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the psychology of revolution-µÚ28ÕÂ

С˵£º the psychology of revolution ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ3500×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡




just¡¡as¡¡profound¡£¡¡¡¡Men¡¡destroyed¡¡their¡¡enemies£»¡¡not¡¡only¡¡because

they¡¡were¡¡shallow¡¡fanatics£»¡¡but¡¡because¡¡they¡¡were¡¡convinced¡¡that

their¡¡own¡¡existence¡¡was¡¡threatened¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡judges¡¡of¡¡the

revolutionary¡¡Tribunals¡¡trembled¡¡no¡¡less¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡would¡¡have

willingly¡¡acquitted¡¡Danton£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡widow¡¡of¡¡Camille

Desmoulins£»¡¡and¡¡many¡¡others¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡dared¡¡not¡£



But¡¡it¡¡was¡¡above¡¡all¡¡when¡¡Robespierre¡¡became¡¡the¡¡sole¡¡master¡¡that

the¡¡phantom¡¡of¡¡fear¡¡oppressed¡¡the¡¡Assembly¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡has¡¡truly¡¡been

said¡¡that¡¡a¡¡glance¡¡from¡¡the¡¡master¡¡made¡¡his¡¡colleagues¡¡shrink

with¡¡fear¡£¡¡¡¡On¡¡their¡¡faces¡¡one¡¡read¡¡¡®¡®the¡¡pallor¡¡of¡¡fear¡¡and¡¡the

abandon¡¡of¡¡despair¡£''



All¡¡feared¡¡Robespierre¡¡and¡¡Robespierre¡¡feared¡¡all¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was

because¡¡he¡¡feared¡¡conspiracies¡¡against¡¡him¡¡that¡¡he¡¡cut¡¡off¡¡men's

heads£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡also¡¡through¡¡fear¡¡that¡¡others¡¡allowed¡¡him¡¡to¡¡do

so¡£



The¡¡memoirs¡¡of¡¡members¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Convention¡¡show¡¡plainly¡¡what¡¡a

horrible¡¡memory¡¡they¡¡retained¡¡of¡¡this¡¡gloomy¡¡period¡£¡¡¡¡Questioned

twenty¡¡years¡¡later£»¡¡says¡¡Taine£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡true¡¡aim¡¡and¡¡the¡¡intimate

thoughts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Committee¡¡of¡¡Public¡¡Safety£»¡¡Barrere¡¡replied£º



¡®¡®We¡¡had¡¡only¡¡one¡¡feeling£»¡¡that¡¡of¡¡self¡­preservation£»¡¡only¡¡one

desire£»¡¡that¡¡of¡¡preserving¡¡our¡¡lives£»¡¡which¡¡each¡¡of¡¡us¡¡believed

to¡¡be¡¡threatened¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡had¡¡your¡¡neighbour's¡¡head¡¡cut¡¡off¡¡so¡¡that

your¡¡neighbour¡¡should¡¡not¡¡have¡¡you¡¡yourself¡¡guillotined¡£''



The¡¡history¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Convention¡¡constitutes¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡most

striking¡¡examples¡¡that¡¡could¡¡be¡¡given¡¡of¡¡the¡¡influence¡¡of¡¡leaders

and¡¡of¡¡fear¡¡upon¡¡an¡¡assembly¡£







CHAPTER¡¡IV



THE¡¡GOVERNMENT¡¡OF¡¡THE¡¡CONVENTION



1¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡activity¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Clubs¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Commune¡¡during¡¡the

Convention¡£



During¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡of¡¡its¡¡existence¡¡the¡¡Convention¡¡was¡¡governed¡¡by

the¡¡leaders¡¡of¡¡the¡¡clubs¡¡and¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Commune¡£



We¡¡have¡¡already¡¡seen¡¡what¡¡was¡¡their¡¡influence¡¡on¡¡the¡¡preceding

Assemblies¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡became¡¡overwhelming¡¡during¡¡the¡¡Convention¡£¡¡¡¡The

history¡¡of¡¡this¡¡latter¡¡is¡¡in¡¡reality¡¡that¡¡of¡¡the¡¡clubs¡¡and¡¡the

Commune¡¡which¡¡dominated¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡enslaved£»¡¡not¡¡only¡¡the

Convention£»¡¡but¡¡also¡¡all¡¡France¡£¡¡¡¡Numerous¡¡little¡¡provincial

clubs£»¡¡directed¡¡by¡¡that¡¡of¡¡the¡¡capital£»¡¡supervised¡¡magistrates£»

denounced¡¡suspects£»¡¡and¡¡undertook¡¡the¡¡execution¡¡of¡¡all¡¡the

revolutionary¡¡orders¡£



When¡¡the¡¡clubs¡¡or¡¡the¡¡Commune¡¡had¡¡decided¡¡upon¡¡certain¡¡measures

they¡¡had¡¡them¡¡voted¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Assembly¡¡then¡¡and¡¡there¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡the

