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proprietors； also many gentlemen who look after and turn to account
the little estates on which they live； and 〃who have not left their
homes a year in their lives；〃 become the pariahs of their
canton。＇33＇ After 1789； they begin to feel that their position is
no longer tenable。＇34＇
〃 It is absolutely in opposition to the rights of man；〃 says another
letter from Franche…Comté； 〃to find one's self in perpetual fear of
having one's throat cut by scoundrels who are daily confounding
liberty with license。〃
〃I never knew anything so wearying；〃 says another letter from
Champagne； 〃as this anxiety about property and security。 Never was
there a better reason for it。 A moment suffices to let loose an
intractable population which thinks that it may do what it pleases；
and which is carefully sustained in that error〃
〃After the sacrifices that we have made；〃 says a letter from
Burgundy； 〃we could not expect such treatment。 I thought that our
property would be the last violated because the people owed us some
return for staying at home in the country to expend among them the
few resources that remain to us。 。 。 （Now）； I beg the Assembly to
repeal the decree on emigration； otherwise it may be said that
people are purposely kept here to be assassinated。 。 。 In case it
should refuse to do us this justice； I should be quite as willing to
have it decree an act of proscription against us； for we should not
then be lulled to sleep by the protection of laws which are
doubtless very wise； but which are not respected anywhere。〃
〃 It is not our privileges；〃 say several others； 〃it is not our
nobility that we regret； but how is the persecution to which we are
abandoned to be supported？ There is no safety for us； for our
property； or for our families。 Wretches who are our debtors； the
small farmers who rob us of our incomes； daily threaten us with the
torch and the lamp post。 We do not enjoy one hour of repose； not a
night that we are certain to pass through without trouble。 Our
persons are given up to the vilest outrages； our dwellings to an
inquisition of armed tyrants； we are robbed of our rentals with
impunity； and our property is openly attacked。 We； being now the
only people to pay imposts； are unfairly taxed； in various places
our entire incomes would not。 suffice to pay the quota which
crushes us。 We can make no complaint without incurring the risk of
being massacred。 The tribunals and the administrative bodies； the
tools of the multitude； daily sacrifice us to its attacks。 Even the
Government seems afraid of compromising itself by claiming the
protection of the laws on our behalf。 It is sufficient to be
pointed out as an aristocrat to be without any security。 If our
peasants； in general； have shown more honesty； consideration； and
attachment toward us； every bourgeois of importance； the wild
members of clubs； the vilest of men who sully a uniform； consider
themselves privileged to insult us； and these wretches go unpunished
and are protected！ Even our religion is not free。 One of our number
has had his house sacked for having shown hospitality to an old curé
of eighty belonging to his parish who refused to take the oath。
Such is our fate。 We are not so base as to endure it。 Our right to
resist oppression is not due to a decree of the National Assembly；
but to natural law。 We are going to leave； and to die if necessary。
But to live under such a revolting anarchy ！ Should it not be broken
up we shall never set foot in France again！〃
The operation is successful。 The Assembly； through its decrees and
institutions； through the laws it enacts and the violence which it
tolerates； has uprooted the aristocracy and cast it out of the
country。 The nobles； now the reverse of privileged； cannot remain
in a country where； while respecting the law； they are really beyond
its pale。 Those who first emigrated on the 15th of July； 1789；
along with the Prince de Condé； received at their houses the evening
before they left a list of the proscribed on which their names
appeared； and a reward was promised to whoever would bring their
heads to the cellar of the Palais…Royal Others； in larger
numbers； left after the occurrences of the 6th of October。
During the last months of the Constituent Assembly；＇35＇
〃the emigration goes on in companies composed of men of every
condition。 。 。。 Twelve hundred gentlemen have left Poitou alone；
Auvergne； Limousin； and ten other provinces have been equally
depopulated of their landowners。 There are towns in which nobody
remains but common。 workmen； a club； and the crowd of devouring
office…holders created by the Constitution。 All the nobles in
Brittany have left； and the emigration has begun in Normandy； and is
going on in the frontier provinces。
〃More than two…thirds of the army will be without officers。〃 On
being called upon to take the new oath in which the King's name is
purposely omitted； 〃six thousand officers send in their
resignation。〃
The example gradually becomes contagious； they are men of the sword；
and their honor is at stake。 Many of them join the princes at
Coblentz； and。 subsequently do battle against France in the belief
that they are contending only against their executioners。
The treatment of the nobles by the Assembly is the same as the
treatment of the Protestants by Louis XIV。＇36＇ In both cases the
oppressed are a superior class of men。 In both cases France has
been made uninhabitable for them。 In both cases they are reduced to
exile； and they are punished because they exiled them selves。 In
both cases it ended in a confiscation of their property； and in the
penalty of death to all who should harbor them。 In both cases； by
dint of persecution； they are driven to revolt。 The insurrection of
La Vendée corresponds with the insurrection of the Cévennes； and the
emigrants； like the refugees of former times； will be found under。
the flags of Prussia and of England。 One hundred thousand Frenchmen
driven out at the end of the seventeenth century； and one hundred
thousand driven out at the end of the eighteenth century！ Mark how
an intolerant democracy completes the work of an intolerant
monarchy。 The moral aristocracy was mowed down in the name of
uniformity； the social aristocracy is mowed down in the name of
equality。 For the second time； an absolute principle； and with the
same effect； buries its blade in the heart of a living society。
The success is complete。 One of the deputies of the Legislative
Assembly； early in its session； on being informed of the great
increase in emigration； joyfully exclaims；
〃SO MUCH THE BETTER； FRANCE IS BEING PURGED！〃
She is； in truth； being depleted of one…half of her best blood。
IV。
Abuse and lukewarmness in 1789 in the ecclesiastical bodies。 … How
the State used its right of overseeing and reforming them。 … Social
usefulness of corporations。… Th