The First Revolutionary Step 53 



would need to be changed after the union of the orders. "Do not 

 take a title which frightens. Choose one which no one can con- 

 test with you, which, more agreeable, and not less imposing in its 

 plenitude, is suitable at all times, is susceptible of all the devel- 

 opment which events will permit, and which may, if necessary, 

 serve as a lever, as it were, which will assist in establishing the 

 national rights and principles. 



"Such is, in my opinion, the following formula: Represent- 

 ants du peuple frangais." 



No one could dispute this title with them and it was capable of 

 the greatest development. The other orders would be forced to 

 adhere to it. If they should refuse, "we will pronounce default 

 against them, and then all the world will be able to judge between 

 us." But to constitute the assembly, to give to it a title, was not 

 enough. "It is necessary to establish our principles ; the rational 

 and intelligent principles, which up to the present have directed 

 us. . . It is necessary to show why and how we are going to 

 enter upon our active career;" that the orders were the cause of 

 division, that the orders had no veto, no right to take separate 

 resolutions from that of the assembly. "It is necessary to an- 

 nounce our intentions and our views ; it is necessary to assure, by 

 a course equally wise, legal, and progressive, the soundness of 

 our measures, to maintain the resources of the government, in 

 so far as they may be made to serve the national welfare, and to 

 present to the creditors of the state the hope of this security 

 which they desire, which the national honor requires us to offer 

 to them, which is the great and first object of our convocation 

 and of our wishes. 



"It is to this end that have been drawn up the resolutions which 

 I shall have the honor to read to you." After an introduction in 

 which he presented a resume of the events since June 10, Mira- 

 beau read eight resolutions. 1 In these resolutions the words, na- 

 tional assembly, occurred again and again. The national assem- 

 bly convoked by the king was composed of the deputies of the 

 three orders ; the deputies, of whatever order they were, had an 

 individual and common right to sit together in the national as- 



1 Courrier de Provence, Lettre XI, 15. 



53 



