Through "the right of
pre-emption" and through the right of "requisition," "the Republic
becomes temporary proprietor of whatever commerce, manufacture and
agriculture have produced and added to the soil of France: "all food
and merchandise is ours before being owned by their holder. We carry
out of his house whatever suits us; we pay him for this with worthless
paper; we frequently do not pay him at all. For greater convenience,
we seize objects directly and wherever we find them, grain in the
farmer's barn, hay in the reaper's shed, cattle in the fold, wine in
the vats, hides at the butcher's, leather in the tanneries, soap,
tallow, sugar, brandy, cloths, linens and the rest, in stores, depots
and ware-houses. We stop vehicles and the horses in the street. We
enter the premises of mail or coach contractors and empty their
stables. We carry away kitchen utensils to obtain the copper ; we
turn people out of their rooms to get their beds; we strip them of
their coats and shirts; in one day, we make ten thousand individuals
in one town go barefoot.[9]
"When public needs require it," says representative Isor?, "all
belongs to the people and nothing to individuals.
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