National Gazette

[Extracted from a French paper.]

PARIS, Sept. 24.

Address of the Provisional Executive Council to the French Nation.

"Citizens and friends—Despotism received a severe blow in 1789, but soon recovered herself. She then conspired against the nation under the mask of constitutionality, and under cover of our renovated laws, endeavoured to bring us again under the yoke—and the despots, whom traitors had invited to come against us, ordered the nation to pay homage to those very traitors. Wearied out with repeated instances of treachery, indignant at reiterated insolence, the nation roused itself a second time—Death was the portion of our internal enemies—and this was the energetic answer to the enemies without—Citizens of France! They seem to have understood it. Tyrants will only take counsel from despair. They have dared to say, that they will seize away a part of our national claims—and you, on your part, have declared that you will retain the whole or nothing. Their armies are now verging upon our frontier, and in the face of these armies you have called a convention, whose business it is to proclaim to Europe the Sovereignty of the people, and the usurpations of kings—What a sight! never did this earth witness the like before; never in the annals of nations, the most renowned for the love of liberty, was an event of equal importance recorded,

Generous citizens! there is nothing now wanting but to remain at all times true to yourselves. It would be injurious to your courage to conceal from you the numberless sacrifices, the renewed dangers, you must expect to encounter in this mighty struggle for liberty.

The tyrants of Europe and the people of France now look each other full in the face.

The shock is begun—and in this struggle, worthy the attention of the assembled world, there is no medium, no choice between victory and death. But, engaged as you are in the duty of arming yourselves for the defence of your dearest interests, remember, that while in the heat of warfare you are crushing the external foe, the men chosen by yourselves to conduct the affairs of the nation, ought to be wholly devoid of passion when they deliberate, and to forget if possible, that France retains a single interior enemy in her bosom,

Remember also that upon your choice of the deputies in the National Convention depends the destiny of this empire and of the universe. Ancient abuses are to be reformed—important laws remain to be enacted—but who shall be found competent to effecting these changes, as important as indispensably necessary? Talent alone without courage is not necessary—Courage without talent will attempt revolutions in vain—Energy of patriotism is not, then, the only requisite necessary to engage your votes—the qualifications are three-fold, respectable abilities, a soul undaunted at danger, and a life without reproach—these ought to be the requisites in every individual that aspires to the honor of representing you in these days of glory and of danger.

Citizens, while you are steadily employed in preserving that union in which your strength alone consists, it is necessary that you should rally your forces continually around your representatives, in the choice of which the whole empire has concurred—Consider it as your duty, also, to observe and obey the existing laws—laws, which though imperfect, will be continually rectified by the new representatives you have chosen.—It is useless to dissemble with you—it would be base to alarm you, as a true Frenchman disdains a timid heart—Our dangers are growing upon us—the enemy is in force, and will, no doubt, exert their strength in the last agony of desperate irritation.

Masters of Longwy, menacing Thionville, Metz, and Verdun, they mean to open a road to Paris, if they can possibly accomplish it. Who is there among you that does not blush at the idea of their seeing this Capital, while our forces are what they are?—Citizens, there never yet was a nation on this earth who vindicated themselves into liberty without fighting.—You have traitors in your bosoms—were it not for them, our wars would soon be at an end; but your active vigilance will baffle all their designs.—Be united and calm—consider wisely your resources of strength—bring them boldly into action, and your triumph is certain.

We, however, who are invested with the exercise of the executive power by the suffrage of the National Assembly; we, who at this day are the sole representatives of the French people; we, the first ministers that the nation has ever chosen—are determined to act up to our duty, and to honor the confidence reposed in us.

We will take care that nothing shall be forgotten which may ensure the success of equality—and though our labours may not completely attain the mighty object, they will nevertheless not be lost—and although we ourselves should utterly perish in the struggle for liberty, we shall still have the consolation to reflect in our dying moments, that sooner or later the efforts of the most magnanimous of mankind will overcome every obstacle, and annihilate all the tyrants upon earth."