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their insurrection。 The fugitive deputies at their head would believe
themselves guilty of usurpation had they； like the 〃Mountain〃 at
Paris； constituted themselves at Caen en sovereign assembly＇60＇：
according to them； their right and their duty is reduced to giving
testimony concerning the 31st of May and the 1st of June； and to
exhorting the people and to being eloquent。 They are not legally
qualified to take executive power； it is for the local magistrates；
the élus（elected） of the sections； and better still； the department committees
to command in the departments。 Lodged as they are in official
quarters； they are merely to print formal statements； write letters；
and； behaving properly； wait until the sovereign people； their
employer； reinstates them。 It has been outraged in their persons； it
must avenge itself for this outrage； since it approves of its
mandatories； it is bound to restore them to office； it being the
master of the house； it is bound to have its own way in the house。
As to the department committees； it is true that； in the heat of the
first excitement； they thought of forming a new Convention at
Bourges；＇61＇ either through a muster of substitute deputies； or
through the convocation of a national commission of one hundred and
seventy members。 But time is wanting； also the means； to carry out
the plan； it remains suspended in the air like vain menace； at the end
of a fortnight it vanishes in smoke； the departments succeed in
federating only in scattered groups； they desist from the formation of
a central government； and thus； through this fact alone； condemn
themselves to succumb； one after the other； in detail； and each at
home。 What is worse； through conscientiousness and patriotism；
they prepare their own defeat： the refrain from calling upon the
armies and from stripping the frontiers； they do not contest the right
of the Convention to provide as it pleases for the national defense。
Lyons allows the passage of convoys of cannon…balls which are to be
subsequently used in cannonading its defenders＇62＇。 The authorities
of Puy…de…Dome aid by sending to Vendée the battalion that they had
organized against the 〃Mountain。〃 Bordeaux is to surrender Chateau…
Trompette； its munitions of war and supplies； to the representatives
on mission； and； without a word； with exemplary docility； both the
Bordeaux battalions which guard Blaye suffer themselves to be
dislodged by two Jacobin battalions。＇63＇ Comprehending the
insurrection in this way； defeat is certain beforehand。
The insurgents are thus conscious of their false position； they have a
vague sort of feeling that； in recognizing the military authority of
the Convention； they admit its authority in full； insensibly they
glide down this slope； from concession to concession； until they reach
complete submission。 From the 16th of June； at Lyons；＇64＇ 〃people
begin to feel that it ought not break with the Convention。〃 Five weeks
later； the authorities of Lyons 〃solemnly recognize that the
Convention is the sole central rallying point of all French citizens
and republicans；〃 and decree that 〃all acts emanating from it
concerning the general interests of the republic are to be
executed。〃＇65＇ Consequently； at Lyons and in other departments； the
administrations convoke the primary assemblies as the Convention has
prescribed； consequently； the primary assemblies accept the
Constitution which it has proposed； consequently； the delegates of the
primary assemblies betake themselves to Paris according to its orders。
Henceforth； the Girondins' cause is lost； the discharge of a few
cannon at Vernon and Avignon disperse the only two columns of soldiery
that have set out on their march。 In each department； the Jacobins；
encouraged by the representatives on mission； raise their heads；
everywhere the local club enjoins the local government to submit；＇66＇
everywhere the local governments report the acts they pass； make
excuses and ask forgiveness。 Proportionately to the retraction of one
department； the rest； feeling themselves abandoned； are more disposed
to retract。 On the 9th of July forty…nine departments are enumerated
as having given in their adhesion。 Several of them declare that the
scales have dropped from their eyes； that they approve of the acts of
May 31 and June 2； and thus ensure their safety by manifesting their
zeal。 The administration of Calvados notifies the Breton fédérés that
〃having accepted the Constitution it can no longer tolerate their
presence in Caen；〃 it sends them home； and secretly makes peace with
the 〃Mountain；〃 and only informs the deputies； who are its guests； of
this proceeding； three days afterwards； by postings on their door the
decree that declares them outlaws。
Disguised as soldiers； the latter depart along with the Breton
fédérés； on the way； they are able to ascertain the veritable
sentiments of this people whom they believe imbued with their rights
and capable of taking a political initiative。＇67＇ The pretended
citizens and republicans they have to do with are； in sum； the former
subjects of Louis XVI。 and the future subjects of Napoleon I。； that
is to say； administrators and people； disciplined by habit and
instinctively subordinate； requiring a government just as sheep
require a shepherd and a watch…dog； accepting or submitting to
shepherd and dog； provided these look and act the part； even if the
shepherd be a butcher and the dog a wolf。 To avoid isolation； to
rejoin the most numerous herd as soon as possible； to always form
masses and bodies and thus follow the impulsion which comes from
above； and gather together scattered individuals； such is the instinct
of the flock。
In the battalion of federates； they begin by saying that； as the
Constitution is now accepted and the convention recognized； it is no
longer allowed to protect deputies whom it has declared outlaws： 〃that
would be creating a faction。〃 Thereupon； the deputies withdraw from
the battalion； and； in a little squad by themselves； march along
separately。 As they are nineteen in number； resolute and well armed；
the authorities of the market…towns through which they pass make no
opposition by force； it would be offering battle； and that surpasses a
functionary's zeal； moreover； the population is either indifferent
toward them or sympathetic。 Nevertheless； efforts are made to stop
them； sometimes to surround them and take them by surprise； for； a
warrant of arrest is out against them； transmitted through the
hierarchical channel； and every local magistrate feels bound to do his
duty as gendarme。 Under this administrative network； the meshes of
which they encounter everywhere； the proscribed deputies can do naught
else but hide in caves or escape by sea。 On reaching Bordeaux；
they find other sheep getting ready for the slaughter…house。 Saige；
the mayor； preaches conciliation and patience： he declines the aid of
four or five thousand young men； three thousand grenadiers of the
National Guard； and two or three hundred volunteers who had formed
themselves into a club against the Jacobin club。 He persuades them to
disband； he sends a deputation to Paris to entreat the Convention to
overlook 〃a moment of error〃 and pardon their 〃brethren who had gone
astray。〃 〃They flattered themselves；〃 says a deputy； an eye…
witness；＇68＇ 〃that prompt submission would appease the resentment of
tyrants and that these would be； or pretend to be； generous enough to
spare a town that had distinguished itself more than any other during
the Revolution。〃 Up to the last； they are to entertain the same
illusions and manifest the same docility。 When Tallien； with his
eighteen hundred peasants and brigands； enters Bordeaux； twelve
thousand National Guards； equipped； armed and in uniform； receive him
wearing oak…leaf crowns； they listen in silence to 〃his astounding and
outrageous discourse；〃 they suffer him to tear off their crowns；
cockades and epaulettes； the battalions allow themselves to be
disbanded on the spot； on returning to their quarters they listen with
downcast eyes to the proclamation which 〃orders all inhabitants
without distinction to bring their arms within thirty…six hours； under
the penalty of death； to the glacis of the Chateau…Trompette； before
the time elapses thirty thousand guns； swords； pistols and even
pocket…knives are given up。〃
Here； as at Paris； on the 20th of June； 10th of August； 2nd of
September； 3rd of May and 2nd of June； as at every critical moment of
the Revolution in Paris and the provinces； habits of subordination and
of amiability； stamped on a people by a provident monarchy and a time…
honored civilization； have blunted in man the foresight of danger； his
aggressive instinct； his independence and the faculty of depending
upon himself only； the willingness to help one another and of saving
himself。 Inevitably； when anarchy brings a nation back