[4] Archives Nationales， F.I.C.. 56， (Circular of Gohier， Minister of Justice， to the French people， July 6， 1793). "Certain persons are disposed to pervert the events of May 31 and June 2， by atrocious exaggerations and the grossest fables， and prevent the fortunate results they present from being seen. They are absolutely determined to see nothing but violations of the liberty of the people's representatives in a step which was specially designed to hasten on the Constitutional Act on which the liberty of all is established. Of what consequence is it who are the authors of the Constitution presented to you？ What does it matter whether it issues from a mountain amidst lightning and the rolling thunder， like the Tables of the Law given to the Hebrews， or whether it comes， like the laws given to the early Romans， inspired in the tranquil asylum of a divinity jealous of his religious surroundings？ Is this constitution worthy of a free people？ That is the only question which citizens who wear the livery of no party need examine！"[5] Buchez et Roux， XXVIII.， 177. (report by Hérault Séchelles， June 10， 1793). Ibid， XXXI.， 400. (Text of constitution submitted to discussion June 11th， and passed June 24th.)[6] De Sybel， II.， 331. (According to the facsimile published in the Quarterly Review). "Hérault says that he and four of his colleagues are ordered to furnish the draft of a constitution by Monday."[7] Report by Hérault-Séchelles. (Buchez et Roux， XXVIII. 178.)[8] Buchez et Roux， XXXI， 400. (Articles of the Declaration of Rights， 1， 7， 9， 11， 27， 31， 35)[9] Buchez et Roux， XXVIII.， 178. Report by Hérault-Séchelles. "Each of us had the same desire， that of attaining to the greatest democratic result. The sovereignty of the people and the dignity of man were constantly in our minds. . . A secret sentiment tells us that our work is perhaps the most popular that ever existed."[10] Archives Nationales， B. II.， 23. (Table of votes by the commission appointed to collect the procès-verbaux of the adoption of the constitution， August 20， 1793.) -- Number of primary assemblies sending in their procès-verbaux， 6，589 (516 cantons have not yet sent theirs in). -- Number of voters on call， 1，795，908； Yes， 1，784，377；Noes， 11，531.-- Number of primary assemblies voting Yes unanimously， not on call of names， 297. -- At Paris， 40，990 voters， at Troyes， 2，491， at Limoges， 2，137. -- Cf. For details and motives of abstention， Sauzay IV. pp. 157-161. Albert Babeau， II， pp. 83 and 84. Moniteur， XVII.， 375 (speech by the representative Desvars).
[11] Ibid.， Moniteur， XVII.， 20. (report by Barrère on the convocation of the primary assemblies， June 17， 1793.) Ibid.， 102(Report of Cambon， July 11). "It is now a fortnight since you demanded a Constitution. Very well， here it is . . . . Respect for persons and property is amply secured in it. Yes， more definitely than in any other constitution. Does it provide for its own revision？
Yes， for in six weeks， we can convoke the primary assemblies and express our desire for the reform that may appear necessary. - Will the popular wish be respected？ Yes， the people then will make definitive laws."[12] Guillon de Montléon， I.， 282， 309. -- Buchez et Roux， XXVIII， 356， 357 (Journal de Lyon Nos. 223 and 224.) "The acceptance of the Constitution was neither entire nor very sincere； people took credit to themselves for accepting a vicious and sketchy production."Meillan， "Mémoires，" 120. (In July he leaves Caen for Quimper).
"Although we were assured that we should pass only through Maratist towns， we had the satisfaction of finding nearly all the inhabitants regarding Marat with horror. They had indeed accepted the Constitution offered by the Committee of Public Safety， but solely to end the matter and on conditions which would speak well for them； for， everywhere the renewal of the Convention was exacted and the punishment of assaults made on it." This desire， and others analogous to it， are given in the procès-verbaux of many of the primary assemblies (Archives Nationales， B. II.， 23)； for example， in those of the thirteen cantons of Ain. A demand is made， furthermore， for the reintegration of the Twenty-two， the abolition of the revolutionary tribunal， the suppression of absolute proconsulates， the organization of a department guard for securing the future of the Convention， the discharge of the revolutionary army， etc.
[13] Moniteur， XVII.， 20. Report of Barère： "The Constitutional act is going to draw the line between republicans and royalists."[14] Archives Nationales， F.I.C.， 54. (Circular of the Minister， Gohier， July 6， 1793.) "It is to-day that， summoned to the alter of the country， those who desire the Republic will be known by name， and those who do not desire it， whether they speak or keep silent， will be equally known."[15] Sauzay， IV.， 160， 161. (Article by the Vidette.) Consequently， "all the unconstitutionalists nobles and priests considered it a duty to go the assemblies and joyfully accept a constitution which guaranteed liberty and property to everybody."[16] "Journal des Débats de la Société des Jacobins，" No. For July 27， 1793 (correspondence， No. 122).
[17] Moniteur， XVII.， 156， 163.