The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 3 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and PrivateJefferson, Thomas
History
The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 3 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and Private
Jefferson, Thomas
United States -- Politics and government -- 1775-1783; United States -- Politics and government -- 1783-1865
Dear Sir,--Your favor of the 4th instant is duly received. I am in hourly
expectation of receiving letters permitting me to go to America for a few
months, and shall leave Paris within a very few days after I shall have
received them. As this is probably the last letter I can have the honor
of writing you before my return, I will do myself the pleasure of putting
you in possession of the state of things here at this moment, as it may
enable you better to decide between truth and falsehood for some time to
come. You already know that the States General are met, and have seen the
speeches of the King, the Garde des Sceaux, and of Mr. Neckar. The three
orders as yet, set in different chambers. The great parliamentary question
whether they shall vote by orders or persons is undecided. It has not
yet been formally proposed, but the votes already given in the separate
chambers on the outworks of that question, show that the Tiers Etat are
unanimous for voting by persons. A good majority of the Clergy of the same
disposition, and only fifty-four of the Noblesse against one hundred and
ninety of the same body, who are for voting by orders. The chambers have
appointed committees to confer together on the means of conciliation,
but this is mere form, conciliation being impracticable. The Noblesse, as
some think, would be induced to unite themselves into one house, with the
higher Clergy, the lower Clergy and Tiers forming another. But the Tiers
are firm, and will agree to no modification. They are disposed to reduce
the State to one order as much as possible. As we are always disposed
to conjecture on the future, it is natural to form conjectures as to the
issue from the present difficulty. One idea is, that they will separate
to consult their constituents. I think they will not do this, because
they know their constituents will repeat the same instructions. And what
in the meantime is to become of a government which cannot keep in motion
with less than a million of livres a day? A more probable conjecture is,
that when it shall be manifest that conciliation is impracticable, the
Tiers will invite the other orders to come and take their places in the
common chamber. The majority of the Clergy, (to wit, the curés, and the
minority of the Noblesse,) will accept the invitation. The chamber thus
composed, will declare that the States General are now constituted, will
notify it to the King, and prepare to proceed to business. If he refuses
to acknowledge them, and adheres to the principles of the Noblesse,
they will suspend all taxes, form a declaration of rights, and do such
other acts as circumstances will admit, and go home. The tax-gatherers
will be resisted, and perhaps the soldiery take side with the Tiers, and
their officers with the Noblesse. But I rather suppose the King will do
business with the States so constituted, negotiating at the same time as
they go along, a reconciliation with the seceding members. The latter
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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