Assembly¡¡resisted£»¡¡they¡¡sent¡¡their¡¡armed¡¡delegations¡¡thither

that¡¡is£»¡¡armed¡¡bands¡¡recruited¡¡from¡¡the¡¡scum¡¡of¡¡the¡¡populace¡£¡¡

They¡¡conveyed¡¡injunctions¡¡which¡¡were¡¡always¡¡slavishly¡¡obeyed¡£¡¡

The¡¡Commune¡¡was¡¡so¡¡sure¡¡of¡¡its¡¡strength¡¡that¡¡it¡¡even¡¡demanded¡¡of

the¡¡Convention¡¡the¡¡immediate¡¡expulsion¡¡of¡¡deputies¡¡who¡¡displeased

it¡£



While¡¡the¡¡Convention¡¡was¡¡composed¡¡generally¡¡of¡¡educated

men£»¡¡the¡¡members¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Commune¡¡and¡¡the¡¡clubs¡¡comprised¡¡a

majority¡¡of¡¡small¡¡shopkeepers£»¡¡labourers£»¡¡and¡¡artisans£»¡¡incapable

of¡¡personal¡¡opinions£»¡¡and¡¡always¡¡guided¡¡by¡¡their¡¡leadersDanton£»

Camille¡¡Desmoulins£»¡¡Robespierre£»¡¡&c¡£



Of¡¡the¡¡two¡¡powers£»¡¡clubs¡¡and¡¡insurrectionary¡¡Commune£»¡¡the¡¡latter

exercised¡¡the¡¡greater¡¡influence¡¡in¡¡Paris£»¡¡because¡¡it¡¡had¡¡made¡¡for

itself¡¡a¡¡revolutionary¡¡army¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡held¡¡under¡¡its¡¡orders¡¡forty¡­

eight¡¡committees¡¡of¡¡National¡¡Guards£»¡¡who¡¡asked¡¡nothing¡¡more¡¡than

to¡¡kill£»¡¡sack£»¡¡and£»¡¡above¡¡all£»¡¡plunder¡£



The¡¡tyranny¡¡with¡¡which¡¡the¡¡Commune¡¡crushed¡¡Paris¡¡was¡¡frightful¡£¡¡

For¡¡example£»¡¡it¡¡delegated¡¡to¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡cobbler£»¡¡Chalandon¡¡by

name£»¡¡the¡¡right¡¡of¡¡surveillance¡¡over¡¡a¡¡portion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡capitala

right¡¡implying¡¡the¡¡power¡¡to¡¡send¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Revolutionary¡¡Tribunal£»

and¡¡therefore¡¡to¡¡the¡¡guillotine£»¡¡all¡¡those¡¡whom¡¡he¡¡suspected¡£¡¡

Certain¡¡streets¡¡were¡¡thus¡¡almost¡¡depopulated¡¡by¡¡him¡£



The¡¡Convention¡¡struggled¡¡feebly¡¡against¡¡the¡¡Commune¡¡at¡¡the

outset£»¡¡but¡¡did¡¡not¡¡prolong¡¡its¡¡resistance¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡culminating

point¡¡of¡¡the¡¡conflict¡¡occurred¡¡when¡¡the¡¡Convention¡¡wished¡¡to

arrest¡¡Hebert£»¡¡the¡¡friend¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Commune£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡sent

armed¡¡bands¡¡who¡¡threatened¡¡the¡¡Assembly¡¡and¡¡demanded¡¡the

expulsion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Girondists¡¡who¡¡had¡¡provoked¡¡the¡¡measure¡£¡¡¡¡Upon

the¡¡Convention¡¡refusing¡¡the¡¡Commune¡¡besieged¡¡it¡¡on¡¡June¡¡2£»¡¡1798£»

by¡¡means¡¡of¡¡its¡¡revolutionary¡¡army£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡under¡¡the¡¡orders¡¡of

