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that it may not be used again when occasion requires。 Each
municipal body； each company of the National Guard； wants to reign
on its own plot of ground out of the way of any foreign control； and
this is what is called liberty。 Its adversary； therefore； is the
central power。 This must be disarmed for fear that it may
interpose。 On all sides； with a sure and persistent instinct；
through the capture of fortresses； the pillage of arsenals； the
seduction of the soldiery； and the expulsion of generals； the
municipality ensures its omnipotence by guaranteeing itself
beforehand against all repression。
At Brest the municipal authorities insist that a naval officer shall
be surrendered to the people； and on the refusal of the King's
lieutenant to give him up； the permanent committee orders the
National Guard to load its guns。＇20＇ At Nantes the municipal body
refuses to recognize M。 d'Hervilly； sent to take command of a camp；
and the towns of the province write to declare that they will suffer
no other than the federated troops on their territory。 At Lille the
permanent committee insists that the military authorities shall
place the keys of the town in its keeping every evening； and； a few
months after this； the National Guard； joined by mutinous soldiers；
seize the citadel and the person of Livarot； its commander。 At
Toulon the commander of the arsenal； M。 de Rioms； and several naval
officers； are put in the dungeon。 At Montpellier the citadel is
surprised； and the club writes to the National Assembly to demand
its demolition。 At Valence； the commandant； M。 de Voisin； on
taking measures of defense； is massacred； and henceforth the
municipality issues all orders to the garrison。 At Bastia； Colonel
de Rully falls under a shower of bullets； and the National Guard
takes possession of the citadel and the powder magazine。 These are
not passing outbursts： at the end of two years the same
insubordinate spirit is apparent everywhere。＇21＇ In vain do the
commissioners of the National Assembly seek to transfer the Nassau
regiment from Metz。 Sedan refuses to receive it； while Thionville
declares that； if it comes； she will blow up the bridges； and
Sarrebuis threatens； if it approaches； that it will open fire on it。
At Caen neither the municipality nor the directory dares enforce the
law which assigns the castle to the troops of the line； the National
Guard refuses to leave it； and forbids the director of the artillery
to inspect the munitions。 … In this state of things a Government
subsists in name but not in fact； for it no longer possesses the
means of enforcing obedience。 Each commune arrogates to itself the
right of suspending or preventing the execution of the simplest and
most urgent orders。 Arnay…le…Duc； in spite of passports and legal
injunctions； persists in retaining Mesdames； Arcis…sur…Aube retains
Necker； and Montigny is about to retain M。 Caillard； Ambassador of
France。＇22＇ … In the month of June； 1791； a convoy of eighty
thousand crowns of six livres sets out from Paris for Switzerland；
this is a repayment by the French Government to that of Soleure； the
date of payment is fixed； the itinerary marked out； all the
necessary documents are provided； it is important that it should
arrive on the day when the bill falls due。 But they have counted
without the municipalities and the National Guards。 Arrested at
Bar…sur…Aube； it is only at the end of a month； and on a decree of
the National Assembly； that the convoy can resume。 its march。 At
Belfort it is seized again； and it still remains there in the month
of November。 In vain has the directory of the Bas…Rhin ordered its
release； the Belfort municipality paid no attention to the order。
In vain the same directory dispatches a commissioner； who is near
being cut to pieces。 The personal interference of General Luckner；
with the strong arm； is necessary； before the convoy can pass the
frontier； after five months of delay。＇23＇ In the month of July 1791；
a French vessel on the way from Rouen to Caudebec； said to be loaded
with kegs of gold and silver； is stopped。 On the examination being
made； it has a right to leave； its papers are all correct； and the
department enjoins the district to respect the law。 The district；
however； replies that it is impossible； since 〃all the
municipalities on the banks of the Seine have armed and are awaiting
the passing of the vessel；〃 and the National Assembly itself is
obliged to pass a decree that the vessel shall be discharged。
If the rebellion of the small communes is of this stamp； what must
be that of the larger ones？＇24＇ The departments and districts summon
the municipality in vain； it disobeys or pays no attention to the
summons。
〃Since the session began；〃 writes the directory of Sa？ne…et…Loire；
〃the municipality of Ma？on has taken no step in relation to us which
has not been an encroachment。 It has not uttered a word； which has
not been an insult。 It has not entered upon a deliberation which
has not been an outrage。〃
〃If the regiment of Aunis is not ordered here immediately；〃 writes
the directory of Calvados； 〃if prompt and efficient measures are not
taken to provide us with an armed force； we shall abandon a post
which we can not longer hold due to insubordination； license；
contempt for all the authorities。 We shall in this case be unable to
perform the duties which were imposed upon us。〃
The directory of the Bouches…du…Rhone； on being attacked； flies
before the bayonets of Marseilles。 The members of the directory of
Gers； in conflict with the municipality of Auch； are almost beaten
to death。 As to the ministers； who are distrusted by virtue of
their office； they are still less respected than the directories；
They are constantly denounced to the Assembly； while the
municipalities send back their dispatches without deigning to open
them；＇25＇ and； towards the end of 1791； their increasing
powerlessness ends in complete annihilation。 We can judge of this
by one example。 In the month of December 1791； Limoges is not
allowed to carry away the grain； which it had just purchased in
Indre； a force of sixty horsemen being necessary to protect its
transportation。 The directory of Indre at once calls upon the
ministers to furnish them with this small troop。＇26＇ After trying
for three weeks； the minister replies that it is out of his power；
he has knocked at all doors in vain。 〃I have pointed out one way；〃
he says； 〃to the deputies of your department in the National
Assembly； namely； to withdraw the 20th regiment of cavalry from
Orleans； and I have recommended them to broach the matter to the
deputies of Loiret。〃 The answer is still delayed： the deputies of
the two departments have to come to an agreement； for； otherwise；
the minister dares not displace sixty men to protect a convoy of
grain。 It is plain enough that there is no longer any executive
power。 There is no longer a central authority。