The First Revolutionary Step 33 



asked that the motion be printed and that a copy be given to each 

 representative, or at least that a copy should be sent to each of 

 the twenty bureaus, where it could be examined and discussed 

 anew. But the assembly was irritated by these repeated inter- 

 ruptions and delays ; a general murmur of indignation arose 

 against this proposition. A deputy from Metz 1 answered that 

 the commons had tried all the means that the most ardent love 

 of peace could dictate, and in spite of that they had met and still 

 met with nothing but obstinate resistance to a demand founded 

 upon the first principles of equity and reason ; that, after five 

 weeks of waiting, it was at last time to abandon a policy of in- 

 activity ; that Sieves' motion embodied the only proper and legal 

 course which the assembly could take ; and that he was astonished 

 that this motion could still meet with opposition, that it had given 

 occasion to such debate ; and a further demand for delay was 

 certainly revolting in the extreme. 2 



The dean, encouraged by the almost universal and spirited 

 applause which followed these remarks, declared the discussion 

 closed. 3 He was, however, interrupted by a deputy who demanded 

 a double roll-call. 4 It had been the custom of the assembly 

 to give all members on a first roll-call an opportunity to speak and 

 on a second roll-call to collect the votes. 5 This plan had been 

 followed, of course, only when important questions were con- 

 sidered ; and the assembly up to this time had acted Upon the 

 principle that it had a great deal of time. But a unanimous ob- 

 jection might deprive a speaker of the floor. The assembly ex- 

 pressed anew its impatience ; the speaker could not make himself 

 heard. The dean put the motion with the changes consented to 

 by its author. He added two amendments: 6 (1) to express to 



^Rccit, 107-S; Cherest, III, 137-3S. Cherest thinks that this deputy from 

 Metz was M. Emmery. 



2 Ibid., 108: "Et que des lors la proposition de l'impression et du renvoi 

 de la motion dans les bureaux etait revoltante sous tous les points de vue." 



'Ibid. 



*Ibid. 



5 Ibid., 22-24, 44-45; Duquesnoy, I, 57. 



G Recit, 108: "1. Exposer au roi les motifs de la deliberation. 2. Re- 

 clamer contre les principes du preambule de l'ouverture de conciliation" ; 



33 