Hanriot¡£¡¡¡¡Terrified£»¡¡the¡¡Assembly¡¡gave¡¡up¡¡twenty¡­seven¡¡of¡¡its

members¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Commune¡¡immediately¡¡sent¡¡a¡¡delegation¡¡ironically¡¡to

felicitate¡¡it¡¡upon¡¡its¡¡obedience¡£



After¡¡the¡¡fall¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Girondists¡¡the¡¡Convention¡¡submitted¡¡itself

completely¡¡to¡¡the¡¡injunctions¡¡of¡¡the¡¡omnipotent¡¡Commune¡£¡¡¡¡The

latter¡¡decreed¡¡the¡¡levy¡¡of¡¡a¡¡revolutionary¡¡army£»¡¡to¡¡be

accompanied¡¡by¡¡a¡¡tribunal¡¡and¡¡a¡¡guillotine£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡to¡¡traverse

the¡¡whole¡¡of¡¡France¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to¡¡execute¡¡suspects¡£



Only¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡its¡¡existence£»¡¡after¡¡the¡¡fall¡¡of

Robespierre£»¡¡did¡¡the¡¡Convention¡¡contrive¡¡to¡¡escape¡¡from¡¡the¡¡yoke

of¡¡the¡¡Jacobins¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Commune¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡closed¡¡the¡¡Jacobin¡¡club¡¡and

guillotined¡¡its¡¡leading¡¡members¡£



Despite¡¡such¡¡sanctions¡¡the¡¡leaders¡¡still¡¡continued¡¡to¡¡excite¡¡the

populace¡¡and¡¡hurl¡¡it¡¡against¡¡the¡¡Convention¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡Germinal¡¡and

Prairial¡¡it¡¡underwent¡¡regular¡¡sieges¡£¡¡¡¡Armed¡¡delegations¡¡even

succeeded¡¡in¡¡forcing¡¡the¡¡Convention¡¡to¡¡vote¡¡the¡¡re¡­establishment

of¡¡the¡¡Commune¡¡and¡¡the¡¡convocation¡¡of¡¡a¡¡new¡¡Assembly£»¡¡a¡¡measure

which¡¡the¡¡Convention¡¡hastened¡¡to¡¡annul¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡the¡¡insurgents

had¡¡withdrawn¡£¡¡¡¡Ashamed¡¡of¡¡its¡¡fear£»¡¡it¡¡sent¡¡for¡¡regiments¡¡which

disarmed¡¡the¡¡faubourgs¡¡and¡¡made¡¡nearly¡¡ten¡¡thousand¡¡arrests¡£¡¡

Twenty¡­six¡¡leaders¡¡of¡¡the¡¡movement¡¡were¡¡put¡¡to¡¡death£»¡¡and¡¡six

deputies¡¡who¡¡were¡¡concerned¡¡in¡¡the¡¡riot¡¡were¡¡guillotined¡£



But¡¡the¡¡Convention¡¡did¡¡not¡¡resist¡¡to¡¡any¡¡purpose¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡it¡¡was¡¡no

longer¡¡led¡¡by¡¡the¡¡clubs¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Commune¡¡it¡¡obeyed¡¡the¡¡Committee

of¡¡Public¡¡Safety¡¡and¡¡voted¡¡its¡¡decrees¡¡without¡¡discussion¡£



¡®¡®The¡¡Convention£»''¡¡writes¡¡H¡£¡¡¡¡Williams£»¡¡¡®¡®which¡¡spoke¡¡of¡¡nothing

less¡¡than¡¡having¡¡all¡¡the¡¡princes¡¡and¡¡kings¡¡of¡¡Europe¡¡brought¡¡to

its¡¡feet¡¡loaded¡¡with¡¡chains£»¡¡was¡¡made¡¡prisoner¡¡in¡¡its¡¡own

sanctuary¡¡by¡¡a¡¡handful¡¡of¡¡mercenaries¡£''





2¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Government¡¡of¡¡France¡¡during¡¡the¡¡ConventionThe¡¡Terror¡£





As¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡it¡¡assembled¡¡in¡¡1792¡¡the¡¡Convention¡¡began¡¡by¡¡decreeing

the¡¡abolition¡¡of¡¡royalty£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hesitation¡¡of¡¡a

great¡¡number¡¡of¡¡its¡¡members£»¡¡who¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡the¡¡provinces¡¡were

royalist£»¡¡it¡¡proclaimed¡¡the¡¡Republic¡£



Intimately¡¡persuaded¡¡that¡¡such¡¡a¡¡proclamation¡¡would¡¡transform¡¡the

civilised¡¡world£»¡¡it¡¡instituted¡¡a¡¡new¡¡era¡¡and¡¡a¡¡new¡¡calendar¡£¡¡¡¡The

year¡¡I¡£¡¡of¡¡this¡¡era¡¡marked¡¡the¡¡dawn¡¡of¡¡a¡¡world¡¡in¡¡which¡¡reason

alone¡¡was¡¡to¡¡reign¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡inaugurated¡¡by¡¡the¡¡trial¡¡of¡¡Louis

