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persons and things； they act in one place in one way and in another
place in another way。 Here； a department； acting for itself and
without referring elsewhere； puts an embargo on vessels； while
another orders the expulsion of a military detachment essential for
the security of places devastated by ruffians； and the minister； who
responds to the demands of those interested； replies： 'Such are the
orders of the department。' Elsewhere are administrative bodies
which； the moment the Assembly decrees relief of consciences and the
freedom of nonjuring priests； order the latter out of their homes
within 24 hours。 Always in advance of or lagging behind the laws；
alternately bold and cowardly； daring all things when seconded by
public license； and daring nothing to repress it； eager to abuse
their momentary authority against the weak in order to acquire
titles to popularity in the future； incapable of maintaining order
except at the expense of public safety and tranquility； entangled
in the reins of their new and complex administration； adding the
fury of passion to incapacity and inexperience； such are； for the
most part； the men sprung from nothing； void of ideas and drunk with
pretension； on whom now rests responsibility for public powers and
resources； the interest of security； and the foundations of the
power of government。 In all sections of the nation； in every branch
of the administration； in every report； we detect the confusion of
authorities； the uncertainty of obedience； the dissolution of all
restraints； the absence of all resources； the deplorable
complication of enervated springs； without any of the means of real
power； and； for their sole support； laws which； in supposing France
to be peopled with men without vices or passions； abandon humanity
to its primitive state of independence。〃
A few months after this； in the beginning of 1792； Malouet sums up
all in one phrase：
〃It is the Government of Algiers without the Dey。〃
II。
Independence of the municipalities。 … The causes of their
initiative。 … Sentiment of danger。… Issy…l'Evêque in 1789。 … Exalted
pride。 … Brittany in 1790。… Usurpations of the municipalities。 …
Capture of the citadels。 … Violence increased against their
commanders。 … Stoppage of convoys。… Powerlessness of the Directories
and the ministers。 … Marseilles in 1790。
Things could not work otherwise。 For； before the 6th of October；
and the King's captivity in Paris； the Government had already been
destroyed。 Now； through the successive decrees of the Assembly； it
is legally done away with； and each local group is left to itself。 …
The intendants have fled； military commanders are not obeyed； the
bailiwicks dare hold no courts； the parliaments are suspended； and
seven months elapse before the district and department
administrations are elected； a year before the new judgeships are
instituted； while afterwards； as well as before； the real power is
in the hands of the communes。 … The commune must arm itself； appoint
its own chiefs； provide its own supplies； protect itself against
brigands； and feed its own poor。 It has to sell its national
property； install the constitutional priest； and； amidst so many
eager passions and injured interest； accomplish the transformation
by which a new society replaces the ancient one。 It alone has to
ward off the perpetual and constantly reviving dangers which assail
it or which it imagines。 These are great； and it exaggerates them。
It is inexperienced and alarmed。 It is not surprising that； in the
exercise of its extemporized power； it should pass beyond its
natural or legal limit； and without being aware of it； overstep the
metaphysical line which the Constitution defines between its rights
and the rights of the State。 Neither hunger； fear； rage； nor any of
the popular passions can wait； there is no time to refer to Paris。
Action is necessary； immediate action； and； with the means at hand；
they must save themselves as well as they can。 This or that mayor
of a village is soon to find himself a general and a legislator。
This or that petty town is to give itself a charter like Laon or
Vezelay in the twelfth century。 〃On the 6th of October； 1789；＇14＇
near Autun； the market…town of Issy…l'Evêque declares itself an
independent State。 The parish assembly is convoked by the priest；
M。 Carion； who is appointed member of the administrative committee
and of the new military staff。 In full session he secures the
adoption of a complete code； political； judiciary； penal and
military； consisting of sixty articles。 Nothing is overlooked； we
find ordinances concerning
〃the town police； the laying out of streets and public squares； the
repairs of prisons； the road taxes and price of grain； the
administration of justice； fines； confiscations； and the diet of the
National Guards。〃
He is a provincial Solon；＇15＇ zealous for the public welfare； and a
man of executive power； he expounds his ordinances from the pulpit；
and threatens the refractory。 He passes decrees and renders
judgments in the town…hall： outside the town limits； at the head of
the National Guard； saber in hand； he will enforce his own
decisions。 He causes it to be decided that； on the written order of
the committee； every citizen may be imprisoned。 He imposes and
collects taxes； he has boundary walls torn down； he goes in person
to the houses of cultivators and makes requisitions for grain； he
seizes the convoys which have not deposited their quote in his own
richly stored granaries。 One day； preceded by a drummer； he marches
outside the walls； makes proclamation of 〃his agrarian laws；〃 and
proceeds at once to the partition of the territory； and； by virtue
of the ancient communal or church property rights； to assign to
himself a portion of it。 All this is done in public and
consciously； the notary and the scrivener being called in to draw up
the official record of his acts； he is satisfied that human society
has come to an end； and that each local group has the right to begin
over again and apply in its own way the Constitution which it has
accorded to itself without reference to anybody else。 … This man；
undoubtedly； talks too loudly； an proceeds too quickly； and first
the bailiwick； next the Chatelet； and afterwards the National
Assembly temporarily put a stop to his proceedings； but his
principle is a popular one； and the forty thousand communes of
France are about to act like so many distinct republics； under the
sentimental and constantly more powerless reprimands of the central
authority。
Excited and invigorated by a new sentiment； men now abandon
themselves to the proud consciousness of their own power and
independence。 Nowhere is greater satisfaction found than among the
new local chiefs； the municipal officers and commanders of the
National Guard； for never before has such supreme authority and such
great dignity fallen upon men previously so submissive and so
insignificant。 … Formerly the subordinates of an intendant or sub…
delegate； appointed； maintained； and ill…used by him； kept aloof
from transactions of any importance； unable to defend themselves
except by humble protestations against the aggravation of taxation；
concerned with precedence and the conflicts of etiquette；＇16＇ plain
townspeople or peasants who never dreamt of interfering in military
matters； henceforth become sovereigns in all military and civil
affairs。 This or that mayor or syndic of a little town or parish； a
petty bourgeois or villager in a blouse； whom the intendant or
military commander could imprison at will； now orders a gentleman； a
captain of dragoons； to march or stand still； and the captain stands
still or marches at his command。 On the same bourgeois or villager
depends the safety of the neighboring chateau； of the large land…
owner and his family； of the prelate； and of all the prominent
personages of the district。 in order that they may be out of harm's
way he must protect them； they will be pillaged if； in case of
insurrection； he does not send troops and the National Guard to
their assistance。 It is he who； lending or refusing public force to
the collection of their rents； gives them or deprives them of the
means of living。 He accordingly rules； and on the sole condition of
ruling according to the wishes of his equals； the vociferous
multitude； the restless； dominant mob which has elected him。 … In
the towns； especially； and notably in the large towns； the contrast
between what he was and what he is immense； since to the plenitude
of his power is added the extent of his jurisdiction。 Judge of the
effect on his brain in cities like those of Marseilles； Bordeaux；
Nantes； Rouen and Lyons； where he holds in his hand the lives and
property of eighty or a hundred thousand men。 And the more as； amid
the municipal officers of the towns； three…quarters of them；
prosecutors or lawyer