“’By this action alone the President is deposed from his office; the citizens are bound to refuse him obedience; the executive power passes by right to the National Assembly; the judges of the High Court of Justice should meet together immediately under penalty of treason, and convoke the juries in a place which they shall appoint to proceed to the judgment of the President and his accomplices.’

  “Decree:—­

  “ARTICLE I.—­Louis Bonaparte is deposed from his office of President
  of the Republic.

  “ARTICLE II.—­All citizens and public officials are bound to refuse
  him obedience under penalty of complicity.

“ARTICLE III.—­The judgment drawn up on December 2d by the High Court of Justice, and which declares Louis Bonaparte attainted with the Crime of High Treason, shall be published and executed.  Consequently the civil and military authorities are summoned under penalty of Treason to lend their active assistance to the execution of the said judgment.

  “Given at Paris, in permanent session, December 3d, 1851.”

The decree having been read, and voted unanimously, we signed it, and the Representatives crowded round the table to add their signatures to ours.  Sain remarked that this signing took time, that in addition we numbered barely more than sixty, a large number of the members of the Left being at work in the streets in insurrection.  He asked if the Committee, who had full powers from the whole of the Left, had any objection to attach to the decree the names of all the Republican Representatives remaining at liberty, the absent as well as those present.  We answered that the decree signed by all would assuredly better answer its purpose.  Besides, it was the counsel which I had already given.  Bancel had in his pocket on old number of the Moniteur containing the result of a division.

They cut out a list of the names of the members of the Left, the names of those who were arrested were erased, and the list was added to the decree.[11]

The name of Emile de Girardin upon this list caught my eye.  He was still present.

“Do you sign this decree?” I asked him.

“Unhesitatingly.”

“In that case will you consent to print it?”

“Immediately.”

He continued,—­

“Having no longer any presses, as I have told you, I can only print it as a handbill, and with the brush.  It takes a long time, but by eight o’clock this evening you shall have five hundred copies.”

“And,” continued I, “you persist in refusing to print the appeal to arms?”

“I do persist.”

A second copy was made of the decree, which Emile de Girardin took away with him.  The deliberation was resumed.  At each moment Representatives came in and brought items of news:  Amiens in insurrection—­Rheims and Rouen in motion, and marching on Paris—­General Canrobert resisting the coup d’etat—­General Castellane hesitating—­the Minister of the United States demanding his passports.  We placed little faith in these rumors, and facts proved that we were right.