What a contrast to Tamisier!  Tamisier, frank, earnest confident, although a mere Captain of Artillery, had the bearing of a General.  Had Tamisier, with his grave and gentle countenance, high intelligence, and dauntless heart, a species of soldier-philosopher, been better known, he could have rendered decisive services.  No one can tell what would have happened if Providence had given the soul of Tamisier to Oudinot, or the epaulets of Oudinot to Tamisier.

In this bloody enterprise of December we failed to find a General’s uniform becomingly worn.  A book might be written on the part which gold lace plays in the destiny of nations.

Tamisier, appointed Chief of the Staff some instants before the invasion of the hall, placed himself at the disposal of the Assembly.  He was standing on a table.  He spoke with a resonant and hearty voice.  The most downcast became reassured by this modest, honest, devoted attitude.  Suddenly he drew himself up, and looking all that Royalist majority in the face, exclaimed, “Yes, I accept the charge you offer me.  I accept the charge of defending the Republic!  Nothing but the Republic!  Do you perfectly understand?”

A unanimous shout answered him.  “Long live the Republic!”

“Ah!” said Beslay, “the voice comes back to you as on the Fourth of May.”

“Long live the Republic!  Nothing but the Republic!” repeated the men of the Right, Oudinot louder than the others.  All arms were stretched towards Tamisier, every hand pressed his.  Oh Danger! irresistible converter!  In his last hour the Atheist invokes God, and the Royalist the Republic.  They cling to that which they have repudiated.

The official historians of the coup d’etat have stated that at the beginning of the sitting two Representatives had been sent by the Assembly to the Ministry of the Interior to “negotiate.”  What is certain is that these two Representatives had no authority.  They presented themselves, not on behalf of the Assembly, but in their own name.  They offered themselves as intermediaries to procure a peaceable termination of the catastrophe which had begun.  With an honesty which bordered on simplicity they summoned Morny to yield himself a prisoner, and to return within the law, declaring that in case of refusal the Assembly would do its duty, and call the people to the defence of the Constitution and of the Republic.  Marny answered them with a smile, accompanied by these plain words, “If you appeal to arms, and if I find any Representatives on the barricades, I will have them all shot to the last man.”