ouriez was severely pressed by the Austrians and in danger of
being cut off. Under the influence of this news, and with the
Girondins showing little fight because of the event of the day before,
the Convention passed a measure of terrorism; it voted the
establishment of a Revolutionary Tribunal to judge "traitors,
conspirators, and anti-revolutionists." In vain Buzot and other
Girondins pointed out that this meant establishing "a despotism worse
than the old." Danton, unquenchably opportunist, supported the
measure, and it was carried. Immediately after this he left Paris for
the frontier once more. On the 18th of March Dumouriez was severely
defeated at Neerwinden. And now not {175} only was the Vendee in arms,
but Lyons, Marseilles, Normandy, appeared on the point of throwing off
the yoke of Paris and of the Jacobins; the situation looked well-nigh
desperate. A week later the papers published letters of Dumouriez
which showed that ever since the trial of the King the Girondin general
had been factious, that is, had been as much inclined to turn his arms
against Paris as against the Austrians. Danton was now back from the
frontier; he and Robespierre were at once elected to the committee of
general defence; and that committee declared itself in continuous
session.

Extraordinary measures were now passed in quick succession which, added
to the creation of the Revolutionary Tribunal, made up a formidable
machinery of terrorism. Deputies of the Convention were sent out on
mission to superintend the working of the armies and of the internal
police. They were given the widest powers,--were virtually made
pro-dictators. On the 1st of April was passed a new law of suspects to
reinforce the action of the representatives on mission and of the
Revolutionary Tribunal. On the 6th of April was created the executive
power that Danton urged the need of so pertinaciously; this was the
Committee of {176} Public Safety, a body of nine members of the
Convention, acting secretly, directing the ministers, and having
general control of the executive functions. The Girondins had to
submit to the measure, and their opponents secured control of the
Committee. Among its first members were Danton, Cambon, and Barere.

Just as the Committee of Public Safety came into existence the
situation on the frontier was getting even worse. On the 4th of April
Dumouriez, fearing that the Convention would send him to the
Revolutionary Tribun