334 National AJfemhly. Nov. 9^ 



I hoped that the law would refume force in the hands of new 

 authority ; and that, in approaching the term of your labours, 

 every day would reftoie to it that refpeft, without which the 

 people can neither enjoy liberty nor liappinefs. I long perfe- 

 vered in this hope, and ir.y refolution only changed at the mo- 

 ment when it abandoned rr.e. Let every one rccolletS the mo- 

 ment at which I quitted Paris : The conftitution was almoft 

 cotnpleted ; and, neverthelef-, the authority of the laws feemed 

 to diniinifh every day ; opinion, far from concentering in any 

 point, was divided into a number of parts. The moit violent 

 counfels alone feemed to be received with any degree of favour ; 

 the licentiovifncis of the prcfs was at its height ; no power was 

 refpfdlecl. 



«' I coi:kl no longer p-rcelve the exprefTion of the general will 

 in the laws, which I every wh^re faw without force, and with- 

 out efFedl. Then, I am bound to declare, if you had prefented 

 to me the conltitution, I fhould have been of opinion that the 

 intereft of the people (the conilint and uniform rule of my con- 

 (,'uct)d'd not permit me lo accept it. I had only one fentiment ; 

 I formed only one projedt ; I wifhed to get at a diftance from 

 all parties, and karn what was the real wifh of the nation. 



*« The motives by which I was then influenced now no longer 

 fiibfift : Since tha» time, the inconveniencics and the evils of 

 which I complained have ftruck you in the fame light as m.e ; 

 you have teftilied ao inclination to re-eJlablilh order: you have 

 diredtcd your attention to the want of difcipline in the army; 

 you have perceived the necefiity of reftraining the abufes of 

 the prefj. Therevifion of your labour has placed among the 

 number of laws of regulation feveral articles which had been 

 prefented to me as conftitutional. You have eftablifhed legal 

 forms for the revifion of thofe which you have placed in the 

 conftitution. In fine, the fentimcnts of the people appear to 

 me no longer doubtful : I have feen them at once difplayed, 

 both by their adherence to your work, and by their attachment 

 to the fupport of monarchical government. 



*' I accpti then, the conjtitutlon ; I engage to maintain it at 

 home, to defend it agalnft attacks from abroad., and to caufe it to 

 be executed by all the means rjjhich it puts in my poiuer. 



" I declare, tliat, informed of the adherence of the great 

 body of the people to the conftitution, I renounce the right of 

 concurring, which I had claimed in this work, and being re- 

 fponfible only to the nation ; no other, whilft I renounce it, 

 can have a righ*. to coirplain. 



*« I faould, however, deviate from truth, if I affirmed that 

 I perceived in the means of execution and adminiflration, all 

 the energy necefTary to give motion and preferve the unity in 

 all the parts of fo vaft an empire ; but fince opinions are divid- 

 ed upon tbefe fabjtfts, I confent that the deciiion fhould be left 



