Source: Darlene Gay Levy, Harriet Branson Applewhite, and Mary Durham Johnson, trans. and eds., Women in Revolutionary Paris, 1789-1795(University of Illinois Press, 1979), 150-151. Excerpted in Liberty, Equality, Fraternity: Exploring the French Revolution, Jack R. Censer and Lynn Hunt, eds. (American Social History Productions, 2001).
A deputation from the Cordeliers Club and the citoyennes (women citizens) of the Revolutionary Society of Women is admitted. The orator announces a petition drawn up by the members of these two societies joined together and reads this petition, the substance of which is as follows:
"Representatives of the people, the country is in the most imminent danger; if you want to save it, the most energetic measures must be taken.…" (Noise.)
"I demand," the orator cries out, "the fullest attention."
Calm is restored.
He continues: If not, the people will save themselves. You are not unaware that the conspirators are waiting only the departure of the volunteers, who are going to fight our enemies in the Vendée, to immolate the patriots and everything they cherish most. To prevent the execution of these horrible projects, hasten to decree that suspect men will be placed under arrest immediately, that Revolutionary Tribunals will be set up in all the Departments and in the Sections of Paris.
Legislators, strike out at the speculators, the hoarders, and the egotistical merchants. A horrible plot exists to cause the people to die of hunger by setting an enormous price on goods. At the head of this plot is the mercantile aristocracy of an insolent caste, which wants to assimilate itself to royalty and to hoard all riches by forcing up the price of goods of prime necessity in order to satisfy its cupidity. Exterminate all these scoundrels; the Fatherland will be rich enough if it is left with the sans-culottesand their virtues. Legislators! Come to the aid of all unfortunate people. This is the call of nature; this is the vow of all true patriots. Our heart is torn by the spectacle of public misery. Our intention is to raise men up again; we do not want a single unfortunate person in the Republic. Purify the Executive Council, expel a Gohier, a Garat, a Le Brun, etc.; renew the directory of the postal service and all corrupted administrations, etc.