74} 
It had been surmised, he obset- 
ved, that the directory would be ac- 
cused, and the legislative body at- 
tacked. When just reasons existed 
for accusations, that body had a 
‘sight to prefer them, and would do 
3t without hesitation or fear, But 
who would dare to make an attack 
on the legislative body ?_ the recol- 
lection of what had befallen those 
xvho had ventured to do it was a 
sufficient warning to others. 
He then exhorted all persons in 
place. and authority, cordially to 
unite for the preservation of the 
state. He admonished the direct- 
ors and the members of the legisla- 
ture, to be upon their guard against. 
the exaggerations of a party that 
soughtto heighten their animosities, 
and to involve them in feuds that . 
would inevitably hurry them to.a 
common destruction. ; 
Thibaudean finally observed, that 
the committee appointed to ex- 
amine the directorial message had 
purposely avoided to insist on the 
bitterness of its style, and its ex- 
aggerated representationsof facts, as 
legislators ought not to be guided 
‘by resentment and passion, He con- 
cluded, by expressing his hope, that 
the common enemies of the repub- 
lic would-not be able to disunite its 
friends, and would in vain meditate 
its ruin. It was, he said, deeply 
rooted; it had ripenedin the midst 
of storms, and would last to future 
generations. ‘Lhe new dangers 
that threatened it, would serve once 
more to display its strength, andthe 
indissoluble texture of its constitu- 
tion. 5 
He closed this elaborate report, 
by presenting the pian oftwo resolu- 
tions : the first declared that all con- 
_ spiraciesor crimes, against the con- 
‘stitution, the legislative body, and 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1797. 
the directory, came under the juris<_ 
diction of the criminal tribunal of 
the place where the legislature sat > 
that all persons accused, should be 
denounced at the office of the public 
accuser: but that they should have 
the power of appealing from that 
tribunal, and in this ease, they 
should be carried before a court, 
pointed out by the tribunal of cassa- 
tion. The second resolution de- 
elared every assembly of soldiers, for 
the purpose of deliberating, in other 
circumstances thanthose determined 
by the law, a crime. That any 
communication, under the title of 
address, fram one armed body to 
another, or to the civil authorities, 
should be punished as a seditious 
act. ‘ 
By the first of these resolutions, 
the councils intended to guard as 
gainst any undue assumption of au- 
thority in the directory. The plan 
proposed, by Thibaudeau, appeared 
so fair and impartial, by placing alt 
parties on the same level, that those 
with whom he acted made no doubt 
but the public would give them 
credit for its equitableness, and 
prove the more inclined, on that 
account, tocountenance and support 
them, in caseofneed. . They justly 
snspected inimical designs on the 
part of the directory, and thought 
it, therefore, advisable to secure the 
favourable opinion and good-will of 
the people at large. 
But the second of those resolu- 
tions, however it might be proper 
in itself, was judged, by many of 
their well-wishers, unseasonable in 
the present conjuncture. It tended 
evidently to displease the military, 
already sufficiently indisposed. In 
this respect, the policy of the di- 
rectors was better calculated to in- 
sure the attachment of the army, 
which, 
