ally are, usurpers, extortioners,
and robbers, there is no middle course for them between a dictatorship
and the galleys.--The mind, before such an alternative, unless
extraordinarily well-balanced, loses its equilibrium; they have no
difficulty in deluding themselves with the idea that the State is
menaced in their persons, and, in postulating the rule, that all is
allowable for them, even massacre. Has not Bazire stated in the
tribune that, against the enemies of the nation, "all means are fair
justifiable? Has not another deputy, Jean Debry, proposed the formation
of a body of 1,200 volunteers, who "will sacrifice themselves," as
formerly the assassins of the Old Man of the Mountain, in "attacking
tyrants, hand to hand, individually," as well as generals?[3132] Have we
not seen Merlin de Thionville insisting that "the wives and children of
the emigres should be kept as hostages," and declared responsible, or,
in other words, ready for slaughter if their relatives continue their
attacks?[3133]

That is all that is left to do, since all the other measures have proved
insufficient.--In vain has the Commune decreed the arrest of journalists
belonging to the opposite party, and distributed their printing
machinery amongst patriotic printers.[3134] In vain has it declared the
members of the Sainte-Chapelle club, the National Guards who have sworn
allegiance to Lafayette, the signers of the petition of 8,000, and of
that of 20,000, disqualified for any service whatever.[3135] In vain has
it multiplied domiciliary visits, even to the residence and carriages
of the Venetian ambassador. In vain, through insulting and repeated
examinations, does it keep at its bar, under the hootings and
death-cries of its tribunes, the most honorable and most illustrious
men, Lavoisier, Dupont de Nemours, the eminent surgeon Desault, the most
harmless and most refined ladies, Madame de Tourzel, Mademoiselle de
Tourzel, and the Princesse de Lamballe.[3136] In vain, after a profusion
of arrests during twenty days, it envelopes all Paris inside one cast of
its net for a nocturnal search[3137]during which,

1. the barriers are closed and doubly guarded,

2. sentinels are on the quays and boats stationed on the Seine to
prevent escape by water,

3. the city is divided beforehand into circumscriptions, and for each
section, a list of suspected persons,

4. the circulation of vehicles is stopped,

5. every citizen is ordered to stay at home,