206 
it by open force, and over the trai- 
tors who, in disgracing it by their 
vile passions, seem to have sworn to 
make it feared at home and sus- 
pected abroad. Yes; we shall 
have this reward for our labours 
and our blood. Let us adhere then 
with confidence to the chosen re- 
presentatives of the people, who 
have sworn not to avoid the duties 
of the constitution, as we will not 
its dangers; to the hereditary re- 
presentative, —that citizen king, 
whose throne the constitution has 
placed upon an irrefragable foun- 
dation ; and to all the other deposi- 
taries of the powers delegated by 
the constitution. 
They all know that the use of 
that authority isa duty for them 
to whom the constitution has de- 
puted it, as obedience is for those 
whom she has submitted to it; and 
that they may transgress the laws, 
by not doing what these prescribe, 
as well as by doing what they pro- 
hibit. Let us adhere to the na- 
tional guards, whom a rising con- 
stitution found united for its esta- 
blishment, whom the constitution 
in danger will find always ready to 
defend it, and whose patriotism 
will render glorious the calumnies 
which may be shared with them. 
As for us, bearing the arms 
which liberty has consecrated and 
the Declaration of Rights, let us 
march to the enemy. 
(Signed) La Fayerre. 
Letter from M. La Fayette to the 
National Assembly. 
Entrenched Camp of Maubeuge, June 
16,1792, 4th year of Liberty. 
Gentlemen, 
AT the moment, too long delay- 
ed perhaps, in which I am going to 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1792. 
call your attention to great public 
interests, and point out among our 
dangers the conduct of a ministry 
which my correspondence has long 
ago accused, I am informed that, 
unmasked by its divisions, it has 
sunk under its own intrigues; for, 
undoubtedly, it is not by sacrificing 
three colleagues, from their own 
insignificance the mere creatures of 
his power, that the least excusable, 
the most notorious of these minis- 
ters will have cemented in the 
king’s council his equivocal and 
scandalous existence. 
It is not enough, however, that 
this branch of the government 
should be delivered from a baneful 
influence. The public weal is in 
danger; the fate of France depends 
chiefly on her representatives ; 
from them the nation expects her 
salvation. But when she gave her- 
self'a constitution, she prescribed 
to them the only course by which 
they can save her. 
Persuaded, gentlemen, that as 
the rights of man are the law of 
every constituting assembly, a con- 
stitution once formed becomes the 
law to the legislators appointed un- 
der it; itis to yourselves that I am 
bound to denouce the too powerful 
efforts now making to carry you 
beyond the rule which you have 
promised to follow. 
Nothing shall prevent me from 
exercising this right of a freeman, 
from fulfilling thisduty ofacitizen ; 
neither the momentary errors of 
opinion (for whatare opinions when 
they deviate from principles !) nor 
my respect for the representatives 
of the people (for Irespectstill more 
the people themselves, of whom the 
constitution is the will supreme) 
nor the favour you have constantly 
shewn to me; for that I wish to 
preserve, 
