And perhaps it may be owing to the greatness of
revenues and to the urgency of state necessities that old abuses in
the constitution of finances are discovered and their true nature
and rational theory comes to be more perfectly understood: insomuch,
that a smaller revenue might have been more distressing in one
period than a far greater is found to be in another, the proportionate
wealth even remaining the same. In this state of things, the French
Assembly found something in their revenues to preserve, to secure, and
wisely to administer, as well as to abrogate and alter. Though their
proud assumption might justify the severest tests, yet in trying their
abilities on their financial proceedings, I would only consider what
is the plain obvious duty of a common finance minister, and try them
upon that, and not upon models of ideal perfection.
The objects of a financier are, then, to secure an ample
revenue, to impose it with judgment and equality, to employ it
economically, and when necessity obliges him to make use of credit, to
secure its foundations in that instance, and forever, by the clearness
and candor of his proceedings, the exactness of his calculations and
the solidity of his funds. On these heads we may take a short and
distinct view of the merits and abilities of those in the National
Assembly who have taken to themselves the management of this arduous
concern.
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