64 Ethel Lee Howie 



voting be stated in a positive way. The two prelates of Auvergne, 

 who were at first chosen by acclamation were afterwards elected 

 by ballot, but this had not been done with Malouet."^-® The 

 majority of the commissioners rejected the nomination, but some 

 of the assembly favored Malouet.^^'^ 



Thibault, cure of Souppes, said that he conscientiously felt that 

 the nomination of Malouet was legal, that although acclamation 

 was not the most regular method of procedure it seemed to be the 

 most honorable.^^^ 



Dufraisse did not think that the regulatipns were imperative 

 for the vote by ballot. " Why, then, were they imperative for 

 Malouet? They should consider ancient conditions. Acclama- 

 tion was then permitted, even among the Romans^, As proof that 

 acclamation was legal at this time he stated that of the 156 electors 

 who signed the proces-verhal of the election three were magis- 

 trates who would not wish to deceive the province and the 

 assembly.^^** 



Malouet, given a chance to defend himself, said : " I believe it 

 necessary to my oath, to my country, to your principles to justify 

 a nomination which gave me an honorable place among you ; first, 

 there is no example of a deputation being attacked unless there is 

 supposed corruption. The regulations prescribed the vote by bal- 

 lot, but it did not say other methods were null. You have con- 

 sidered that a regulation is not a law. The first time I was chosen 

 I resisted the election for I did not believe that I merited this 

 public testimony from my country. Of the 580 electors who voted 

 156 signed. It was noticed that it was the country deputies who 

 did not sign, because they did not know that it was necessary. 

 They asked that they might return home as it was an important 

 time for agriculture. They wished to hurry the elections; it re- 



^^^ Point dti jour, I, 158. 



^^" Ibid., I, 158. 



^^^Ihid., I, 159. 



^-^ Point du jour, 159; Bulletins de I'assemhlee nationale, July i. The 

 name given in the Point du jour is M. du Fraine du Chey, while in the 

 Bulletins de I'assemblee nationale it is Fraysse. Brette in Les Constituants 

 gives Dufraisse-Duchey from Riom. This is evidently the deputy who 

 spoke at this time. 



