the Jacobin club；
a member proposes to 〃exterminate the scoundrels before leaving。 〃I
have studied the Convention；〃 he says＇115＇ 〃it is composed in part of
scoundrels who ought to be punished。 All the supporters of Dumouriez
and the other conspirators should be put out of the way； fire the
alarm gun and close the barriers！〃 The following forenoon； 〃all the
walls in Paris are covered with posters；〃 calling on the Parisians to
〃hurry up and slit the throats of the statesmen。〃＇116＇ 〃 We must do
something to put an end to this！〃 is the slogan of the sans…culottes。
The following week； at the Jacobin club； as elsewhere； 〃immediate
insurrection is the order of the day。 。 。 。 What we formerly called
the sacred enthusiasm of freedom and patriotism； is now metamorphosed
into the fury of an excited populace； which can no longer be regulated
or disciplined except by force。 There is not one of these scoundrels
who would not accept a counter…revolution； provided they could be
allowed to crush and stamp on the most noted conservatives。＇117＇ 。 。
。 The conclusion is that the day； the hour； the minute that the
faction believes that it can usefully and without risk bring into play
all the brigands in Paris；＇118＇ then the insurrection will undoubtedly
take place。〃 Already the plan of the massacre is under consideration
by the lowest class of fanatics at the mayoralty； the Evêché； and the
Jacobin club。＇119＇
Some isolated house is to be selected； with a suite of three rooms on
the ground floor； and a small court in the rear； the twenty…two
Girondists are to be caught in the night and brought to this
slaughter…house arranged beforehand； each in turn is to be passed
along to the last room； where he is to be killed and his body tumbled
into a hole dug in the middle of the court； and then the whole covered
over with quick…lime； it will be supposed that they have emigrated；
and； to establish the fact； false correspondence will be printed。＇120＇
A member of the Committee on the Municipal Police declares that the
plan is feasible：
〃We will Septemberize（kill） them not we ourselves； but men who are
ready； and who will be well paid for it。〃
The Montagnards present Léonard Bourdon and Le