land has signed Fournier's commission to
Orleans; Danton has sent the circular of Marat over all France. To
reconstruct the departments the council of ministers sends the most
infuriated members of the Commune and the party, Chaumette, Freron,
Westerman, Auduoin, Huguenin, Momoro, Couthon, Billaud-Varennes,[3204]
and others still more tainted and brutal, who preach the purest Jacobin
doctrine. "They announce openly[3205] that laws no longer exist; that
since the people are sovereign, every one is master; that each fraction
of the nation can take such measures as suit it, in the name of the
country's safety; that they have the right to tax corn, to seize it in
the laborer's fields, to cut off the heads of the farmers who refuse to
bring their grain to market." At Lisieux, agrarian law is preached
by Fufour and Momoro. At Douai, other preachers from Paris say to the
popular club, "Prepare scaffolds; let the walls of the city bristle
with gallows, and hang upon them every man who does not accept our
opinions."--Nothing is more logical, more in conformity with their
principles. The journals, deducing their consequences, explain to
the people the use they ought to make of their reconquered
sovereignty.[3206] "Under the present circumstances, community of
property is the law; everything belongs to everybody." Besides, "an
equalizing of fortunes must be brought about, a leveling, which shall
abolish the vicious principle of the domination of the rich over the
poor." This reform is all the more pressing because "the people,
the real sovereign people, have nearly as many enemies as there are
proprietors, large merchants, financiers, and wealthy men. In a time
of revolution, we must regard all men who have more than enough as the
enemies, secret or avowed, of popular government." Therefore, "let the
people of each commune, before they quit their homes" for the army, "put
all those who are suspected of not loving liberty in a secure place, and
under the safe-keeping of the law; let them be kept shut up until war
is over; let them be guarded with pikes," and let each one of their
guardians receive thirty sous per day.

* As for the partisans of the fallen government, the members of the
Paris directory, "with Roederer and Blondel at their head,"

* as for the general officers, "with Lafayette and d'Affry at their
head,"

* as for "the critical deputies of the Constituent Assembly, with
Barnave and Lameth at their head,"

* as f