XVI¡££»¡¡a¡¡measure¡¡which¡¡was¡¡ordered¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Commune£»¡¡but¡¡which¡¡the

majority¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Convention¡¡did¡¡not¡¡desire¡£



At¡¡its¡¡outset£»¡¡in¡¡fact£»¡¡the¡¡Convention¡¡was¡¡governed¡¡by¡¡its

relatively¡¡moderate¡¡elements£»¡¡the¡¡Girondists¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡president¡¡and

the¡¡secretaries¡¡had¡¡been¡¡chosen¡¡among¡¡the¡¡best¡¡known¡¡of¡¡this

party¡£¡¡¡¡Robespierre£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡later¡¡to¡¡become¡¡the¡¡absolute¡¡master

of¡¡the¡¡Convention£»¡¡possessed¡¡so¡¡little¡¡influence¡¡at¡¡this¡¡time

that¡¡he¡¡obtained¡¡only¡¡six¡¡votes¡¡for¡¡the¡¡presidency£»¡¡while

Petion¡¡received¡¡two¡¡hundred¡¡and¡¡thirty¡­five¡£



The¡¡Montagnards¡¡had¡¡at¡¡first¡¡only¡¡a¡¡very¡¡slight¡¡influence¡£¡¡¡¡Their

power¡¡was¡¡of¡¡later¡¡growth¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡they¡¡were¡¡in¡¡power¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no

longer¡¡room¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Convention¡¡for¡¡moderate¡¡members¡£



Despite¡¡their¡¡minority¡¡the¡¡Montagnards¡¡found¡¡a¡¡way¡¡to¡¡force¡¡the

Assembly¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡Louis¡¡to¡¡trial¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡was¡¡at¡¡once¡¡a¡¡victory

over¡¡the¡¡Girondists£»¡¡the¡¡condemnation¡¡of¡¡all¡¡kings£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡final

divorce¡¡between¡¡the¡¡old¡¡order¡¡and¡¡the¡¡new¡£



To¡¡bring¡¡about¡¡the¡¡trial¡¡they¡¡manoeuvred¡¡very¡¡skilfully£»

bombarding¡¡the¡¡Convention¡¡with¡¡petitions¡¡from¡¡the¡¡provinces£»¡¡and

sending¡¡a¡¡deputation¡¡from¡¡the¡¡insurrectional¡¡Commune¡¡of¡¡Paris£»

which¡¡demanded¡¡a¡¡trial¡£



According¡¡to¡¡a¡¡characteristic¡¡common¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Assemblies¡¡of¡¡the

Revolution£»¡¡that¡¡of¡¡yielding¡¡to¡¡threats¡¡and¡¡always¡¡doing¡¡the

contrary¡¡of¡¡what¡¡they¡¡wished£»¡¡the¡¡men¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Convention¡¡dared¡¡not

resist¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡trial¡¡was¡¡decided¡¡upon¡£



The¡¡Girondists£»¡¡who¡¡individually¡¡would¡¡not¡¡have¡¡wished¡¡for¡¡the

death¡¡of¡¡the¡¡king£»¡¡voted¡¡for¡¡it¡¡out¡¡of¡¡fear¡¡once¡¡they¡¡were

assembled¡£¡¡¡¡Hoping¡¡to¡¡save¡¡his¡¡own¡¡head£»¡¡the¡¡Duc¡¡d'Orleans£»

Louis'¡¡cousin£»¡¡voted¡¡with¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡If£»¡¡on¡¡mounting¡¡the¡¡scaffold¡¡on

January¡¡21£»¡¡1793£»¡¡Louis¡¡had¡¡had¡¡that¡¡vision¡¡of¡¡the¡¡future¡¡which

we¡¡attribute¡¡to¡¡the¡¡gods£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡have¡¡seen¡¡following¡¡him£»¡¡one

by¡¡one£»¡¡the¡¡greater¡¡number¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Girondists¡¡whose¡¡weakness¡¡had

been¡¡unable¡¡to¡¡defend¡¡him¡£



Regarded¡¡only¡¡from¡¡the¡¡purely¡¡utilitarian¡¡point¡¡of¡¡view£»¡¡the

execution¡¡of¡¡the¡¡king¡¡was¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mistakes¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Revolution¡£¡¡

It¡¡engendered¡¡civil¡¡war¡¡and¡¡armed¡¡Europe¡¡against¡¡France¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡the

