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the Church； this is not doubtful。 〃 Corporate bodies exist only
through society； and； in destroying them； society merely takes back
the life she has imparted to them。〃 〃They are simply instruments
fabricated by the law。＇53＇ What does the workman do when the tool
he works with no longer suits him？ He breaks or alters it。〃 This
primary sophism being admitted the conclusion is plain。 Since
corporate bodies are abolished they no longer exist； and since they
no longer exist； they cannot again become proprietors。
〃Your aim was to destroy ecclesiastical orders；＇54＇ because their
destruction was essential to the safety of the State。 If the clergy
preserve their property； the clerical order is not destroyed： you
necessarily leave it the right of assembling； you sanction its
independence。〃 In no case must ecclesiastics hold possessions。 〃If
they are proprietors they are independent； and if they are
independent they will associate this independence with the exercise
of their functions。〃 The clergy； cost what it will； must be in the
hands of the State； as simple functionaries and supported by its
subsidies。 It would be too dangerous for a nation ；〃to admit in its
bosom as proprietors a large body of men to whom so many sources of
credit already give so great power。 As religion is the property of
all； its ministers； through this fact alone； should be in the pay of
the nation；〃 they are essentially 〃officers of morality and
instruction；〃 and 〃salaried〃 like judges and professors。 Let us
fetch them back to this condition of things； which is the only one
compatible with the rights of man； and ordain that 〃 the clergy； as
well as all corporations and bodies with power of inheritance； are
now； and shall be for ever incapable of holding any personal or
landed estate。〃＇55＇
Who； now； is the legitimate heir of all these vacated possessions？
Through another sophism； the State； at once judge and party in the
cause； assigns them to the State：
〃The founders presented them to the Church； that is to say； to the
nation。〃＇56＇ 〃Since the nation has permitted their possession by the
clergy； she may re…demand that which is possessed only through her
authorization。〃 〃The principle must be maintained that every nation
is solely and veritably proprietor of the possessions of its
clergy。〃
This principle； it must be noted； as it is laid down； involves the
destruction of ecclesiastical and lay corporations； along with the
confiscation of all their possessions； and soon we shall see
appearing on the horizon the final and complete decree＇57＇ by which
the Legislative Assembly；
〃considering that a State truly free should not suffer any
corporation within its bosom； not even those which； devoted to
public instruction； deserve well of the country；〃 not even those
〃which are solely devoted to the service of the hospitals…and the
relief of the sick；〃
suppresses all congregations； all associations of men or of women；
lay or ecclesiastical； all endowments for pious； charitable； and
missionary purposes； all houses of education； all seminaries and
colleges； and those of the Sorbonne and Navarre。 Add to these the
last sweep of the broom： under the Legislative Assembly the division
of all communal property； except woods： under the Convention； the
abolition of all literary societies； academies of science and of
literature； the confiscation of all their property； their libraries；
museums； and botanical gardens； the confiscation of all communal
possessions not previously divided； and the confiscation of all the
property of hospitals and other philanthropic establishments。＇58＇
The abstract principle； proclaimed by the Constituent Assembly；
reveals； by degrees； its exterminating virtues。 France now； owing
to it； contains nothing but dispersed； powerless； ephemeral
individuals； and confronting them； the State； the sole； the only
permanent body that has devoured all the others； a veritable
Colossus； alone erect in the midst of these insignificant dwarfs。
Substituted for the others； it is henceforth to perform their
duties； and spend the money well which they have expended badly。
In the first place； it abolishes tithes； not gradually and by means
of a process of redemption； as in England； but at one stroke； and
with no indemnity； on the ground that the tax； being an abusive；
illegitimate impost； a private tax levied by individuals in cowl and
cassock on others in smock frocks； is a vexatious usurpation； and
resembles the feudal dues。 It is a radical operation； and in
conformity with principle。 Unfortunately； the puerility of the
thing is so gross as to defeat its own object。 In effect； since the
days of Charlemagne； all the estates in the country which have been
sold and resold over and over again have always paid tithes； and
have never been purchased except with this charge upon them； which
amounts to about one…seventh of the net revenue of the country。
Take off this tax and one…seventh is added to the income of the
proprietor； and； consequently； a seventh to his capital。 A present
is made to him of one hundred francs if his land is worth seven
hundred…francs； and of one thousand if it is worth seven thousand；
of ten thousand if it is worth seventy thousand； and of one hundred
thousand if it is worth seven hundred thousand。 Some people gain
six hundred thousand francs by this act； and thirty thousand francs
in Income。＇59＇ Through this gratuitous and unexpected gift； one
hundred and twenty…three millions of revenue； and two milliards and
a half of capital； is divided among the holders of real estate in
France； and in a manner so ingenious that the rich receive the most。
Such is the effect of abstract principles。 To afford a relief of
thirty millions a year to the peasants in wooden shoes； an assembly
of democrats adds thirty millions a year to the revenue of wealthy
bourgeois and thirty millions a year to opulent nobles。 The first
part of this operation moreover； is but another burden to the State；
for； in taking off the load from the holders of real property； it
has encumbered itself； the State henceforth； without pocketing a
penny； being obliged to defray the expenses of worship in their
place。 … As to the second part of the operation； which consists in
the confiscation of four milliards of real estate； it proves； after
all； to be ruinous； although promising to be lucrative。 It makes
the same impression on our statesmen that the inheritance of a great
estate makes on a needy and fanciful upstart。 Regarding it as a
bottomless well of gold； he draws upon it without stint and strives
to realize all his fancies； as he can afford to pay for it all； he
is free to smash it all。 It is thus that the Assembly suppresses
and compensates magisterial offices to the amount of four hundred
and fifty millions； financial securities and obligations to the
amount of three hundred and twenty…one millions； the household
charges of t