"In all possible cases" they "will avoid with the greatest care any
insult of individuals; they will consider that the object of the
meeting is solely to ensure public peace, and that protection from
the law to which every citizen is entitled." - In short, they are
volunteer constables. Turn the inquiry which way they will, a
hostile municipality and a prejudiced tribunal can put no other
construction upon it; they find nothing else. The only evidence
against one of the leaders is a letter in which he tries to prevent
a gentleman from going to Coblentz, striving to prove to him that he
will be more useful at Caen. The principal evidence against the
association is that of a townsman whom they wished to enroll, and of
whom they demanded his opinions. He had stated that he was in favor
of the execution of the laws; upon which they told him: "In this
case you belong to us, and are more of an aristocrat than you think
you are. Their aristocracy, in effect, consists wholly in the
suppression of brigandage.
Pages:
751
752
753
754
755
756
757
758
759
760
761
762
763
764
765
766
767
768
769
770
771
772
773
774
775