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 cry 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 



