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reigning dogma； weakening authority in the magistrates' hands； and the
clubs； 〃which cover the department；〃 have spread the fermentation of
anarchy everywhere。 〃Administrators； judges； municipal officers； all
who are invested with any authority； and who have the courage to use
it in forcing respect for law； are one by one denounced by public
opinion as enemies of the constitution and of liberty； because；
people say； they talk of nothing but the law； as if they did not know
that the will of the people makes the law； and that we are the
people。〃＇10＇ This is the real principle； here； as at Paris； it
instantly begets its consequences。 〃In many of these clubs nothing is
discussed but the plundering of estates and cutting off the heads of
aristocrats。 And who are designated by this infamous title？ In the
cities； the great traders and rich proprietors； in the country； those
whom we call the bourgeois； everywhere； all peaceable citizens； the
friends of order； who wish to enjoy； under the shadow of the
protecting law； the blessings of the Constitution。 Such was the rage
of their denunciations that in one of these clubs a good and brave
peasant was denounced as an aristocrat； the whole of his aristocracy
consisting in his having said to those who plundered the chateau of
their seigneur； already mentioned； that they would not enjoy in peace
the fruits of their crime。〃 Here is the Jacobin programme of Paris
in advance； namely； the division of the French into two classes； the
spoliation of one； the despotism of the other； the destruction of the
well…to…do； orderly and honest under the dictation of those who are
not so。
Here； as in Paris； the programme is carried out step by step。 At
Beausset； near Toulon； a man named Vidal； captain of the National
Guard； 〃twice set at liberty by virtue of two consecutive
amnesties；〃＇11＇ punishes not resistance merely； but even murmurs； with
death。 Two old men； one of them a notary； the other a turner； having
complained of him to the public prosecutor； the general alarm is
beaten； a gathering of armed men is formed in the street； and the
complainants are clubbed； riddled with balls； and their bodies thrown
into a pit。 Many of their friends are wounded； others take to flight；
seven houses are sacked； and the municipality； 〃either overawed or in
complicity；〃 makes no interference until all is over。 There is no way
of pursuing the guilty ones； the foreman of the jury； who goes；
escorted by a thousand men； to hold an inquest； can get no testimony。
The municipal officers feign to have heard nothing； neither the
general alarm nor the guns fired under their windows。 The other
witnesses say not a word； but they declare； sotto voce； the reason for
their silence。 If they should testify； 〃they would be sure of being
killed as soon as the troops should have gone away。〃 The foreman of
the jury is himself menaced； after remaining three…quarters of an
hour； he finds it prudent to leave the city。 After this the clubs
of Beausset and of the neighborhood； gaining hardihood from the
impotence of the law； break out into incendiary propositions： 〃It is
announced that after the troops retreat； nineteen houses more will be
sacked； it is proposed to behead all aristocrats； that is to say； all
the land…owners in the country。〃 Many have fled； but their flight
does not satisfy the clubs。 Vidal orders those of Beausset who took
refuge in Toulon to return at once； otherwise their houses will be
demolished； and that very day； in fact； by way of warning； several
houses in Beausset； among them that of a notary； are either pulled
down or pillaged from top to bottom； all the riff…raff of the town are
at work； 〃half…drunken men and women；〃 and； as their object is to rob
and drink； they would like to begin again in the principal town of the
canton。 The club； accordingly； has declared that 〃Toulon would soon
see a new St。 Bartholomew〃； it has allies there； and arrangements are
made； each club in the small towns of the vicinity will furnish men；
while all will march under the leadership of the Toulon club。 At
Toulon； as at Beausset； the municipality will let things take their
course； while the proceedings complained of by the public prosecutor
and the district and department administrators will be applied to
them。 They may send reports to Paris； and denounce patriots to the
National Assembly and the King； if they choose； the club will reply to
their scribbling with acts。 Their turn is coming。 Lanterns and sabers
are also found at Toulon； and the faction murders them because they
have lodged complaints against the murderers。
III。
Each Jacobin band a dictator in its own neighborhood。 …Saint…Afrique
during the interregnum。
By what it dared to do when the government still stood on its feet we
may we may imagine what it will do during the interregnum。 Facts；
then； as always； furnish the best picture； and； to obtain a knowledge
of the new sovereign； we must first observe him on a limited stage。
On the reception of the news of the 10th of August； the Jacobins of
Saint…Afrique； a small town of the Aveyron；＇12＇ likewise undertook to
save the country； and； to this end； like their fellows in other
boroughs of the district； they organized themselves into an 〃Executive
Power。〃 This institution is of an old date； especially in the South；
it had flourished for eighteen months from Lyons to Montpellier； from
Agen to N？mes； but after the interregnum； its condition is still more
flourishing； it consists of a secret society； the object of which is
to carry out practically the motions and instructions of the club。＇13＇
Ordinarily； they work at night； wearing masks or slouched hats； with
long hair falling over the face。 A list of their names； each with a
number opposite to it； is kept at the meeting…place of the society。 A
triangular club； decked with a red ribbon； serves them both as weapon
and badge； with this club； each member 〃may go anywhere；〃 and do what
seems good to him。 At Saint…Afrique they number about eighty； among
whom must be counted the rascals forming the seventh company of Tarn；
staying in the town； their enrollment in the band is effected by
constantly 〃preaching pillage to them；〃 and by assuring them that the
contents of the chateaux in the vicinity belong to them。＇14＇ Not
that the chateaux excite any fear； most of them are empty； neither in
Saint…Afrique nor in the environs do the men of the ancient régime
form a party； for many months orthodox priests and the nobles have had
to fly； and now the well…to…do people are escaping。 The population；
however； is Catholic； many of the shop…keepers； artisans； and farmers
are discontented； and the object now is to make these laggards keep
step。 In the first place； they order women of every condition；
work…girls and servants； to attend mass performed by the sworn curé；
for； if they do not； they will be made acquainted with the cudgel。
In the second place； all the suspected are disarmed； they enter their
houses during the night in force； unexpectedly； and； besides their
gun； carry off their provisions and money。 A certain grocer who
persists in his lukewarmness is visited a second time； seven or eight
men； one evening； break open his door with a stick of timber； he takes
refuge on his roof； dares not descend until the following day at dawn；
and finds that everything in his store has been either stolen or
broken to pieces。＇15＇ In the third place； there is 〃punishment of the
ill…disposed。〃 At nine o'clock in the evening a squad knocks at the
door of a distrusted shoemaker； it is opened by his apprentice； six of
the ruffians enter； and one of them； showing a paper； says to the poor
fellow：
〃I come on the part of the Executive Power； by which you are
condemned to a beating。〃
〃What for？〃
〃If you have not done anything wrong； you are thinking about it。〃＇16＇
And so they beat him in the presence of his famil