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deputies； who； in the two preceding Assemblies or alongside of them；
were the ablest defenders of both principles and humanity； around
Buzot； Lanjuinais； Pétition； and Rabaut…Saint…Etienne； around Brissot；
Vergniaud； Guadet； Gensonné； Isnard； and Condorcet； around Roland；
Louvet； Barbaroux； and the five hundred deputies of the 〃Plain；〃＇35＇
marching in one body under the leadership of the 180 Girondists who
now form the 〃Right。〃＇36＇
These latter； among the republicans； are the most sincere and have the
most faith； for they have long been such； after much thought； study
and as a matter of principle。 Nearly all of them are well…read
educated men； reasoners； philosophers； disciples of Diderot or of
Rousseau； satisfied that absolute truth had been revealed by their
masters； thoroughly imbued with the Encyclopédie＇37＇ or the Contrat
Social； the same as the Puritans formerly were with the Bible。＇38＇ At
the age when the mind is maturing； and fondly clings to general
ideas；＇39＇ they embraced the theory and aimed at a reconstruction of
society according to abstract principles。 They have accordingly set to
work as pure logicians； rigorously applying the superficial and false
system of analysis then in vogue。＇40＇ They have formed for themselves
an idea of man in general； the same in all times and ages； an extract
or minimum of man； they have pondered over several thousands of or
millions of these abstract mortals； erected their imaginary wills into
primordial rights； and drawn up in anticipation the chimerical
contract which is to regulate their impossible union。 There are to be
no more privileges； no more heredity； no qualifications of any kind；
all are to be electors； all eligible and all of equal members of the
sovereignty； all powers are to be of short date； and conferred through
election； there must be but one assembly； elected and entirely renewed
annually； one executive council elected and one…half renewed annually；
a national treasury…board elected and one…third renewed annually； all
local administrations and tribunals must be elected； a referendum to
the people； the electoral body endowed with the initiative； a constant
appeal to the sovereignty； which； always consulted and always active；
will manifest its will not alone by the choice of its mandatories but；
again； through 〃the censure〃 which it will apply to the laws such
is the Constitution they forge for themselves。＇41＇ 〃The English
Constitution；〃 says Condorcet； 〃is made for the rich； that of America
for citizens well…off； the French Constitution should be made for all
men。〃 … It is； for this reason； the only legitimate one； every
institution that deviates from it is opposed to natural rights and；
therefore； fit only to be put down。…This is what the Girondists have
done during the Legislative sessions； we know how they； armed with the
illusions＇42＇ of their new philosophy and triumphing through a rigid；
rash and hasty reason； have
* persecuted Catholic consciences；
* violated feudal property；
* encroached on the legal authority of the King；
* persecuted the remains of the ancient regime；
* tolerated crimes committed by the crowds；
* even plunged France into an European war；
* armed even the paupers；
* caused the overthrow of all government。 …
As far as his Utopia is concerned； the Girondist is a sectarian； and
he knows no scruples。
* Little does he care that nine out of ten electors do not vote： he
regards himself as the authorized representative of all ten。
* Little does he care whether the great majority of Frenchmen favor
the Constitution of 1791； it is his business to impose on them his
own。
* Little does he care whether his former opponents； King； émigrés；
unsworn ecclesiastics； are honorable men or at least excusable； he
will launch against them every rigorous legal proceeding；
transportation； confiscation； civil death and physical death。＇43＇
In his own eyes he is the justiciary； and his investiture is bestowed
upon him by eternal right。 There is no human infatuation so pernicious
to man as that of absolute right； nothing is better calculated for the
destruction in him of the hereditary accumulation of moral
conceptions。 Within the narrow bounds of their creed； however； the
Girondins are sincere and consistent。 They are masters of their
formulae； they know how to deduce consequences from them； they believe
in them the same as a surveyor in his theorems； and a theologian in
the articles of his faith； they are anxious to apply them； to devise a
constitution； to establish a regular government； to emerge from a
barbarous state； to put an end to fighting in the street； to
pillaging； to murders； to the sway of brutal force and of naked arms。
The disorder； mover； so repugnant to them as logicians is still more
repugnant to them as cultivated； polished men。 They have a sense of
what is proper；＇44＇ of becoming ways； and their tastes are even
refined。 They are not familiar with； nor do they desire to imitate；
the rude manners of Danton； his coarse language； his oaths； and his
low associations with the people。 They have not； like Robespierre；
gone to lodge with a master joiner； to live him and eat with his
family。 Unlike Pache； Minister of War； no one among them 〃feels
honored〃 by 〃going down to dine with his porter；〃 and by sending his
daughters to the club to give a fraternal kiss to drunken
Jacobins。＇45＇ At Madame Roland's house there is a salon； although it
is stiff and pedantic； Barbaroux send verses to a marchioness； who；
after the 2nd of June； elopes with him to Caen。＇46＇ Condorcet has
lived in high society； while his wife； a former canoness； possess the
charms； the repose； the instruction； and the elegance of an
accomplished woman。 Men of this stamp cannot endure close alongside
of them the inept and gross dictatorship of an armed rabble。 In
providing for the public treasury they require regular taxes and not
tyrannical confiscations。＇47＇ To repress the malevolent they propose
〃punishment and not banishment。〃＇48＇ In all State trials they oppose
irregular courts； and strive to maintain for those under indictment
some of the usual safeguards。＇49＇ On declaring the King guilty they
hesitate in pronouncing the sentence of death； and try to lighten
their responsibility by appealing to the people。 The line 〃laws and
not blood；〃 was a line which； causing a stir in a play of the day；
presented in a nutshell their political ideas。 And； naturally； the
law； especially Republican law； is the law of all； once enacted；
nobody； no citizen； no city； no party； can refuse to obey it without
being criminal。 It is monstrous that one city should arrogate to
itself the privilege of ruling the nation； Paris； like other
departments； should be reduced to its on…eighty…third proportion of
influence。 It is monstrous that； in a capital of 700；000 souls； five
or six thousand radical Jacobins should oppress the sections and alone
elect their candidates； in the sections and at the polls； all
citizens； at least all republicans； should enjoy an equal and free
vote。 It is monstrous that the principle of popular sovereignty should
be used to cover up attacks against popular sovereignty； that； under
the pretense of saving the State； the first that comes along may kill
whom he pleases； that； on the pretext that they are resisting
oppression； each mob should have the 〃Right〃 to put the government
down。 Hence； this militant 〃Right〃 must be pacified； enclosed
within legal boundaries； and subjected to a fixed process。＇50＇ Should
any individual desire a law； a reform or a public measure； let him
state his on paper over his own signature and that of fifty other
citizens of the same primary assembly； then the proposition must be
submitted to his own primary assembly； then in case it obtains a
majority； to the primary assemblies of his arrondissement； then； in
case of a majority； to the