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
for though the new harvest is begun, there is neither water nor wind to
grind the grain. For some days past the people have besieged the doors
of the bakers, scrambled with one another for bread, collected in squads
all over the city, and need only some slight incident to lead them to
excesses which may end in, nobody can tell what. The danger from the want
of bread, however, which is the most imminent, will certainly lessen in
a few days. What turn that may take which arises from the want of money,
is difficult to be foreseen. Mr. Neckar is totally without influence in
the National Assembly, and is, I believe, not satisfied with this want
of importance. That Assembly has just finished their bill of rights. The
question will then be, whether to take up first the constitution or the
business of finance.
No plan of a constitution has been yet given in. But I can state to
you the outlines of what the leading members have in contemplation.
The executive power in a hereditary King, with power of dissolving the
legislature, and a negative on their laws; his authority in forming
treaties to be greatly restrained. The legislative to be a single House
of representatives, chosen for two or three years. They propose a body
whom they call a Senate, to be chosen by the Provincial Assemblies, as our
federal Senate is, but with no power of negativing or amending laws; they
may only remonstrate on them to the representatives, who will decide by a
simple majority the ultimate event of the law. This body will therefore be
a mere council of revision. It is proposed that they shall be of a certain
age and property, and be for life. They may make them also their court of
impeachment. They will suppress the parliaments, and establish a system of
judicature somewhat like that of England, with trial by jury in criminal
cases, perhaps also in civil. Each province will have a subordinate
provincial government, and the great cities, a municipal one on a free
basis. These are the ideas and views of the most distinguished members.
But they may suffer great modifications from the Assembly, and the longer
the delay, the greater will be the modifications. Considerable interval
having taken place since any popular execution, the aristocratic party is
raising its head. They are strengthened by a considerable defection from
the patriots, in consequence of the general suppression of the abuses of
the 4th of August, in which many were interested. Another faction too, of
the most desperate views, has acquired strength in the Assembly, as well
as out of it. These wish to dethrone the reigning branch, and transfer
the crown to the Duke d'Orleans. The members of this faction are mostly
persons of wicked and desperate fortunes, who have nothing at heart
but to pillage from the wreck of their country. The Duke himself is as
unprincipled as his followers; sunk in debaucheries of the lowest kind,
and incapable of quitting them for business; not a fool, yet not head
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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