Malouet demanded, therefore, that the constitution should be submitted to the judgment of the people, and to the free acceptance of the king.

XII.

This magnificent harangue only sounded as the voice of remorse in the bosom of the Assembly.  It was listened to with impatience, and then forgotten with all speed.  M. de La Fayette opposed, in a short speech, the proposition of M. Dandre, who desired to adjourn for thirty years the revision of the constitution.  The Assembly neither adopted the advice of Dandre nor of La Fayette, but contented itself with inviting the nation not to make use for twenty-five years of its right to modify the constitution.  “Behold us, then,” said Robespierre, “arrived at the end of our long and painful career:  it only remains for us to give it stability and duration.  Why are we asked to submit to the acceptance of the king?  The fate of the constitution is independent of the will of Louis XVI.  I do not doubt he will accept it with delight.  An empire for patrimony, all the attributes of the executive power, forty millions for his personal pleasures,—­such is our offer!  Do not let us wait, before we offer it, until he be away from the capital and environed by ill advisers.  Let us offer it to him in Paris.  Let us say to him, Behold the most powerful throne in the universe—­will you accept it?  Suspected gatherings, the system of weakening your frontiers, threats of your enemies without, manoeuvres of your enemies within,—­all warns you to hasten the establishment of an order of things which assures and fortifies the citizens.  If we deliberate, when we should swear, if our constitution may be again attacked, after having been already twice assailed, what remains for us to do?  Either to resume our arms or our fetters.  We have been empowered,” he added, looking towards the seats of Barnave and the Lameths, “to constitute the nation, and not to raise the fortunes of certain individuals, in order to favour the coalition of court intriguers, and to assure to them the price of their complaisance or their treason.”

XIII.

The constitutional act was presented to the king on the 3d of September, 1791.  Thouret reported to the National Assembly in these words the result of the solemn interview between the conquered will of the monarch and the victorious will of his people:—­“At nine o’clock in the evening our deputation quitted this chamber, proceeding to the chateau escorted by a guard of honour, consisting of various detachments of the national guard and gendarmerie.  It was invariably accompanied by the applauses of the people.  It was received in the council-chamber, where the king was attended by his ministers and a great number of his servants.  I said to the king, ’Sire, the representatives of the nation come to present to your majesty the constitutional act, which consecrates the indefeasible rights of the French