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opinion , to accompany the declaration of rights ; the active part he took in the abolition of privileges , in the famous nocturnal sitting of August 4 , 1789 , iii which he demanded the suppression of the annats ; his repeated efforts in favour of the Jews and of men of colour : in a word , his entirely democratical opinion upon the elective franchise . A duty of one marc of silver
had been proposed as the terms of eligibility ; many members of the Assembly opposed all restriction on the liberty of choice : their advice did not prevail . However , subsequently , they consented to suppress all conditions respecting eligibility ; increasing the contribution exacted from the electors . Gre * goire resisted this last measure . " You wish" ( he cried ) " to concentrate the representation in some citizens who are rich and large proprietors . The legislative power will thus be placed in a limited number of families . Much has been said of aristocracy , and here it is . "
At the first sitting of the Convention , Coliot D ' Herbois and Gr ^ goire demanded the abolition of royalty , which was voted unanimously by the new assembly . An expression of Gre ' goire ' s upon this occasion is remarkable , as the opinion of democracy upon royalty : " The history of kings is the martyrology of nations . " When the discussion opened upon putting Louis the XVIth upon his trial , Gr 6 goire voted in the affirmative ; but at the same time took occasion to declare , that the punishment of death appeared to him a relic of barbarism that ought to be expunged from European codes ; and to demand that the accused , if condemned , should have the benefit of this
abolition . Faithful to this principle , Gre * goire , who was absent on a commission from the Assembly at the time of the sentence , would not affix his signature to a letter of approval , drawn up by some of his colleagues , until he had made them erase the words "to death . " The original letter exists in the archives , and is a conclusive answer to those who accuse Gr 6 goire of having , in this instance , humbled the character of priest before that of revolutionist . The Bishop of Blois was president of the Convention when the deputies from Savoy came to demand to be united to France . It was he who gave them
the fraternal embrace , amidst the acclamations of the Assembly and of the public tribunes , after having addressed a discourse to them in which he promised the support of France to all oppressed people ; and in which his philanthropic feeling , rising above national prejudices , made him anticipate a future universal alliance . " A new age opens upon us , " said he ; " the palm branches of fraternity and of peace shall adorn the fore-ground ; then liberty , equalizing all Europe , shall visit her domains ; and this quarter of the globe shall no longer contain fortresses , frontiers , or foreigners . "
The same sentiments are found in the sketch of a resolution which he proposed in the committee of public instruction , of which he was a member , with a view to establish amongst authors , learned men , and journalists of all countries , active correspondence and fixed relations ; and of assuring them throughout of the support and protection of the governments : " The united committees of public safety and of public instruction , considering that it essentially concerns the social happiness , and the prosperity of the republic , to
multiply means capable of exciting patriotism , of perfecting moral feeling , and of enlarging the influence of the arts ; considering that patriotism is not exclusive , and that the energy of this sentiment accords with that gentle philanthropy which draws yet closer the ties by which friendly nations are united ; which , to strengthen the spirit of toleration and of brotherly love , collects all means to extinguish national egotism , to close up the gulf which prejudices , hatred , and despotism , have opened betwixt rival nations ; con- *
Untitled Article
Memoir of Bishop Gr&goire . 473
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1831, page 473, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2599/page/41/
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