OnthegroundofPrincipleitwascontendedthatGovernmenthadnotarighttoalteritself,andthatifthepracticewasonceadmitteditwouldgrowintoaprincipleandbemadeaprecedentforanyfuturealterationstheGovernmentmightwishtoestablish:thattherightofalteringtheGovernmentwasanationalright,andnotarightofGovernment。AndonthegroundofformitwascontendedthattheCourPlenierewasnothingmorethanalargerCabinet。
ThethenDukedelaRochefoucault,Luxembourg,DeNoailles,andmanyothers,refusedtoacceptthenomination,andstrenuouslyopposedthewholeplan。WhentheedictforestablishingthisnewcourtwassenttotheParliamentstobeunregisteredandputintoexecution,theyresistedalso。TheParliamentofParisnotonlyrefused,butdeniedtheauthority;andthecontestreneweditselfbetweentheParliamentandtheCabinetmorestronglythanever。
WhiletheParliamentweresittingindebateonthissubject,theMinistryorderedaregimentofsoldierstosurroundtheHouseandformablockade。
Thememberssentoutforbedsandprovisions,andlivedasinabesiegedcitadel:andasthishadnoeffect,thecommandingofficerwasorderedtoentertheParliamentHouseandseizethem,whichhedid,andsomeoftheprincipalmemberswereshutupindifferentprisons。AboutthesametimeadeputationofpersonsarrivedfromtheprovinceofBrittanytoremonstrateagainsttheestablishmentoftheCourPleniere,andthosethearchbishopsenttotheBastille。Butthespiritofthenationwasnottobeovercome,anditwassofullysensibleofthestronggroundithadtaken—thatofwithholdingtaxes—thatitcontenteditselfwithkeepingupasortofquietresistance,whicheffectuallyoverthrewalltheplansatthattimeformedagainstit。TheprojectoftheCourPlenierewasatlastobligedtobegivenup,andthePrimeMinisternotlongafterwardsfolloweditsfate,andM。Neckarwasrecalledintooffice。
TheattempttoestablishtheCourPlenierehadaneffectuponthenationwhichitselfdidnotperceive。Itwasasortofnewformofgovernmentthatinsensiblyservedtoputtheoldoneoutofsightandtounhingeitfromthesuperstitiousauthorityofantiquity。ItwasGovernmentdethroningGovernment;andtheoldone,byattemptingtomakeanewone,madeachasm。
ThefailureofthisschemerenewedthesubjectofconveningtheState—General;
andthisgaverisetoanewseriesofpolitics。TherewasnosettledformforconveningtheStates—General:allthatitpositivelymeantwasadeputationfromwhatwasthencalledtheClergy,theNoblesse,andtheCommons;buttheirnumbersortheirproportionshadnotbeenalwaysthesame。Theyhadbeenconvenedonlyonextraordinaryoccasions,thelastofwhichwasin1614;theirnumbersweretheninequalproportions,andtheyvotedbyorders。
ItcouldnotwellescapethesagacityofM。Neckar,thatthemodeof1614wouldanswerneitherthepurposeofthethengovernmentnorofthenation。Asmatterswereatthattimecircumstanceditwouldhavebeentoocontentioustoagreeuponanything。Thedebateswouldhavebeenendlessuponprivilegesandexemptions,inwhichneitherthewantsoftheGovernmentnorthewishesofthenationforaConstitutionwouldhavebeenattendedto。Butashedidnotchoosetotakethedecisionuponhimself,hesummonedagaintheAssemblyoftheNotablesandreferredittothem。Thisbodywasingeneralinterestedinthedecision,beingchieflyofaristocracyandhigh—paidclergy,andtheydecidedinfavorofthemodeof1614。