icial
selections.

Through this anticipated purge the assemblies of the first degree find
themselves, for the most part, Jacobin; consequently the electors of
the second degree, appointed by them, are for the most part, Jacobin; in
many departments, their assembly becomes the most anarchical, the most
turbulent, and the most usurping of all the clubs. Here there is only
shouting, denunciations, oath-taking, incendiary motions, cheering
which carry all questions, furious speeches by Parisian commissaries,
by delegates from the local club, by passing Federates, and by female
wretches demanding arms.[3321] The Pas-de-Calais assemblage sets free
and applauds a woman imprisoned for having beaten a drum in a mob. The
Paris assembly fraternizes with the Versailles slaughterers and the
assassins of the mayor of Etampes. The assembly of the Bouches-du-Rhone
gives a certificate o virtue to Jourdan, the Glaciere murderer. The
assembly of Seine-et-Marne applauds the proposal to cast a cannon which
might contain the head of Louis XVI. for a cannon-ball to be fired
at the enemy.--It is not surprising that an electoral body without
self-respect should respect nothing, and practice self-mutilation under
the pretext of purification.[3322] The object of the despotic majority
was to reign at once, without any contest, on its own authority, and to
expel all offensive electors. At Paris, in the Aisne, in Haute-Loire, in
Ille-et-Vilaine, in Maine-et-Loire, it excludes as unworthy the
members of old Feuillants and monarchical clubs, and the signers of
Constitutionalist protests. In Herault it cancels the elections in
the canton of Servian, because the elected men, it says, are "mad
aristocrats." In Orne it drives away an old Constituent, Goupil de
Prefeln, because he voted for the revision, also, his son-in-law,
because he is his son-in-law. In the Bouches-du-Rhone, where the canton
of Seignon, by mistake or through routine, swore "to maintain the
constitution of the kingdom," it sets aside these retrograde elected
representatives, commences proceedings against the "crime committed,"
and sends troops against Noves because the Noves elector, a justice who
is denounced and in peril, has escaped from the electoral den.--After
the purification of persons it proceeds to the purification of
sentiments. At Paris, and in at least nine departments,[3323] and in
contempt of the law, is suppresses the secret ballot, the last refuge of
timid conser