I swear that no proposals, direct or indirect,
have ever been made to me to serve, either by my actions, speech or
silence, or cause to prevail in any near or remote manner, any other
interest than that of the Republic and the Constitution." -- "Among
the deputies," says Camille Jordan, "several might prefer royalty; but
they did not conspire, regarding the Constitution as a deposit
entrusted to their honor . . They kept their most cherished plans
subordinate to the national will; they comprehended that royalty could
not be re-established without blows and through the development of
this bill." -- " Between ourselves," says again Barb?-Marbois, "there
were disagreements as to the way of getting along with the Directory,
but none at all as to the maintenance of the Constitution."[57]
Almost up to the last moment they confined themselves strictly to
their legal rights, and when, towards the end, they were disposed to
set these aside, it was simply to defend themselves against the
uplifted saber above their heads.[58] It is incontestable that their
leaders are "the most estimable and the ablest men in the
Republic,"[59] the only representatives of free suffrage, mature
opinions and long experience, the only ones at least in whose hands
the Republic, restored to order and justice, would have any chance of
becoming viable, in fact, the only liberals.
Pages:
957
958
959
960
961
962
963
964
965
966
967
968
969
970
971
972
973
974
975
976
977
978
979
980
981