ThisdecisionwasagainstthesenseoftheNation,andalsoagainstthewishesoftheCourt;forthearistocracyopposeditselftobothandcontendedforprivilegesindependentofeither。ThesubjectwasthentakenupbytheParliament,whorecommendedthatthenumberoftheCommonsshouldbeequaltotheothertwo:andtheyshouldallsitinonehouseandvoteinonebody。Thenumberfinallydeterminedonwas1,200;600tobechosenbytheCommons（andthiswaslessthantheirproportionoughttohavebeenwhentheirworthandconsequenceisconsideredonanationalscale）,300bytheClergy,and300bytheAristocracy;butwithrespecttothemodeofassemblingthemselves,whethertogetherorapart,orthemannerinwhichtheyshouldvote,thosematterswerereferred。*[9]
Theelectionthatfollowedwasnotacontestedelection,butananimatedone。Thecandidateswerenotmen,butprinciples。SocietieswereformedinParis,andcommitteesofcorrespondenceandcommunicationestablishedthroughoutthenation,forthepurposeofenlighteningthepeople,andexplainingtothemtheprinciplesofcivilgovernment;andsoorderlywastheelectionconducted,thatitdidnotgiveriseeventotherumouroftumult。
TheStates—GeneralweretomeetatVersaillesinApril1789,butdidnotassembletillMay。Theysituatedthemselvesinthreeseparatechambers,orrathertheClergyandAristocracywithdreweachintoaseparatechamber。
ThemajorityoftheAristocracyclaimedwhattheycalledtheprivilegeofvotingasaseparatebody,andofgivingtheirconsentortheirnegativeinthatmanner;andmanyofthebishopsandthehigh—beneficedclergyclaimedthesameprivilegeonthepartoftheirOrder。
TheTiersEtat（astheywerethencalled）disownedanyknowledgeofartificialordersandartificialprivileges;andtheywerenotonlyresoluteonthispoint,butsomewhatdisdainful。TheybegantoconsidertheAristocracyasakindoffungusgrowingoutofthecorruptionofsociety,thatcouldnotbeadmittedevenasabranchofit;andfromthedispositiontheAristocracyhadshownbyupholdingLettresdeCachet,andinsundryotherinstances,itwasmanifestthatnoconstitutioncouldbeformedbyadmittingmeninanyothercharacterthanasNationalMen。
Aftervariousaltercationsonthishead,theTiersEtatorCommons（astheywerethencalled）declaredthemselves（onamotionmadeforthatpurposebytheAbbeSieyes）"THEREPRESENTATIVEOFTHENATION;andthatthetwoOrderscouldbeconsideredbutasdeputiesofcorporations,andcouldonlyhaveadeliberatevoicewhentheyassembledinanationalcharacterwiththenationalrepresentatives。"ThisproceedingextinguishedthestyleofEtatsGeneraux,orStates—General,anderecteditintothestyleitnowbears,thatofL'AssembleeNationale,orNationalAssembly。
Thismotionwasnotmadeinaprecipitatemanner。Itwastheresultofcooldeliberation,andconcernedbetweenthenationalrepresentativesandthepatrioticmembersofthetwochambers,whosawintothefolly,mischief,andinjusticeofartificialprivilegeddistinctions。Itwasbecomeevident,thatnoconstitution,worthyofbeingcalledbythatname,couldbeestablishedonanythinglessthananationalground。TheAristocracyhadhithertoopposedthedespotismoftheCourt,andaffectedthelanguageofpatriotism;butitopposeditasitsrival（astheEnglishBaronsopposedKingJohn）anditnowopposedthenationfromthesamemotives。
