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the municipal officers of the towns； three…quarters of them；
prosecutors or lawyers； are imbued with the new dogmas； and are
persuaded that in themselves alone； the directly elected of the
people； is vested all legitimate authority。 Bewildered by their
recent elevation； distrustful as upstarts； in revolt against all
ancient or rival powers； they are additionally alarmed by their
imagination and ignorance； their minds being vaguely disturbed by
the contrast between their role in the past and their present role：
anxious on their own account； they find no security but in abuse and
use of power。 The municipalities； on the strength of the reports
emanating from the coffee…houses； decide that the ministry are
traitors。 With an obstinacy of conviction and a boldness of
presumption alike extraordinary； they believe that they have the
right to act without and against their orders； and against the
orders of the National Assembly itself； as if； in the now
disintegrated France； each municipality constituted the nation。
Thus； if the armed force of the country is now obedient to any body；
it is to them and to them alone； and not only the National Guard；
but also the regular troops which； placed under the orders of
municipalities by a decree of the National Assembly；＇17＇ will comply
with no other。 Military commanders in the provinces； after
September； 1787； declare themselves powerless； when they and the
municipality give orders； it is only those of the municipality which
the troops recognize。 〃However pressing may be the necessity for
moving the troops where their presence is required； they are stopped
by the resistance of the village committee。〃＇18＇ 〃Without any
reasonable motive；〃 writes the commander of the forces in Brittany；
〃Vannes and Auray made opposition to the detachment which I thought
it prudent to send to Belle…Ile； to replace another one 。 。 。 The
Government cannot move without encountering obstacles。 。 。 。 The
Minister of War no longer has the direction of the army。 。 。 。
No orders are executed。 。 。 Every one wants to command； and no
one to obey。 。 。 How could the King； the Government； or the
Minister of War send troops where they are wanted if the towns
believe that they have the right to countermand the orders given to
the regiments and change their destination？ 〃…And it is still worse；
for； 〃on the false supposition of brigands and conspiracies which do
not exist；＇19＇ the towns and villages make demands on me for arms
and even cannon。 。 。 The whole of Brittany will soon be in a
frightful belligerent state on this account； for； having no real
enemies； they will turn their arms against each other。〃 … This is
of no consequence。 The panic is an 〃epidemic。〃 People are
determined to believe in 〃brigands and enemies。〃 At Nantes； the
assertion is constantly repeated that the Spaniards are going to
land； that the French regiments are going to make an attack； that an
army of brigands is approaching； that the castle is threatened； that
it is threatening； and that it contains too many engines of war。
The commandant of the province writes in vain to the mayor to
reassure him； and to explain to him that 〃the municipality； being
master of the chateau； is likewise master of its magazine。 Why then
should it entertain fear about that which is in its own possession？
Why should any surprise be manifested at an arsenal containing arms
and gunpowder？ 〃 … Nothing is of any effect。 The chateau is
invaded； two hundred workmen set to work to demolish the
fortifications； they listen only to their fears； and cannot exercise
too great precaution。 However inoffensive the citadels may be； they
are held to be dangerous； however accommodating the commanders may
be； they are regarded with suspicion。 The people chafe against the
bridle； relaxed and slack as it is。 It is broken and cast aside；
that it may not be used again when occasion requires。 Each
municipal body； each company of the National Guard； wants to reign
on its own plot of ground out of the way of any foreign control； and
this is what is called liberty。 Its adversary； therefore； is the
central power。 This must be disarmed for fear that it may
interpose。 On all sides； with a sure and persistent instinct；
through the capture of fortresses； the pillage of arsenals； the
seduction of the soldiery； and the expulsion of generals； the
municipality ensures its omnipotence by guaranteeing itself
beforehand against all repression。
At Brest the municipal authorities insist that a naval officer shall
be surrendered to the people； and on the refusal of the King's
lieutenant to give him up； the permanent committee orders the
National Guard to load its guns。＇20＇ At Nantes the municipal body
refuses to recognize M。 d'Hervilly； sent to take command of a camp；
and the towns of the province write to declare that they will suffer
no other than the federated troops on their territory。 At Lille the
permanent committee insists that the military authorities shall
place the keys of the town in its keeping every evening； and； a few
months after this； the National Guard； joined by mutinous soldiers；
seize the citadel and the person of Livarot； its commander。 At
Toulon the commander of the arsenal； M。 de Rioms； and several naval
officers； are put in the dungeon。 At Montpellier the citadel is
surprised； and the club writes to the National Assembly to demand
its demolition。 At Valence； the commandant； M。 de Voisin； on
taking measures of defense； is massacred； and henceforth the
municipality issues all orders to the garrison。 At Bastia； Colonel
de Rully falls under a shower of bullets； and the National Guard
takes possession of the citadel and the powder magazine。 These are
not passing outbursts： at the end of two years the same
insubordinate spirit is apparent everywhere。＇21＇ In vain do the
commissioners of the National Assembly seek to transfer the Nassau
regiment from Metz。 Sedan refuses to receive it； while Thionville
declares that； if it comes； she will blow up the bridges； and
Sarrebuis threatens； if it approaches； that it will open fire on it。
At Caen neither the municipality nor the directory dares enforce the
law which assigns the castle to the troops of the line； the National
Guard refuses to leave it； and forbids the director of the artillery
to inspect the munitions。 … In this state of things a Government
subsists in name but not in fact； for it no longer possesses the
means of enforcing obedience。 Each commune arrogates to itself the
right of suspending or preventing the execution of the simplest and
most urgent orders。 Arnay…le…Duc； in spite of passports and legal
injunctions； persists in retaining Mesdames； Arcis…sur…Aube retains
Necker； and Montigny is about to retain M。 Caillard； Ambassador of
France。＇22＇ … In the month of June； 1791； a convoy of eighty
thousand crowns of six livres sets out from Paris for Switzerland；
this is a repayment by the French Government to that of Soleure； the
date of payment is fixed； the itinerary marked out； all the
necessary documents are provided； it is important that it should
arrive on the day when the bill falls due。 But they have counted
without the municipalities and the National Guards。 Arrested at
Bar…sur…Aube； it is only at the end of a month； and on a decree of
the National Assembly； that the convoy can resume。 its march。 At
Belfort it is seized again； and it still remains there in the month
of November。 In vain has the directory of the Bas…Rhin ordered its
release； the Belfort municipality paid no attention to the order。
In vain the same directory dispatches a commissioner； who is near
being cut to pieces。 The personal interference of General Luckner；
with the strong arm； is necessary； before the convoy can pass the
frontier； after five months of delay。＇23＇ In the month of July 1791；
a French vessel on the way from Rouen to Caudebec； said to be loaded
with kegs of gold and silver； is stopped。 On the examination being
made； it has a right to leave； its papers are all correct； and the
department enjoins the district to respect the law。 The district；
however； replies that it is impossible； since 〃all the
municipalities on the banks of the Seine have armed and are awaiting
the passing of the vessel；〃 and the National Assembly itself is
obliged to pass a decree that the vessel shall be discharged。
If the rebellion of the small communes is of this stamp； what must
be that of the larger ones？＇24＇ The departments and districts summon
the municipality in vain； it disobeys or pays no attention to the
summons。
〃Since the session began；〃 writes the directory of Sa？ne…et…Loire；
〃the municipality of Ma？on has taken no step in relation to us which
has not been an encroachment。 It has not uttered a word； which has
not been an insult。 It has not entered upon a deliberation which
has not been an outrage。〃
〃If