230 BAILLY. 
trary to all custom. Even this would be unfounded. 
In ten various instances, the National Assembly modi- 
fied or annulled its own decrees; in+twenty others, it 
had been entreated to revise them, without any ery of 
anarchy being raised. 
It is well ascertained, that the crowd on the Champ de 
Mars availed itself of a right that the constitution recog- 
nized, that of getting up and signing a petition against a 
decree which, right or wrong, it thought was opposed to 
the true interests of the country. Still, the exercise of 
the right of petitioning was always wisely subjected to 
certain forms. Had these forms been violated? Was 
the meeting illegal ? 
In 1791, according to the decrees, every meeting that 
wished to exercise the right of petition must consist of 
unarmed citizens, and be announced to the competent 
authorities twenty-four hours beforehand. 
Well, on the 16th of July, twelve persons had gone as 
a deputation to the municipality, in order to declare, 
according to law, that the next day, the 17th, numerous 
citizens would meet, without arms, on the Champ de 
Mars, where they wished to sign a petition. The dep- 
utation obtained an acknowledgment of its declaration 
from the hand of the syndic procurator Desmousseaux, 
who addressed them besides with these solemn words : 
“The law shields you with its inviolability.” 
The acknowledgment was presented to Bailly on the 
day of his condemnation. 
Had they committed some assassinations? Yes, un- 
doubtedly ; they had committed two ; but in the morning, 
very early; but at the Gros Caillou, and not on the 
Champ de Mars. Those horrid murders could not le- 
gitimately be imputed to the petitioners who, eight or 