Convention¡¡itself¡¡his¡¡death¡¡gave¡¡rise¡¡to¡¡intestine¡¡struggles£»

which¡¡finally¡¡led¡¡to¡¡the¡¡triumph¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Montagnards¡¡and¡¡the

expulsion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Girondists¡£



The¡¡measures¡¡passed¡¡under¡¡the¡¡influence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Montagnards

finally¡¡became¡¡so¡¡despotic¡¡that¡¡sixty¡¡departments£»¡¡comprising¡¡the

West¡¡and¡¡the¡¡South£»¡¡revolted¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡insurrection£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡headed

by¡¡many¡¡of¡¡the¡¡expelled¡¡deputies£»¡¡would¡¡perhaps¡¡have¡¡succeeded

had¡¡not¡¡the¡¡compromising¡¡assistance¡¡of¡¡the¡¡royalists¡¡caused¡¡men

to¡¡fear¡¡the¡¡return¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ancien¡¡regime¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡Toulon£»¡¡in¡¡fact£»¡¡the

insurgents¡¡acclaimed¡¡Louis¡¡XVII¡£



The¡¡civil¡¡war¡¡thus¡¡begun¡¡lasted¡¡during¡¡the¡¡greater¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the

life¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Revolution¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡fought¡¡with¡¡the¡¡utmost¡¡savagery¡£¡¡

Old¡¡men£»¡¡women£»¡¡children£»¡¡all¡¡were¡¡massacred£»¡¡and¡¡villages¡¡and

crops¡¡were¡¡burned¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡Vendee¡¡alone¡¡the¡¡number¡¡of¡¡the¡¡killed

was¡¡reckoned¡¡at¡¡something¡¡between¡¡half¡¡a¡¡million¡¡and¡¡a¡¡million¡£



Civil¡¡war¡¡was¡¡soon¡¡followed¡¡by¡¡foreign¡¡war¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Jacobins¡¡thought

to¡¡remedy¡¡all¡¡these¡¡ills¡¡by¡¡creating¡¡a¡¡new¡¡Constitution¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was

always¡¡a¡¡tradition¡¡with¡¡all¡¡the¡¡revolutionary¡¡assemblies¡¡to

believe¡¡in¡¡the¡¡magic¡¡virtues¡¡of¡¡formula¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡France¡¡this

conviction¡¡has¡¡never¡¡been¡¡affected¡¡by¡¡the¡¡failure¡¡of¡¡experiments¡£



¡®¡®A¡¡robust¡¡faith£»''¡¡writes¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡great¡¡admirers¡¡of¡¡the

Revolution£»¡¡M¡£¡¡Rambaud£»¡¡¡®¡®sustained¡¡the¡¡Convention¡¡in¡¡this

labour£»¡¡it¡¡believed¡¡firmly¡¡that¡¡when¡¡it¡¡had¡¡formulated¡¡in¡¡a¡¡law

the¡¡principles¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Revolution¡¡its¡¡enemies¡¡would¡¡be¡¡confounded£»

or£»¡¡still¡¡better£»¡¡converted£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡the¡¡advent¡¡of¡¡justice¡¡would

disarm¡¡the¡¡insurgents¡£''



During¡¡its¡¡lifetime¡¡the¡¡Convention¡¡drafted¡¡two¡¡Constitutions

that¡¡of¡¡1793£»¡¡or¡¡the¡¡year¡¡I¡££»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡of¡¡1795£»¡¡or¡¡the¡¡year¡¡III¡£¡¡

The¡¡first¡¡was¡¡never¡¡applied£»¡¡an¡¡absolute¡¡dictatorship¡¡very¡¡soon

replacing¡¡it£»¡¡the¡¡second¡¡created¡¡the¡¡Directory¡£



The¡¡Convention¡¡contained¡¡a¡¡large¡¡number¡¡of¡¡lawyers¡¡and¡¡men¡¡of

affairs£»¡¡who¡¡promptly¡¡comprehended¡¡the¡¡impossibility¡¡of

government¡¡by¡¡means¡¡of¡¡a¡¡large¡¡Assembly¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡soon¡¡divided¡¡the

Convention¡¡into¡¡small¡¡committees£»¡¡each¡¡of¡¡which¡¡had¡¡an

independent¡¡existencebusiness¡¡committees£»¡¡committees¡¡of

legislation£»¡¡finance£»¡¡agriculture£»¡¡arts£»¡¡&c¡£¡¡¡¡These¡¡committees

prepared¡¡the¡¡laws¡¡which¡¡the¡¡Assembly¡¡usually¡¡voted¡¡with¡¡its¡¡eyes

closed¡£



Thanks¡¡to¡¡them£»¡¡the¡¡work¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Convention¡¡was¡¡not¡¡purely

destructive¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡drafted¡¡many¡¡ve

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