i 
84] 
through mildness and conciliation, 
which were the only effeétual means 
of restoring them to the bosom of 
their country, asd converting them 
into good citizens. 
In pursuance of these maxims, 
every distriét that surrendered its 
arms, and pynctually conformed to 
the conditions prescribed, was im- 
mediately placed under the com- 
pletest protection of the laws, and 
no infraétion of these suffered to 
their detriment. 
The measures thus taken, by the 
directory, availed them more than 
military coercion would have done. 
The dread of punishment had kept 
several bodies of the insurgents to- 
gether: but the moment they found 
that a pardon would be granted to 
them, on acceding to the terms of 
the proclamation that had so long 
been circulated, and to which go- 
vernment was yet willing to adhere, 
they repaired 1n crowds to the head 
quarters of the republican generals, 
declaring their readiness to accept 
of the conditions proffered to them. 
These submissions gradually took 
place in the course of March and 
April. By the close of this month, 
the insurrection was so far quelled, 
that no apprehensions were enter- 
tained from the few straggling par- 
ties that; remained, and which were 
‘looked upon as people determined 
to leada predatory life, rather than 
in arms for the cause they had em- 
braced, and of which no hopes any 
longer existed. 
After subduing this dangerous in- 
surrection by force ofarms, the next 
measure was to pacify the minds of 
those who had so obstinately per- 
sisted init, and yielded at length 
only from the impracticability of any 
farther resistance. To this end, in 
addition to the punctual observance 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 
1796. 
of the promises made to the insur- 
gents, to induce them to Jay down 
their arms, a number of publica- 
tions, suited to the capacity of those 
for whom they were designed, were 
distributed in the districts where the 
insurrection had taken place: and 
those individuals on whose fidelity 
and attachment to republican prin- 
ciples the government could de- 
pend, were encouraged to take all 
possible pains to inculcate the pro- 
priety of uniting with the majority 
of their countrymen, and of un- 
feignedly abjuring those sentiments 
that had cost them so many lives, 
and plunged their families into so 
much misery. 
The necessity of acting conform- 
ably to this advice, became so ap- 
parent, that even the royalist gene- 
rals thought themselves bound no 
longer to obstruct the submisyion of 
the insurgents, convinced that it 
was the only means left them to ese 
cape destruction. A proclamation 
to this purpose was issued and sign- 
ed by viscount Scepeaux, the prin- 
cipal in command in the western 
department. After lamenting the 
fruitless efforts to restore monarchy 
and the Catholic religion, it acknow- 
ledged that to persist in this attempt 
would only be conducting the ins 
surgents to the slaughter. It ex- 
horted them, therefore, to desist,. 
and yield to superior force, in order 
to secure their lives, and be pers 
mitted to dwell in safety at their’ 
homes. 
An exhortation of this kind did 
not fail to eonvince them of the 
inutility of any farther opposition : 
and, by the latter end of July, the 
country of the insurgents was so 
thoroughly pacified, that martial 
law was repealed, and civil govern- 
ment restored. 
CHAP, | 