Oncarryingthismotion,thenationalrepresentatives,ashadbeenconcerted,sentaninvitationtothetwochambers,tounitewiththeminanationalcharacter,andproceedtobusiness。Amajorityoftheclergy,chieflyoftheparishpriests,withdrewfromtheclericalchamber,andjoinedthenation;andforty—fivefromtheotherchamberjoinedinlikemanner。Thereisasortofsecrethistorybelongingtothislastcircumstance,whichisnecessarytoitsexplanation;itwasnotjudgedprudentthatallthepatrioticmembersofthechamberstylingitselftheNobles,shouldquititatonce;andinconsequenceofthisarrangement,theydrewoffbydegrees,alwaysleavingsome,aswelltoreasonthecase,astowatchthesuspected。
Inalittletimethenumbersincreasedfromforty—fivetoeighty,andsoonaftertoagreaternumber;which,withthemajorityoftheclergy,andthewholeofthenationalrepresentatives,putthemalcontentsinaverydiminutivecondition。
TheKing,who,verydifferentfromthegeneralclasscalledbythatname,isamanofagoodheart,showedhimselfdisposedtorecommendaunionofthethreechambers,onthegroundtheNationalAssemblyhadtaken;
butthemalcontentsexertedthemselvestopreventit,andbegannowtohaveanotherprojectinview。Theirnumbersconsistedofamajorityofthearistocraticalchamber,andtheminorityoftheclericalchamber,chieflyofbishopsandhigh—beneficedclergy;andthesemenweredeterminedtoputeverythingtoissue,aswellbystrengthasbystratagem。Theyhadnoobjectiontoaconstitution;butitmustbesuchaoneasthemselvesshoulddictate,andsuitedtotheirownviewsandparticularsituations。
Ontheotherhand,theNationdisownedknowinganythingofthembutascitizens,andwasdeterminedtoshutoutallsuchup—startpretensions。
Themorearistocracyappeared,themoreitwasdespised;therewasavisibleimbecilityandwantofintellectsinthemajority,asortofjenesaisquoi,thatwhileitaffectedtobemorethancitizen,waslessthanman。
Itlostgroundfromcontemptmorethanfromhatred;andwasratherjeeredatasanass,thandreadedasalion。Thisisthegeneralcharacterofaristocracy,orwhatarecalledNoblesorNobility,orratherNo—ability,inallcountries。
Theplanofthemalcontentsconsistednowoftwothings;eithertodeliberateandvotebychambers（ororders）,moreespeciallyonallquestionsrespectingaConstitution（bywhichthearistocraticalchamberwouldhavehadanegativeonanyarticleoftheConstitution）;or,incasetheycouldnotaccomplishthisobject,tooverthrowtheNationalAssemblyentirely。
Toeffectoneorotheroftheseobjectstheybegantocultivateafriendshipwiththedespotismtheyhadhithertoattemptedtorival,andtheCountD'Artoisbecametheirchief。Theking（whohassincedeclaredhimselfdeceivedintotheirmeasures）held,accordingtotheoldform,aBedofJustice,inwhichheaccordedtothedeliberationandvotepartete（byhead）uponseveralsubjects;butreservedthedeliberationandvoteuponallquestionsrespectingaconstitutiontothethreechambersseparately。ThisdeclarationofthekingwasmadeagainsttheadviceofM。Neckar,whonowbegantoperceivethathewasgrowingoutoffashionatCourt,andthatanotherministerwasincontemplation。
Astheformofsittinginseparatechamberswasyetapparentlykeptup,thoughessentiallydestroyed,thenationalrepresentativesimmediatelyafterthisdeclarationoftheKingresortedtotheirownchamberstoconsultonaprotestagainstit;andtheminorityofthechamber（callingitselftheNobles）,whohadjoinedthenationalcause,retiredtoaprivatehousetoconsultinlikemanner。Themalcontentshadbythistimeconcertedtheirmeasureswiththecourt,whichtheCountD'Artoisundertooktoconduct;
