Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/485

 The First French Republic 447 M. Chabot. Representatives of the people : I oppose the motion made by Citizen Manuel. I am astonished that Citizen Manuel, after having repudiated every idea of any comparison with kings, should propose to make one of our members like a king. The French nation, by sending to the Convention two hundred members of the legislative body who have individually taken an oath to combat both kings and royalty, has made itself quite clear as to its desire to establish a popular government. It is not only the ?iame of king that it would abolish but everything which suggests preeminence, so that there will be no president of France. You cannot look for any other kind of dignity than associ- ating with the sans-culottes who compose the majority of the nation. Only by making yourselves like your fellow-citizens will you acquire the necessary dignity to cause your decrees to be respected. . . . M. Tallien. I am much astonished to hear this discussion about ceremonials. . . . Outside of this hall the president of the Convention is a simple citizen. If you want to speak to him, you can go and look for him on the third or the fifth floor. There is where virtue has its lodging. . . . The Assembly unanimously rejected the motion of Mon- sieur Manuel. M. Tallien. I move that before everything else the Assem- bly take a solemn pledge not to separate till it has given the French people a government established on the foundations of liberty and equality. I move that the members take an oath to make no laws which depart from this standard, and that this oath shall constantly guide the representatives of the people in their work. Those who shall perjure them- selves shall be immolated to the just vengeance of the people. . . . [_Applause.~ M. Merlin. I move that we do not take any oaths. Let us promise the people to save them. Let us go to work. M. Couthon. ... I am not afraid that, in the discussion which is about to take place, any one will dare to speak of royalty again ; it is fit only for slaves, and the French would be unworthy of the liberty which they have acquired should