The Assembly, their organ, acts before them the farce of
deliberation with as little decency as liberty. They act like the
comedians of a fair before a riotous audience; they act amidst the
tumultuous cries of a mixed mob of ferocious men, and of women lost to
shame, who, according to their insolent fancies, direct, control,
applaud, explode them, and sometimes mix and take their seats
amongst them, domineering over them with a strange mixture of
servile petulance and proud, presumptuous authority. As they have
inverted order in all things, the gallery is in the place of the
house. This assembly, which overthrows kings and kingdoms, has not
even the physiognomy and aspect of a grave legislative body- nec color
imperii, nec frons ulla senatus. They have a power given to them, like
that of the evil principle, to subvert and destroy, but none to
construct, except such machines as may be fitted for further
subversion and further destruction.
WHO is it that admires, and from the heart is attached to,
national representative assemblies, but must turn with horror and
disgust from such a profane burlesque, and abominable perversion of
that sacred institute? Lovers of monarchy, lovers of republics must
alike abhor it. The members of your assembly must themselves groan
under the tyranny of which they have all the shame, none of the
direction, and little of the profit.
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