andastheysawfromthediscontentwhichthedeclarationexcited,andtheoppositionmakingagainstit,thattheycouldnotobtainacontrolovertheintendedconstitutionbyaseparatevote,theypreparedthemselvesfortheirfinalobject—thatofconspiringagainsttheNationalAssembly,andoverthrowingit。
ThenextmorningthedoorofthechamberoftheNationalAssemblywasshutagainstthem,andguardedbytroops;andthememberswererefusedadmittance。Onthistheywithdrewtoatennis—groundintheneighbourhoodofVersailles,asthemostconvenientplacetheycouldfind,and,afterrenewingtheirsession,tookanoathnevertoseparatefromeachother,underanycircumstancewhatever,deathexcepted,untiltheyhadestablishedaconstitution。Astheexperimentofshuttingupthehousehadnoothereffectthanthatofproducingacloserconnectioninthemembers,itwasopenedagainthenextday,andthepublicbusinessrecommencedintheusualplace。
Wearenowtohaveinviewtheformingofthenewministry,whichwastoaccomplishtheoverthrowoftheNationalAssembly。Butasforcewouldbenecessary,orderswereissuedtoassemblethirtythousandtroops,thecommandofwhichwasgiventoBroglio,oneoftheintendednewministry,whowasrecalledfromthecountryforthispurpose。Butassomemanagementwasnecessarytokeepthisplanconcealedtillthemomentitshouldbereadyforexecution,itistothispolicythatadeclarationmadebyCountD'Artoismustbeattributed,andwhichisherepropertobeintroduced。
ItcouldnotbutoccurwhilethemalcontentscontinuedtoresorttotheirchambersseparatefromtheNationalAssembly,morejealousywouldbeexcitedthaniftheyweremixedwithit,andthattheplotmightbesuspected。Butastheyhadtakentheirground,andnowwantedapretenceforquittingit,itwasnecessarythatoneshouldbedevised。ThiswaseffectuallyaccomplishedbyadeclarationmadebytheCountD'Artois:"ThatiftheytooknotaPartintheNationalAssembly,thelifeofthekingwouldbeendangered":onwhichtheyquittedtheirchambers,andmixedwiththeAssembly,inonebody。
Atthetimethisdeclarationwasmade,itwasgenerallytreatedasapieceofabsurdityinCountD'Artoiscalculatedmerelytorelievetheoutstandingmembersofthetwochambersfromthediminutivesituationtheywereputin;andifnothingmorehadfollowed,thisconclusionwouldhavebeengood。
Butasthingsbestexplainthemselvesbytheirevents,thisapparentunionwasonlyacovertothemachinationswhichweresecretlygoingon;andthedeclarationaccommodateditselftoanswerthatpurpose。InalittletimetheNationalAssemblyfounditselfsurroundedbytroops,andthousandsmoreweredailyarriving。OnthisaverystrongdeclarationwasmadebytheNationalAssemblytotheKing,remonstratingontheimproprietyofthemeasure,anddemandingthereason。TheKing,whowasnotinthesecretofthisbusiness,ashimselfafterwardsdeclared,gavesubstantiallyforanswer,thathehadnootherobjectinviewthantopreservethepublictranquility,whichappearedtobemuchdisturbed。
