the tranquillity of France; I have dissolved it, and I constitute the whole People a judge between it and me.

“The Constitution, as you know, was constructed with the object of weakening beforehand the power which you were about to confide to me.  Six millions of votes formed an emphatic protest against it, and yet I have faithfully respected it.  Provocations, calumnies, outrages, have found me unmoved.  Now, however, that the fundamental compact is no longer respected by those very men who incessantly invoke it, and that the men who have ruined two monarchies wish to tie my hands in order to overthrow the Republic, my duty is to frustrate their treacherous schemes, to maintain the Republic, and to save the Country by appealing to the solemn judgment of the only Sovereign whom I recognize in France—­the People.

“I therefore make a loyal appeal to the whole nation, and I say to you:  If you wish to continue this condition of uneasiness which degrades us and compromises our future, choose another in my place, for I will no longer retain a power which is impotent to do good, which renders me responsible for actions which I cannot prevent, and which binds me to the helm when I see the vessel driving towards the abyss.

  “If on the other hand you still place confidence in me, give me the
  means of accomplishing the great mission which I hold from you.

“This mission consists in closing the era of revolutions, by satisfying the legitimate needs of the People, and by protecting them from subversive passions.  It consists, above all, in creating institutions which survive men, and which shall in fact form the foundations on which something durable may be established.

“Persuaded that the instability of power, that the preponderance of a single Assembly, are the permanent causes of trouble and discord, I submit to your suffrage the following fundamental bases of a Constitution which will be developed by the Assemblies later on:—­

  “1.  A responsible Chief appointed for ten years.

  “2.  Ministers dependent upon the Executive Power alone.

  “3.  A Council of State composed of the most distinguished men, who shall
  prepare laws and shall support them in debate before the Legislative
  Body.

  “4.  A Legislative Body which shall discuss and vote the laws, and which
  shall be elected by universal suffrage, without scrutin de liste,
  which falsifies the elections.

  “5.  A Second Assembly composed of the most illustrious men of the
  country, a power of equipoise the guardian of the fundamental compact,
  and of the public liberties.

  “This system, created by the first Consul at the beginning of the
  century, has already given repose and prosperity to France; it would
  still insure them to her.