Gazette Of The United States And Daily Evening Advertiser

Foreign Intelligence.

NATIONAL CONVENTION.

Sept. 21.

Carnot, in the name of the committee of public safety, presented the following report on the events that preceded, accompanied and followed the surrender of Valenciennes, Conde, Le Quesnoy, and Landrecies.

"Your committee had resolved to surround the enemy, and cut off their communication. Jourdan executed this determination on the banks of the Sambre, Pichegru on the banks of the Scheldt. It was necessary to retake the fortresses of which the enemy had obtained possession, and in order that it might be done more speedily it was resolved to adopt revolutionary means; the decree of the 16th Vendemiaire ordered, that such of the garrisons should be put to the sword as refused to surrender within 24 hours after being summoned. Nevertheless it was not forgotten that this law might become a terrible weapon against ourselves, by infusing despair into the minds of the foreign troops. The committee felt that the convention, did not mean to pass a decree of carnage, but to save the country. They therefore suffered the generals to use their own prudence, with respect to executing or not executing the decree. The four garrisons were restored to the republic in less than four decades.

"We found in Valenciennes, 3 millions of florins, in specie, about six millions and a half of livres. Landrecies did not choose to wait till her fortifications should be injured. Le Quesnoy and Conde made still less resistance. The commanders of such of the places as did not obey the decree within 24 hours prescribed, were arrested and rendered responsible for the non-execution of the decree. Deputies are the only persons whom the convention would punish, and not those who have the misfortune to be their slaves. (Loud applauses)

"Notwithstanding the perfidy of Robespierre, who gave it as his advice, that each of the places should be assaulted, tho' he knew that each assault would cost us at least 3000 men, notwithstanding the hopes of that monster who waited only for a check on the part of our army, for the purpose of accusing his colleagues, