[121] The Jacobins at Lyons plot the same thing (Guilion de Montléon, 248). Chalier says to the club: "We shall not fail to have 300 noted heads. Get hold of the members of the department, the presidents and secretaries of the sections, and let us make a bundle of them for the guillotine; we will wash our hands in their blood." Thereupon, on the night of May 28 the revolutionary municipality seize the arsenal and plant cannon on the H?tel-de-ville. The Lyons sections, however, more energetic than those of Paris, take, up arms and after a terrible fight they get possession of the H?tel-de-ville. The moral difference between the two parties is very marked in Gonchon's letters.
("Archives Nationales," AF, II. 43. letters of Gonchon to Garat, May 31, June 1 and 3.) "Keep up the courage of the Convention. It need not be afraid. The citizens of Lyons have covered themselves with glory.
They displayed the greatest courage in every fight that took place in various quarters of the town, and the greatest magnanimity to their enemies, who behaved most villainously." The municipal body had sent a flag of truce, pretending to negotiate, and then treacherously opened fire with its cannon on the columns of the sections, and cast the wounded into the river. The citizens of Lyons, so often slandered, will be the first to have set an example of true republican character.
Find me a similar instance, if you can, in the history of revolutions:
being victorious and yet not then to have shed a drop of blood!" They cared for the wounded, and raised a subscription for the widows and orphans of the dead, without distinction of party. Cf. Lauvergue, "Histoire du Var," 175. The same occurs at Toulon (insurrection of the moderates, July 12 and 13, 1793). -- At Toulon, as at Lyons, there was no murder after the victory; only regular trials and the execution of two or three assassins whose crimes were legally proved.
[122] Schmidt, I. 335. Report of Perrière, May 29.
[123] Bergoeing, "Pièces, etc.", p. 195. - Buchez et Roux, XXVII 296.
[124] The insurrection at Lyons took place on May 29. On the 2nd of June it is announced in the Convention that the insurgent army of Lozère, more than 30,000 strong, has taken Marvejols, and is about to take Mende (Buchez et Roux XXVII. 387).-- A threatening address from Bordeaux (May 14) and from thirty-two sections in Marseilles (May 25)against the Jacobins (Buchez et Roux, XXVII. 3. 214). - Cf. Robinet in "Le procès des Dantonistes, 303, 305.
[125] Mortimer-Ternaux, VII 38.
[126] Buchez et Roux, XXVII. 297, session of the Jacobins, May 29.
[127] Barrère, "Mémoires," II. 91, 94. As untruthful as Barrère is, here his testimony may be accepted. I see no reason why he should state what is not true; he was well informed, as he belonged to the Committee of Public Safety. His statements, besides, on the complicity d the Mountain and on the r?le of Danton are confirmed by the whole mass of facts. - Buchez et Roux, XXVIII. 200 (speech by Danton in the Convention, June 13). "Without the canon of the 31st of May, without the insurrection the conspirators would have triumphed; they would have given us the law. Let the crime of that insurrection be on our heads! That insurrection - I myself demanded it! . . . I demand a declaration by the Convention, that without the insurrection of May 31, liberty would be no more! "-- Ibid., 220. Speech by Leclerc at the Cordeliers club, June 27: "Was it not Legendre who rendered abortive our wise measures, so often taken, to exterminate our enemies? He and Danton it was, who, through their culpable resistance, reduced us to the moderation of the 31st of May, Legendre and Danton are the men who opposed the revolutionary steps which we had taken on those great days to crush out all the aristocrats in Paris!"[128] Schmidt, I. 244. Report by Dutard, May 18.
[129] Buchez et Roux, XXVII. 253 and following pages, session of May 27. - Mortimer-Ternaux, VII. 294. -- Buchez et Roux, XXVIII. 9("Précis rapide" by Gorsas).
[130] Buchez et Roux, XXVII. 258. Meillan, 43.
[131] Buchez et Roux, XXVII. 259 (words of Raffet).
[132] Meillan, 44. -- Buchez et Roux, XXVII. 267, 280.
[133] Meillan, 44. Placed opposite the president, within ten paces of him, with my eyes constantly fixed on him, because in the horrible din which disgraced the Assembly we could have no other compass to steer by, I can testify that I neither saw nor heard the decree put to vote."-- Buchez et Roux, XXVII. 278. Speech by Osselin, session of May 28: "I presented the decree as drawn up to the secretaries for their signatures this morning. One of them, after reading it, observed to me that the last article had not been decreed, but that the preceding articles had been." - Mortimer-Ternaux, VII. 562. Letter of the deputy Michel. May 29. "The guards were forced, and the sanctuary of the law invested from about four to ten hours, so that nobody could leave the hall even for the most urgent purposes.
[134] Mortimer-Ternaux, VII. 308. Extract from the official reports of the patriotic club of Butte-des-Moulins, May 30. "Considering that the majority of the section, known for incivism and its antirevolutionary spirit, would decline this election or would elect commissaries not enjoying the confidence of patriots," . . the patriotic club takes upon itself the duty of electing the two commissaries demanded.
[135] Durand-Maillan, 297. "Fragment," by Lanjuinais. "Seven strangers, seven outside agents, Desfieux, Proly, Pereyra, Dubuisson, Gusman, the two brothers Frey, etc., were set up by the commune as an insurrectionary committee." Most of them are vile fellows, as is the case with Varlet, Dobsen, Hassenfratz, Rousselin, Desfieux, Gusman, etc.