The Counter Revolution of June-July 35 



the question had already been decided, but that in their discussion 

 they had wandered far from the original idea which he now 

 recalled. He did not believe that the author of the original 

 motion wished that the personal engagement between the deputy 

 and his constituents should be broken or that the assembly should 

 tyrannize over the consciences of the deputies. As the question 

 seemed to have been discussed sufficiently the president announced 

 that all discussion was ended and the vote would be taken the 

 first thing the next morning.^"® Accordingly, on July 8, in spite 

 of attempts on the part of the Bishop of Perpignan and others to 

 discuss the question,^" the Archbishop of Vienne gave a sum- 

 mary of the motions. The following is the result : first, the 

 activity of the assembly could not be interrupted by these man- 

 dates ; second, the work for Avhich they were assembled must be 

 taken up immediately ; third, belief among the deputies that 

 there should be as many members in the assembly as the letters 

 of convocation called for; fourth, the neces.'^ity of taking action 

 concerning imperative instructions.^"^ The president then pro- 

 posed as a decree that^"^ "The national assembly deliberating on 

 the declarations and reservations, made by different members of 

 the clergy and nobility, concerning the instructions they laid on 

 the table declares ; first, that none of these acts, in whatever form 

 they are drawn, can suspend its activity or stop its work. All 

 opposition or protests against the authority of the assembly and 

 the validity of its decrees are null ; second, that it is disposed to 

 receive all and each of the members the rigor of whose instruc- 

 tions have forced them to retire, or new deputies whom the 

 electors have substituted; third, that it reserves for itself the 

 right to take action concerning imperative instructions when it 



^ee Proci's-vcrbal, I, No. 17, 11; Bulletins de I'assemblee nationale, July 

 7; Journal de Paris, No. 190, 856 (July 9). 



^^'^ Bulletins de I'assemblee nationale, July 8; Journal de Paris, No. 191, 

 859 (July 10). 



^'^^ Assemblee nationale, I, 411; Courrier de Provence, I, I7tli letter, 27; 

 Bulletins de I'assemblee nationale, July 8. 



^^^Assemblce nationale, I, 411; Point du jour, I, 139; Courrier de 

 Provence, I, 17th letter, 27. 



