173, 



ANNUAL REG 



carried by acclamation, with the 

 single excc|Jtion of the only mem- 

 ber who delivered his sentiments 

 against it. 



Citizen Jard Pauvillicrs was 

 named head ol the deputation, for 

 presenting it to the conservative se- 

 nate. The other five members were 

 chosen by lot. 



This decree was accordingly prc- 

 jentcd to the senate on the 4th of 

 ^lay, and the following speech was 

 delivered by the vice president on 

 Jhe occasion. 



" Citizens Tribunes, this day 

 " will form a memorable asra. It is 

 *' the day, on Avhich, for the first 

 " time, you are called upon, to 

 " exercise, with the conservative se- 

 *' nate, the republican and popular 

 *' privilege, which the fundamental 

 *' laws of the constitution have dc- 

 " legated to you. You could not 

 " exercise this prerogative, at a 

 *^ more favourable moment, or ap- 

 *' ply it to an object of more im- 

 *•' portance tlian the present. Citi- 

 *' zcn tribnines, you express to the 

 *• trustees of the national rights, a 

 " wish truly national. I can not 

 *' remove the veil which conceals 

 " for a time, the labours of the se- 

 " nate on this important subject. 

 *' 1 most inform you, however, in 

 *■' the mean time, that since the 6th 

 " ofGerminal, (March 27) thesenate 

 '• has directed the attention of the 

 *' first magistrate to the same sub- 

 *• ject. The senate has previously 

 *' sounded the public opinion, and 

 "• has announced it to the govern- 

 *■ ment. But, you will find your 

 *' advantages and privileges, when 

 " you observe, that what we have 

 *' been thinking of in silence for 

 " two months, the peculiar nature 

 '* of our institution, and the place 

 " you hold ia the coostituUon , has 



ISTER, 1804. 



enabled you at once to submit ifc 

 to discussion in the presence of 

 the pc«ple. You have served at 

 once the people and the govern- 

 ment by disclosing and enforcing 

 this opinion, pregnant with so 

 many advantages, and it was first 

 secretly cherished in the bosom 

 of this assembly, m here you hare 

 now so gloriously reported it. 

 The happy developcment which 

 you have given to this grand idea, 

 procures to the senate which 

 opened the tribune to you, the 

 satisfaction of being able to con- 

 gratulate themselves on their 

 choice, and to approve what they 

 have done. In jour public 

 speeches we have found the basis 

 of our opinions. Like you, ci- 

 tizens tribunes, we do not wish to 

 return to the Bourbons, because 

 we do not wish a counter-revolu- 

 tion, which is the only benefit we 

 could derive from those unfortu- 

 nate exiles, who carried Avith 

 them despotism, nobility, feudal 

 tyranny, slavery, and ignorance ; 

 and who, still to augment their 

 crimes, liavc encouraged the hop« 

 that their return to France might 

 be effcd'tcd by the way of Eng- 

 land. Like you, citizens tri- 

 bunes, we wish to raise a new dy- 

 nasty , because we wish to secure 

 to the French people, all their 

 rights which they have re-con- 

 quered, and which the folly of 

 their enemies would take from 

 them. Like you, citizens, tri- 

 bunes, wcMish that liberty, equa- 

 lity, and knowledge, may no 

 more have a retrograde motion. 

 I do not speak of the great man, 

 called upon by his glory, to give 

 his name to the age in which he 

 lives, and who ought to be called 

 upon by our wishes to consecrate 



"■ to 