ButinafewdaysfromthistimetheplotunravelleditselfM。Neckarandtheministryweredisplaced,andanewoneformedoftheenemiesoftheRevolution;andBroglio,withbetweentwenty—fiveandthirtythousandforeigntroops,wasarrivedtosupportthem。Themaskwasnowthrownoff,andmatterswerecometoacrisis。Theeventwasthatinaspaceofthreedaysthenewministryandtheirabettorsfounditprudenttoflythenation;
theBastillewastaken,andBroglioandhisforeigntroopsdispersed,asisalreadyrelatedintheformerpartofthiswork。
Therearesomecuriouscircumstancesinthehistoryofthisshort—livedministry,andthisshort—livedattemptatacounter—revolution。ThePalaceofVersailles,wheretheCourtwassitting,wasnotmorethanfourhundredyardsdistantfromthehallwheretheNationalAssemblywassitting。Thetwoplaceswereatthismomentliketheseparateheadquartersoftwocombatantarmies;yettheCourtwasasperfectlyignorantoftheinformationwhichhadarrivedfromParistotheNationalAssembly,asifithadresidedatanhundredmilesdistance。ThethenMarquisdelaFayette,who（ashasbeenalreadymentioned）waschosentopresideintheNationalAssemblyonthisparticularoccasion,namedbyorderoftheAssemblythreesuccessivedeputationstotheking,onthedayanduptotheeveningonwhichtheBastillewastaken,toinformandconferwithhimonthestateofaffairs;
buttheministry,whoknewnotsomuchasthatitwasattacked,precludedallcommunication,andweresolacingthemselveshowdextrouslytheyhadsucceeded;butinafewhourstheaccountsarrivedsothickandfastthattheyhadtostartfromtheirdesksandrun。Somesetoffinonedisguise,andsomeinanother,andnoneintheirowncharacter。Theiranxietynowwastooutridethenews,lesttheyshouldbestopt,which,thoughitflewfast,flewnotsofastasthemselves。
ItisworthremarkingthattheNationalAssemblyneitherpursuedthosefugitiveconspirators,nortookanynoticeofthem,norsoughttoretaliateinanyshapewhatever。OccupiedwithestablishingaconstitutionfoundedontheRightsofManandtheAuthorityofthePeople,theonlyauthorityonwhichGovernmenthasarighttoexistinanycountry,theNationalAssemblyfeltnoneofthosemeanpassionswhichmarkthecharacterofimpertinentgovernments,foundingthemselvesontheirownauthority,orontheabsurdityofhereditarysuccession。Itisthefacultyofthehumanmindtobecomewhatitcontemplates,andtoactinunisonwithitsobject。
Theconspiracybeingthusdispersed,oneofthefirstworksoftheNationalAssembly,insteadofvindictiveproclamations,ashasbeenthecasewithothergovernments,wastopublishadeclarationoftheRightsofMan,asthebasisonwhichthenewconstitutionwastobebuilt,andwhichisheresubjoined:DeclarationOfTheRightsOfManAndOfCitizensByTheNationalAssemblyOfFranceTherepresentativesofthepeopleofFrance,formedintoaNationalAssembly,consideringthatignorance,neglect,orcontemptofhumanrights,arethesolecausesofpublicmisfortunesandcorruptionsofGovernment,haveresolvedtosetforthinasolemndeclaration,thesenatural,imprescriptible,andinalienablerights:thatthisdeclarationbeingconstantlypresenttothemindsofthemembersofthebodysocial,theymaybeforeverkeptattentivetotheirrightsandtheirduties;thattheactsofthelegislativeandexecutivepowersofGovernment,beingcapableofbeingeverymomentcomparedwiththeendofpoliticalinstitutions,maybemorerespected;
andalso,thatthefutureclaimsofthecitizens,beingdirectedbysimpleandincontestableprinciples,mayalwaystendtothemaintenanceoftheConstitution,andthegeneralhappiness。
