The First Revolutionary Step 57 



sented and in which the above ideas are embodied, separate veri- 

 fication of credentials and separate assemblies of deputies were 

 declared invalid and the measures of the assembly of the repre- 

 sentatives of the French people made subject to the king's veto 

 power only. In five further resolutions which he wished passed 

 as decrees, Rabaut proposed that the assembly "declare all the 

 existing taxes suppressed" for they had been established without 

 the consent of the nation; "it creates them anew," however, only 

 for the period of the present session of the states general. In 

 case the present states general be dissolved without having freely 

 consented to the taxes, "the taxes shall remain suppressed." The 

 resolutions promised that as soon as the assembly should be prop- 

 erly constituted provision should be made for the national debt; 

 that a loan should be made to provide for the current expenses 

 of the state; that the present decision be taken to the king, that 

 the motives of the action of the assembly be explained to him, and 

 that he be asked for his sanction. He advised further that Necker 

 be asked to make an estimate of the financial needs of the gov- 

 ernment. Young says that all propositions "were well approved, 

 except the loan, which was not at all to the feeling of the assem- 

 bly." 1 Biauzat states that Rabaut explained that he understood 

 by this word (peuple) all Frenchmen, with the exception of the 

 nobility and of the clergy. M. de Mirabeau, on the contrary, 

 claims to comprehend in this word (peuple) all the French in 

 general. 2 



Biauzat developed his motion of the day before. 3 According 

 to him, Treilhard proposed that in order to deliberate prudently 



1 Young, 165; Journal des etats-generaux, I, 95-96; Duquesnoy, I, 97: 

 "Rabaut de Saint-Etienne, en adoptant la motion de Mirabeau, n'a pas 

 rougi de voter un emprunt." Many cahiers had contained instructions 

 that no taxes or loans should be voted until after the constitution had 

 been put into practice. 



2 Biauzat, II, 117; Journal des etats-generaux, I, 95. 



3 Biauzat, II, 117: "Etant a mon tour de parler, car nous sommes ap- 

 peles sur le role fait a mesure des demandes de la parole, j'ai developpe 

 ma motion d'hier." Thus far the order of the principal speakers at least 

 may be ascertained. But after the motion of Rabaut de Saint-Etienne the 

 order can not be established with the sources of information at my com- 

 mand. Gaultier de Biauzat states that he himself was followed by Mounier 

 who presented a sixth motion, while our other sources place Mounier im- 

 mediately after Mirabeau. 



57 



