STATE 
49th regiment of infantry, ci-de- 
vant Vintimile. It is amongst 
yourselves that we are happy to 
find examples for you. They have 
trusted, obeyed, and merited well 
of the country. 
Address of H. La Fayette to his Ar- 
my upontheir March, May 1,1792. 
Soldiers of the country, 
HE legislative body, and the 
king in the name of the French 
people, have declared war. Since 
the country, by the constitutional 
organs of its will, calls us to its de- 
fence, what citizen can refuse his 
arm? . 
At the moment, in which we 
first obey the oath, pronounced 
upon the altar of the federation by 
the nation in arms, I wish to in- 
form you of my intentions, and 
remind you of my principles, 
lam convinced bythe experience 
ofa life devoted to liberty, that it 
can exist only among citizens sub- 
missive to the laws, as it can be de- 
fended only by troops consenting 
to subordination. 
I have served the people without 
flattering them, and in my constant 
opposition to licentiousness and an- 
archy, haveincurred the hatred of all 
the ambitious and all the factious. 
Now, thatthearmy expects ofme not 
pernicious compliances, but an in- 
flexible discipline, it is by rigor- 
ously fulfilling this duty that I shall 
justify the affection which it grants, 
and the esteem which it owes me. 
But when [ subject freemen to the 
imperious will of a chief, we should 
all know, general, officers, soldiers, 
that, in this war, become a deadly 
combat between our principles and 
the pretensionsof despots, the rights 
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PAPERS. 
205 
of every citizen, and the safety 
of all are involved. The consti- 
tution, to which we are sworn, the 
sacred cause of liberty and equality, 
are involved in it. The contest is 
for the national sovereignty, under 
which there can be no compro- 
mise with any combination of 
strength or with any dangers, 
without betraying not only the 
French people, but all humanity. 
Soldiers of liberty, to deserve 
these blessings it is not sufficient to 
be brave. Your general ought to 
foresee and order you to obey. Be 
generous; respect the enemy when 
disarmed. ‘Troops which always 
give quarter and receive it not, 
will be for ever invincible. Be 
disinterested ; let not the degrading 
hope of pillage ever sully the no- 
bleness of your motives. Be hu- 
mane, that our sentiments may be 
admired and our laws _ blessed, 
wherever we go. Be, in short, 
like your general, resolved to see 
the triumph of liberty, or to die. 
Soldiers of the constitution, fear 
not that it may cease to watch 
for you while you fight for it; 
do not believe that, while you 
are gone forth to combat for 
your country, intestine commo- 
tions will disturb your homes, 
The legislative body, and the 
king, will doubtless unite them- 
selves intimately in this decisive 
moment, to secure the empire of 
the law. Persons and property 
will be respected ; civil and religi- 
ous liberty will never be profaned ; 
the peaceable citizen will be re- 
spected, whatever may be his opi- 
nion: the guilty will be punished, 
whatever may be their pretexts: 
all parties will be dissolved ; and 
the constitution will prevail alone, 
both over the rebels who ‘attack 
it 