ForthesereasonstheNationalAssemblydothrecognizeanddeclare,inthepresenceoftheSupremeBeing,andwiththehopeofhisblessingandfavour,thefollowingsacredrightsofmenandofcitizens:
ONE:MENAREBORN,ANDALWAYSCONTINUE,FREEANDEQUALINRESPECT
OFTHEIRRIGHTS。CIVILDISTINCTIONS,THEREFORE,CANBEFOUNDEDONLYON
PUBLICUTILITY。
TWO:THEENDOFALLPOLITICALASSOCIATIONSISTHEPRESERVATIONOF
THENATURALANDIMPRESCRIPTIBLERIGHTSOFMAN;ANDTHESERIGHTSARELIBERTY,PROPERTY,SECURITY,ANDRESISTANCEOFOPPRESSION。
THREE:THENATIONISESSENTIALLYTHESOURCEOFALLSOVEREIGNTY;NOR
CANANYINDIVIDUAL,ORANYBODYOFMEN,BEENTITLEDTOANYAUTHORITYWHICH
ISNOTEXPRESSLYDERIVEDFROMIT。
FOUR:POLITICALLIBERTYCONSISTSINTHEPOWEROFDOINGWHATEVERDOES
NOTINJUREANOTHER。THEEXERCISEOFTHENATURALRIGHTSOFEVERYMAN,HAS
NOOTHERLIMITSTHANTHOSEWHICHARENECESSARYTOSECURETOEVERYOTHER
MANTHEFREEEXERCISEOFTHESAMERIGHTS;ANDTHESELIMITSAREDETERMINABLE
ONLYBYTHELAW
FIVE:THELAWOUGHTTOPROHIBITONLYACTIONSHURTFULTOSOCIETY。
WHATISNOTPROHIBITEDBYTHELAWSHOULDNOTBEHINDERED;NORSHOULDANYONE
BECOMPELLEDTOTHATWHICHTHELAWDOESNOTREQUIRE
SIX:THELAWISANEXPRESSIONOFTHEWILLOFTHECOMMUNITY。ALLCITIZENS
HAVEARIGHTTOCONCUR,EITHERPERSONALLYORBYTHEIRREPRESENTATIVES,INITSFORMATION。ITSHOULDBETHESAMETOALL,WHETHERITPROTECTSOR
PUNISHES;ANDALLBEINGEQUALINITSSIGHT,AREEQUALLYELIGIBLETOALL
HONOURS,PLACES,ANDEMPLOYMENTS,ACCORDINGTOTHEIRDIFFERENTABILITIES,WITHOUTANYOTHERDISTINCTIONTHANTHATCREATEDBYTHEIRVIRTUESANDTALENTS
SEVEN:NOMANSHOULDBEACCUSED,ARRESTED,ORHELDINCONFINEMENT,EXCEPTINCASESDETERMINEDBYTHELAW,ANDACCORDINGTOTHEFORMSWHICH
ITHASPRESCRIBED。ALLWHOPROMOTE,SOLICIT,EXECUTE,ORCAUSETOBEEXECUTED,ARBITRARYORDERS,OUGHTTOBEPUNISHED,ANDEVERYCITIZENCALLEDUPON,ORAPPREHENDEDBYVIRTUEOFTHELAW,OUGHTIMMEDIATELYTOOBEY,ANDRENDERS
HIMSELFCULPABLEBYRESISTANCE。
EIGHT:THELAWOUGHTTOIMPOSENOOTHERPENALTIESBUTSUCHASARE
ABSOLUTELYANDEVIDENTLYNECESSARY;ANDNOONEOUGHTTOBEPUNISHED,BUT
INVIRTUEOFALAWPROMULGATEDBEFORETHEOFFENCE,ANDLEGALLYAPPLIED。
NINE:EVERYMANBEINGPRESUMEDINNOCENTTILLHEHASBEENCONVICTED,WHENEVERHISDETENTIONBECOMESINDISPENSABLE,ALLRIGOURTOHIM,MORETHAN
ISNECESSARYTOSECUREHISPERSON,OUGHTTOBEPROVIDEDAGAINSTBYTHE
LAW。
TEN:NOMANOUGHTTOBEMOLESTEDONACCOUNTOFHISOPINIONS,NOT
EVENONACCOUNTOFHISRELIGIOUSOPINIONS,PROVIDEDHISAVOWALOFTHEM
DOESNOTDISTURBTHEPUBLICORDERESTABLISHEDBYTHELAW。
ELEVEN:THEUNRESTRAINEDCOMMUNICATIONOFTHOUGHTSANDOPINIONSBEING
ONEOFTHEMOSTPRECIOUSRIGHTSOFMAN,EVERYCITIZENMAYSPEAK,WRITE,ANDPUBLISHFREELY,PROVIDEDHEISRESPONSIBLEFORTHEABUSEOFTHISLIBERTY,INCASESDETERMINEDBYTHELAW。
TWELVE:APUBLICFORCEBEINGNECESSARYTOGIVESECURITYTOTHERIGHTS
OFMENANDOFCITIZENS,THATFORCEISINSTITUTEDFORTHEBENEFITOFTHE
COMMUNITYANDNOTFORTHEPARTICULARBENEFITOFTHEPERSONSTOWHOMIT
ISINTRUSTED。
THIRTEEN:ACOMMONCONTRIBUTIONBEINGNECESSARYFORTHESUPPORTOF
THEPUBLICFORCE,ANDFORDEFRAYINGTHEOTHEREXPENSESOFGOVERNMENT,IT
OUGHTTOBEDIVIDEDEQUALLYAMONGTHEMEMBERSOFTHECOMMUNITY,ACCORDING
TOTHEIRABILITIES。
FOURTEEN:EVERYCITIZENHASARIGHT,EITHERBYHIMSELFORHISREPRESENTATIVE,TOAFREEVOICEINDETERMININGTHENECESSITYOFPUBLICCONTRIBUTIONS,THE
