declared that
the people were surrounded by conspiracies. Bazire demanded the
disbanding of the King's guard, which, according to him, was made up of
servants of the _emigres_, and refractory priests. It was claimed
{143} that the soldiers, to whom the Duke de Brissac had given sabres
with hilts representing a cock surmounted by a royal crown, used
insulting language concerning the Assembly and the nation in their
barracks. They were said to rejoice in the reverses which the French
troops had just sustained on the northern frontier, and it was added
that they meant to march twenty leagues under a white flag to meet the
Austrians. The masses, always so easily deceived, were convinced that
the conspiracy was on the brink of discovery.

The National Assembly took up the question, and a stormy debate on it
occupied the evening session of May 29. "What will become of the
individual liberty of citizens," cried M. Daverhoute, "if the dominant
party, merely by alleging suspicions, can decree the impeachment of all
who displease it, and if the different parties, coming successively
into power, overthrow, by means of this unchecked right of impeachment,
both ministers and all functionaries by the torrent of their intrigues?
In that case you would see proscriptions like those of Marius and
Sylla." In fact, this was what the near future was about to show.
Vergniaud responded by evoking a souvenir of the praetorian guards of
Caligula and Nero. At the close of his speech the Assembly passed the
following decree:--

"ARTICLE 1. The existing hired guard of the King is disbanded, and
will be replaced immediately in conformity with the laws.

{144}

"ART. 2. Until the formation of the new guard, the National Guard of
Paris will be on duty near the King's person, in the same manner as
before the establishment of the King's guard."

A discussion ensued on the subject of Brissac's impeachment. The
struggle between the two opposing parties was of unheard-of vivacity.
One of the most courageous members of the right, M. Calvet, gave free
vent to his indignation. "The informer," said he, "is a scoundrel who
makes a thrust with a poniard and hides himself; he was unknown at Rome
until the times of Sejanus and Tiberius; times, gentlemen, of which you
remind me often." "To the Abbey! to the Abbey!" retorted the left,
with fury. Said Guadet: "I demand that M. Calvet should be sent to the
Abbey for three days, for having dared to