86] 
tunately, the conspirators betrayed 
themselves. They could not con- 
ceal the pride they took in the name 
of royalists, nor the contempt in 
which they held the republicans. 
They were hasiening to the exe- 
cution of their projects with undis- 
sembled alacrity, and confidence of 
success, and were actually at the 
very eve of entering upon it, when 
the vigilance and penetration of 
‘government discovered their inten- 
tions. 
“Tn the méan time, the armies of 
the republic, so ungenerously neg- 
lected, and: ill-treated, resolved to 
do thernselves, and the nation, that 
justice for which they had in vain 
petitioned. They had come forward 
with a determination that struck 
the conspirators with awe, and re- 
animated the friends of the re- 
public. They boldly exposed the 
perfidy of its internal foes, and in- 
sisted on their punishment. Roused 
by the spirit and fidelity of the 
armies, the executive power as- 
sumed fresh vigour. It felt the 
necessity of employing every pos~ 
sible exertion, and of embracing, 
without hesitation, all the means 
that offered, to saye the constitu- 
tion from the imminent ruin that 
threatened it, and which was hourly 
approaching. “The task was truly 
difficult and hazardous. Protected 
by forms that militated in favour of 
their projects, a faction of perfidi- 
ous legislators was labouring to un- 
dermine tbat constitution, under 
_ pretence of guarding it from inno- 
vations, and of restricting every 
part of government within its own 
limits; but these were evidently 
become too narrow for the zeal 
and activity now wanted from every 
quarter whence it could be pro- 
cured. The state called for the 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1797. 
immediate help of all that were 
able to oo-operate in its salvation. 
“« On these just and laudable prin- 
ciples were founded the fortunate 
measures that preserved the repub-= 
lic: nor were they adopted till it 
was on the point of perishing: so 
scrupulously aversewereits warmest 
friends to deviate from established 
rules, till they found themselves 'un- 
der the compulsion of inevitable 
and dire necessity to break through 
them, for the undeniable and mani- 
fest good and service of the state, 
-which could not have been saved 
by any other means. Escaped from 
perdition, through the protection of 
Providence, and the resolution of 
those who were its instruments, on 
this critical emergency, the re- 
public was now at liberty to act 
without the impulse of terror, and 
to display sentiments of ‘humanity 
that would dignify its character, 
and render it respectable to its most 
virulent enemies. Instead of exer- 
cising that vengeance it might law- 
fully have done, upon men, who, 
had they succeeded in their designs, 
would have shewn their antagonists 
no mercy, it generously abstained 
from the infliction of all personal 
punishment. Not a drop of blood 
was shed: no act of violence com- 
mitted. Banishment alone was the 
sentence pronounced upon the guil- 
ty. They were left to their own 
remorse, and to the shame incurred 
by their criminal deeds. The go= 
vernment, which they sougat so 
ardently to destroy, was content 
with removing them to a distance, 
where they would be unable to 
prosecute their pernicious schemes. 
Such lenity, when contrasted with , — 
so much provocation, must effec 
tually silence thecalumnies of those 
who had basely represented | the 
French © 
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