66 
condu& to a reprefentative of the people. 
At length, LECLERC, among many in- 
terruptions,and much noife, perfifted in 
declaring, that the refclution in queftion, 
precipit*tely entered into, was difgrace- 
ful to the-Council; for it had beea the 
dictate of animofity. The Council con- 
cluded this diforderly debate, by adopt- 
ing the order of the. day, and Henry 
LARIVIERE was elected prefident, in 
the room of PICHEGRU. 
it is neceflary, however, to add, that 
‘this diffenfion between the legiflative 
and executive powers of the French Re- 
public was happily put an end to by the 
Council of Ancients, on the 27th of 
June, by reje&ting the refolution of 
GILBERT DESMOLIERES, relative to the 
management of the treafury. 
Some propofed regulations on the re- 
turn of emigrant priefis, on places of 
public worfhip, and on the ufe of bells, 
have lately occupied much of the atten- 
tion of the fubjeéts of the French Re- 
- public. 
Council of Five Hundred, on the 17th 
of June, prefented the report of a com- 
mittee, which had been appointed to en- 
quire into thefe fubjeéis. Upon the read- 
ing of this report, thofe members of the 
CAMILLE-JOURDAN, m the 
State of Public Affairs—France. = 
(July; 
move apprehenfions ; the king obliged 
the clergy to take an oath or fidelity, 
‘and no abbé ever refufed it on being pre- 
Council who are ‘advocates for abfolute~ 
freedom in religious tenets, &c. argued 
- againft the propofal, as tending to favour 
the dominion of the priefts, and the re- 
turn of that tyranny which had lately 
been fo happily overthrown. . The cele- 
brated general JouRDAN took this fide 
of the queftion in the courfe of-the de- 
bate, and concluded a fpcech of confide- 
rable length, by moving, 1. The previous 
queftion on the twoprojeéts. 2. That the 
taw of the 7th Vendemiaire be maintained. 
‘3. That a. declaration of fubmiflion be 
required frome’the priefts. 4. That an 
€xamination be niade, 
e 
— 
whether, the law 
which fays that. thofe edifices which be- 
long confeffedly to the different towns 
thall be employed for public worfhip, be 
not unconftitutional ?—His fpeech was 
erdered to be printed. 
FRESSENEL urged feveral. ftrong ar- 
guments in favour of the report. 
But of all the fpeeches made upon this 
interefling fubjeét, that of CoycsEeRy 
claimed the moft profound attention of 
the council. He contended that it was 
indifpenfibly . neceffary to adopt fome 
fateguard againft a religion the hierarchy 
of which was hoftile to the principles of 
the conftitution. He faid the ancient 
government took every precaution to re- 
¥usb 
a 
\ 
fented to a good living. The circum- 
ftances under which the republic was 
placed, required more caution than the 
‘ancient government. 
His fpeech was ordered to be printed, 
and diftributed to the number of three 
copies each member. 
This ‘interefting fubje& engaged the 
attention of the council during feveral 
fittings, in the courfe of which the de- 
bates, though fometimes tumultuous and 
irregular, were frequently replete with 
eloquence and argument. 
On the 15th of July the council re-— 
fumed the difcuffion upon the law rela-. 
tive to the banifhed priefts, and the dif- 
cuffion was clofed with the following re- 
folutions, xz. The laws which pronounce 
the punifhment of tranfportation or con- 
finement againft ecclefiaftics who were 
{ubject to oaths or declarations, or who 
have been denounced under the name of 
refradiory, or on account of zncivifm, and 
againg thofe who have aftorded fhelter te 
priefs unfworn, are and continue re- 
pealeds 2. The-laws which aflimilate 
exported priefis to emigrants are alfo re- 
nealed. 3. The individuals affected by 
the faid laws are reftored to all the rights 
of French citizens by fulfilling the cons 
ditions prefcribed by the conftitution. 
The difcutlion-upon the refolution re- 
lative to requiring a declaration from the 
priefts was alfo refumed this day, but 
condugéted im a violent and iregular 
manner. owe 
Mex LIN expreffed much aftonifhment 
that any one thould make a queftion 
of a matter which, in his opimion, ad- 
mitted not of a fingle doubt. The con- 
flitution had allowed the free exercife of 
religious worthip only upon condition of 
a due fubmifiicn by the minifters to the 
laws; it required therefore fome gua- 
rantee for the fulfilment of their pro- 
mife. ‘ But how very imperious,” faid 
the orator, ** becomes the neceffity of 
obtaining the fubmiffion when we con- 
fider the quettion with relation to the 
public tranquillity and general fafety.’” 
He prefented a-plan, according to whick 
no prieft could be permitted to publith 
any mandate without the wifa of the 
Direétory, nor correfpond with the pope 
without its permiffion. Each feét might 
celebrate their fétes, but on the decad& 
only. The fpeech of Merlin was or- 
‘dered to be printed, 
AUDOUIN 
