Sh 4 2B, PA RE RS. 
of extravagant and factious opi- 
nions; but you have manifefted 
your defire for reprefiing this abufe; 
and there is only, required a law 
which fhall prevent it, without in- 
juring the rights of citizens: all the 
elements of this law are ready, and 
the Committee you named for pre- 
paring it, will foon make their re- 
port. ' 
The deficiency in the public re- 
venue, it isadded, deprives our ar- 
mies of their pay. We will not 
deny that negligence on the part of 
the receivers, and the want of order 
and ceconomy, have thrown our fi- 
nances into diforder; but have the 
armies any reafon to reproach the 
‘legiflative body? At what period 
have you refufed them funds? Your 
refolutions -on this fubject have al- 
ways been vated with wrgence. The 
payment of the troops has always 
been attended to, in preference to 
every other expence. Is it thenin 
yain that the unfortunate rentier di- 
vides with them his bread? Have 
then the forced loan, the affignats, 
the mandais, the contributions in 
the conquered countries, the na- 
tional eftates been found infufi- 
cient? Let us rather fay, that our 
refources being diftributed through 
fuch a variety of channels have 
been exhaufted; but that if they 
had been more prudently employ- 
ed, the-moft important part of the 
_ public fervice would not be in fuch 
a deplorable ftate., 
Let the finances, then, alone oc- 
cupy all your folicitude. I know 
that every day your attention is 
taken up with this fubject. But 
the time is arrived when you muft 
_-difregard the prejudices againft di- 
ea 
from our embarrafiinent. 
rectcontributions. Peace! Peace! 
This is the mean of extricating us 
How 
Mn Vou. XXXIX. 
395 
very criminal would thofe be who 
would wifh to place it fill at a dif- 
tance! Doubtlefs there are men 
who ftill preferve the criminal hope 
of overturning the republic. Trai- 
tors exift, we are told — why are 
they not deie&ted? There are con- 
fpirators—why are they not punifh- 
ed? We have laws—why are they 
not executed? No! the defend- 
ers of the country will never be 
made to believe that the legiflative 
body oppofes a peace. Who has 
appeared more defirous than our- 
felves to obtain it. Hiftory will 
examine whether the events which 
have lately taken place in Italy 
have not contributed to retard the 
conclufion of.it; but can France 
blame its Generals for giving libérty 
to millions of men? And, when 
they have gained their liberty, can 
France refufe to themits friendfhip 
and its alliance? Your Committee, 
however, does not with to propofe 
that you fhould approve, or even 
be filent upon thefe events. 
The Dire€tory has gone beyond 
its powers. If war had been de- 
clared againft the Italian ftates, who 
had the right to declare it without 
your confent? If treaties of com- 
merce or fubfidies have been made, 
who could make them without 
your approbation? The fates of 
Italy cannot be the allies of France 
without a decree from you. - Their 
government will be equivocal, their 
liberty without fupport, as long as 
the treaties fhall not have been ap- 
proved by us. 
Fears have been entertained that 
the DireSory would be accufed, 
and that the legiflative body woul 
be attacked. The legiflative body 
has a right to accufe the Direétory ; 
and if there exifted any reafons for 
accufation, it would, without fear, 
U without 
