42 | CARNOT. 
mit to the supremacy of the odious Carnot.” This 
animosity began from the epoch when our fellow aca 
demician blamed the coup d’état (as such) under which 
the Gironde fell. About the same time, Saint-Just 
accused him of moderatism, and demanded that he should 
be tried for having refused, while with the army of the 
North, to put his signature to the order for arresting 
General O’Moran. Carnot always came out safe and 
sound from these terrible crises; not from a sentiment 
of justice or affection, but because every one, friend as 
well as foe, felt the impossibility of replacing him effec- 
tually in his special military character by any other 
conventionalist ! 
Similar relations between the co-members of a council 
would now appear fabulous! Is it my fault then, if our 
weak patriotism cannot conceive all the extent of the 
sacrifices that our fathers imposed on themselves to save 
our country ? 
You will remember, Gentlemen, that I did not hesitate 
to place in the first rank of these sacrifices the obligation 
which our colleague felt, of blindly signing a quantity of 
decrees issued by his colleagues. I have explained how 
this necessity had manifested itself; well, it was so 
abused, that on one occasion, Carnot was made to sign 
the order for arresting his own secretary; another time 
that for arresting the restaurateur in whose house he 
took his meals. The word infernal seems to me really — 
too feeble for characterizing such acts; and yet, to the 
honour of our colleague, we must almost congratulate 
ourselves that they occurred, since they yield an insur- 
mountable and speaking proof of the written arrange- 
ment which was agreed to in committee, in the name of 
the safety of the country. 
