STATE PAPERS. 
this absence incurs a «legal abdica- 
tion is not vet arrived; that. is to 
say, in the case in which ‘there is 
not yet ground for a definitive re- 
solution, ‘but in which a provisional 
act of rigour is evidently necessary, 
in which it would be absurd to leave 
the power in hands which could no 
longer make a free and beneficial 
use of it. In the present instance, 
then, these conditions are as evi- 
dently united as in the case provid- 
ed for by the constitution; and in 
conducting ourselves by the princi- 
ple which the constitution has point- 
ed out we have obeyed it—far from 
having infringed it, contrary to our 
oaths. 
The constitution foresaw that all 
accumulation of powers was danger- 
ous, and might change into tyrants 
of the people those who ought to 
be only their representatives; but 
it judged also, that this danger sup- 
posed a long exercise of this extra- 
ordinary power; and the term of 
two months is that which it has fix- 
ed for all cases in which it permits 
this union of powers, which in all 
other cases it has so rigorously pro- 
scribed. 
The National Assembly, far from 
extending this term, has reduced it 
to forty days only; and far from 
exceeding the period fixed by the 
Jaw on the plea of necessity, they 
have brought themselves within 
the narrowest limits. 
~ When the power of sanctioning 
the laws is suspended, the constitu- 
tion has pronounced that the de- 
crees of the legislative body shall 
have of themselves the character 
and authority of laws; and since he 
te whom the constitution gave the 
choice of ministers, could no longer 
exercise his functions, it was neces- 
sary that a new law should put the 
271 
choice into other hands. The As- 
sembly conferred the right on them- 
selves, because this right could not 
be given but to electors who’ be: 
longed to the whole nation, and be- 
cause they alone have that charac- 
tersat present, But they were care- 
ful to avoid giving ground for the 
suspicion that, in conferring this 
power on themselves, they sought 
to. gratify ambitious or. personal 
views ; they decreed that the elec- 
tion should be made aloud, that 
each of them should pronounce his 
choice in presence of the national 
representation, » inypresence of the 
numerous citizens. who attended 
their sittings. They took care that 
each of their own body should have 
his,colleagues for his judges, the 
public for a witness, and should an- 
swer for his choice to the whole 
nation. 
Frenchmen, let us /unite all our 
forces against the foreign tyranny 
which dares to threaten with its 
vengeance twenty-six millions of 
freemen. Within six weeks a 
power, which every citizen acknow- 
ledges, will pronounce on our divi- 
sions. Woe to the man who, list- 
ening, during this short interval, to 
personal sentiments, shall not de- 
vote himself wholly: to the common 
defence! who shall not see, that at 
the moment when the sovereign 
will of the people is about to speak, 
we have no enemies but the con- 
spirators of Pilnitz and their ac- 
complices ! 
It isin the midst of a foreign 
war, at the moment when numerous 
armies are preparing for a formida- 
ble invasion, that we call upon the 
citizens to discuss i in a peaceable 
assembly the rights of liberty. That 
which would have appeared rash 
among any other people, seemed to 
us 
