The First Revolutionary Step 73 



tention to the lateness of the hour. He observed that a great 

 many deputies had gone home, that the members of the clergy 

 who had joined were not there, that those still present were very 

 tired, and that the roll-call would consume some time. He 

 strongly urged that the session be adjourned to the next morn- 

 ing. In fact, such an important decision as the one under con- 

 sideration ought to be taken in broad daylight when all the mem- 

 bers were present and wide awake. It was an injustice to the 

 absent members to act without their cooperation, and if there 

 were bad citizens among the minority, they would be discovered 

 if they were present and voted against the measure. This plan 

 was adopted with the proviso that the debate be closed and that 

 the roll be called immediately after the opening of the next 

 session. 1 



IV 



In his Journal, under the date of June 17, 1789, Bailly wrote: 

 "This day is forever memorable. It is that of the constitution 

 of the assembly; it is that in which the assembly announced the 

 rights of the nation and in which it showed, for the first time, the 

 resolute and wise capacity which is fitting to the representatives 

 of the nation and to the administrators of its authority." 2 



The session was opened with the announcement by Bailly that 

 the assembly would at once proceed to vote upon the various mo- 

 tions that had been presented on the previous days. 3 All further 

 discussion was thus prevented, according to the midnight deci- 

 sion of the assembly. The preference of the deputies in regard 

 to the propositions was known and was further made evident by 

 the entrance of Sieves. According to Dumont, "When Sieves 

 appeared in the hall, all the members, from a spontaneous feeling 

 of respect, rose to receive him, and thunderous applause re- 

 sounded from every side." 4 



^uquesnoy, I, 101-2; Journal des etats-gcneraux, I, 120-21; Biauzat, 

 II, 122 ; Revue de la revolution, XIII, Documents incdits, 12-13. 

 2 Bailly, I, 156. 

 3 Proces-verbal, no. I, 1. 

 4 Dumont, 78. 



73 



