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STATE PAPERS. 
manner, enclosed in a rigorous pri- 
son, pointed out to the public, and 
treated as guilty, before any tribu- 
nal has announced their crime, or 
rather, when they can bereproached 
with no other than that of having 
made known their respect for the 
rights of humanity, and their love 
for that part of it which acknow- 
ledges them, they are designed to 
be shortly sacrificed as victims to 
despotism and superstition united. 
Doubtless, if it was lawful ever to 
buy, at the expence of innocence, 
the triumph of a good cause, this 
excess should besufferedtobe com- 
mitted. The reign of the inqui- 
sition would conclude on the day 
when it shouldso dare to execute its 
fury ; and the successor of St. Peter 
would be no longer a prince on the 
day when he should suffer it. Rea- 
son has caused her powerful voice to 
be every where heard; she has re- 
stored in the oppressed heart of man 
the consciousness of his duties with 
the sentiment of his force; she has 
broken the sceptre of tyranny; li- 
berty has become the universal ral- 
lying point; and tyrants, trembling 
upon their thrones, can only, by fa- 
vouring her, avoid a violent fall. 
But it is not sufficient forthe French 
republic to forsee the limit and 
extinction of tyranny in Europe ; 
she ought to shelter from the action 
of it ail those who belong to her. 
Already her minister for foreign af- 
fairs has demanded the release of 
the French, arbrtrarily detained 
at Rome; this day her executive 
council reclaims them, in the name 
of justice, which they have not 
offended ; in the name of the arts, 
which it is your interest to receive 
and protect; in the name of rea- 
‘$0n, which is indignant at this fo- 
. ene 
de 
217 
reign prosecution : in the name of a 
free nation, bold and generous, who 
disdains conquest, it is true, but who 
would make its rights to be re- 
spected ; who is ready to revenge 
herself upon whomsoever dare con- 
temn them; and who has not learned 
to conquer them from her priestsand 
her kings, to permit that they shall 
be outraged by any person upon 
earth.--Pontiffofthe Roman church, 
still a prince in a state ready to es- 
cape from you, you can no longer 
retain either but by a disinterested 
profession of those evangelical prin- 
ciples which breathe the purest de- 
mocracy, the tenderest humanity, 
and the most perfect equality. The 
ages of ignorance are past; men can 
no longer be subdued but by con- 
viction, or conducted but by truth, 
or attached but by their own hap- 
piness; the art of politics and the 
secret of government are reduced 
to an acknowledgement of their 
rights, and to the care of facilitat- 
ing their exercise for the greatest 
good to all, and the least possible 
damage to each. Such are now the 
maxims of the French republic; too 
just to be silent upon any occa- 
sion, in affairs of diplomacy ; too 
powerful to have recourse to me- 
nace; but, at the same time, 
too noble to conceal an outrage, 
she is ready to punish it, if peace- 
able demands shall remain without 
effect. 
Given at the executive council, 
Nov. 25, 1792. 
(Signed) 
Rotannd, CRAVIERE, 
Lesrun, Monee, 
PacHuE, GARAT. 
Pro- 
