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amount of three hundred and twenty…one millions； the household
charges of the King； Queen； and princes； fifty…two millions；
military services and encumbrances； thirty…five millions； enfeoffed
tithes； one hundred millions； and so on。＇60＇ 〃In the month of May；
1789；〃 says Necker； 〃the re…establishment of order in the finances
were mere child's…play。〃 At the end of a year； by dint of involving
itself in debt； by increasing its expenses； and by abolishing or
abandoning its income； the State lives now on the paper…currency it
issues； eats up its capital； and rapidly marches onward to
bankruptcy。 Never was such a vast inheritance so quickly reduced to
nothing； and to less than nothing。
Meanwhile； we can demonstrate； from the first few months； what use
the administrators will be able to make of it； and the manner in
which they will endow the service to which it binds them。 No
portion of this confiscated property is reserved for the maintenance
of public worship； or to keep up the hospitals； asylums； and
schools。 Not only do all obligations and all productive real
property find their way into the great national crucible to be
converted into assignats＇61＇； but a number of special buildings； all
monastic real estate and a portion of the ecclesiastical real
estate； diverted from its natural course； becomes swallowed up in
the same gulf。 At Besan？on；＇62＇ three churches out of eight； with
their land and treasure； the funds of the chapter； all the money of
the monastic churches； the sacred vessels； shrines； crosses；
reliquaries； votive offerings； ivories； statues； pictures； tapestry；
sacerdotal dresses and ornaments； plate； jewels and precious
furniture； libraries； railings； bells； masterpieces of art and of
piety； all are broken up and melted in the Mint； or sold by auction
for almost nothing。 This is the way in which the intentions of the
founders and donors are carried out。 How are so many
communities； which are deprived of their rentals； to support their
schools； hospices； and asylums？ Even after the decree＇63＇ which；
exceptionally and provisionally； orders the whole of their revenue
to be accounted for to them； will it be paid over now that it is
collected by a local administration whose coffers are always empty；
and whose intentions are almost always hostile？ Every establishment
for benevolent and educational purposes is evidently sinking； now
that the special streams which nourished them run into and are lost
in the dry bed of the public treasury。＇64＇ Already； in 1790； there
are no funds with which to pay the monks and nuns their small
pensions for their maintenance。 In Franche…Comté the Capuchins of
Baume have no bread； and； to live； they are obliged to re…sell； with
the consent of the district； a portion of the stores of their
monastery which had been confiscated。 The Ursuline nuns of Ornans
live on the means furnished them by private individuals in order to
keep up the only school which the town possesses。 The Bernardine
nuns of Pontarlier are reduced to the lowest stage of want： 〃We are
satisfied；〃 the district reports； 〃that they have nothing to put
into their mouths。 We have to contribute something every day
amongst ourselves to keep them from starving。〃＇65＇ Only too
thankful are they when the local administration gives them something
to eat； or allows others to give them something。 In many places it
strives to famish them； or takes delight in annoying them。 In
March； 1791； the department of Doubs； in spite of the entreaties of
the district； reduces the pension of the Visitant nuns to one
hundred and one livres for the choristers； and fifty for the lay…
sisters。 Two months before this； the municipality of Besan？on；
putting its own interpretation on the decree which allowed nuns to
dress as they pleased； enjoins them all； including even the sisters
of charity； to abandon their old costume； which few among them had
the means of replacing。 Helplessness； indifference； or
malevolence； such are the various dispositions which are encountered
among the new authorities whose duty it is to support and protect
them。 To let loose persecution there is now only needed a decree
which puts the civil power in conflict with religious convictions。
That decree is promulgated； and； on the 12th of July； 1790； the
Assembly establishes the civil constitution of the clergy。
Notwithstanding the confiscation of ecclesiastical property； and the
dispersion of the monastic communities； the main body of the
ecclesiastical corps remains intact： seventy thousand priests ranged
under the bishops； with the Pope in the center as the commander…in…
chief。 There is no corporation more solid； more incompatible； or
more attacked。 For； against it are opposed implacable hatreds and
fixed opinions： the Gallicanism of the jurists who； from St。 Louis
downwards； are the adversaries of ecclesiastical power； the doctrine
of the Jansenists who； since Louis XIII。； desire to bring back the
Church to its primitive form； and the theory of the philosophers
who； for sixty years； have considered Christianity as a mistake and
Catholicism as a scourge。 At the very least the institution of a
clergy in Catholicism is condemned； and they think that they are
moderate if they respect the rest。
〃WE MIGHT CHANGE THE RELIGION；〃
say the deputies in the tribune。＇66＇ Now； the decree affects
neither dogma nor worship； it is confined to a revision of matters
of discipline； and on this particular domain which is claimed for
the civil power； it is pretended that demolition and re…construction
may be effected at discretion without the concurrence of the
ecclesiastical power。
Here there is an abuse of power； for an ecclesiastical as well as
civil society has the right to choose its own form； its own
hierarchy； its own government。 … On this point； every argument that
can be advanced in favor of the former can be repeated in favor of
the latter； and the moment one becomes legitimate the other becomes
legitimate also。 The justification for a civil or of a religious
community or society may be the performance of a long series of
services which； for centuries； it has rendered to its members； the
zeal and success with which it discharges its functions； the
feelings of gratitude they entertain for it； the importance they
attribute to its offices； the need they have of it； and their
attachment to it； the conviction imprinted in their minds that
without it they would be deprived of a benefit upon which they set
more store than upon any other。 This benefit； in a civil society；
is the security of persons and property。 In the religious society
it is the eternal salvation of the soul。 iii In all other
particulars the resemblance is complete； and the titles of the
Church are as good as those of the State。 Hence； if it be just for
one to be sovereign and free on its own domain； it is just for the
other to be equally sovereign and free； If the Church