APPROPRIATIONOFTHEM,ANDTHEIRAMOUNT,MODEOFASSESSMENT,ANDDURATION。
FIFTEEN:EVERYCOMMUNITYHASARIGHTTODEMANDOFALLITSAGENTS
ANACCOUNTOFTHEIRCONDUCT。
SIXTEEN:EVERYCOMMUNITYINWHICHASEPARATIONOFPOWERSANDASECURITY
OFRIGHTSISNOTPROVIDEDFOR,WANTSACONSTITUTION。
SEVENTEEN:THERIGHTTOPROPERTYBEINGINVIOLABLEANDSACRED,NO
ONEOUGHTTOBEDEPRIVEDOFIT,EXCEPTINCASESOFEVIDENTPUBLICNECESSITY,LEGALLYASCERTAINED,ANDONCONDITIONOFAPREVIOUSJUSTINDEMNITY。ObservationsontheDeclarationofRightsThefirstthreearticlescomprehendingeneraltermsthewholeofaDeclarationofRights,allthesucceedingarticleseitheroriginatefromthemorfollowaselucidations。The4th,5th,and6thdefinemoreparticularlywhatisonlygenerallyexpressedinthe1st,2nd,and3rd。
The7th,8th,9th,10th,and11tharticlesaredeclaratoryofprinciplesuponwhichlawsshallbeconstructed,conformabletorightsalreadydeclared。
ButitisquestionedbysomeverygoodpeopleinFrance,aswellasinothercountries,whetherthe10tharticlesufficientlyguaranteestherightitisintendedtoaccordwith;besideswhichittakesofffromthedivinedignityofreligion,andweakensitsoperativeforceuponthemind,tomakeitasubjectofhumanlaws。Itthenpresentsitselftomanlikelightinterceptedbyacloudymedium,inwhichthesourceofitisobscuredfromhissight,andheseesnothingtoreverenceintheduskyray。*[10]
Theremainingarticles,beginningwiththetwelfth,aresubstantiallycontainedintheprinciplesoftheprecedingarticles;butintheparticularsituationinwhichFrancethenwas,havingtoundowhatwaswrong,aswellastosetupwhatwasright,itwaspropertobemoreparticularthanwhatinanotherconditionofthingswouldbenecessary。
WhiletheDeclarationofRightswasbeforetheNationalAssemblysomeofitsmembersremarkedthatifadeclarationofrightswerepublisheditshouldbeaccompaniedbyaDeclarationofDuties。Theobservationdiscoveredamindthatreflected,anditonlyerredbynotreflectingfarenough。
ADeclarationofRightsis,byreciprocity,aDeclarationofDutiesalso。
Whateverismyrightasamanisalsotherightofanother;anditbecomesmydutytoguaranteeaswellastopossess。
ThethreefirstarticlesarethebaseofLiberty,aswellindividualasnational;norcananycountrybecalledfreewhosegovernmentdoesnottakeitsbeginningfromtheprinciplestheycontain,andcontinuetopreservethempure;andthewholeoftheDeclarationofRightsisofmorevaluetotheworld,andwilldomoregood,thanallthelawsandstatutesthathaveyetbeenpromulgated。
InthedeclaratoryexordiumwhichprefacestheDeclarationofRightsweseethesolemnandmajesticspectacleofanationopeningitscommission,undertheauspicesofitsCreator,toestablishaGovernment,ascenesonew,andsotranscendantlyunequalledbyanythingintheEuropeanworld,thatthenameofaRevolutionisdiminutiveofitscharacter,anditrisesintoaRegenerationofman。WhatarethepresentGovernmentsofEuropebutasceneofiniquityandoppression？WhatisthatofEngland？Donotitsowninhabitantssayitisamarketwhereeverymanhashisprice,andwherecorruptioniscommontrafficattheexpenseofadeludedpeople？
Nowonder,then,thattheFrenchRevolutionistraduced。HaditconfineditselfmerelytothedestructionofflagrantdespotismperhapsMr。Burkeandsomeothershadbeensilent。Theircrynowis,"Ithasgonetoofar"—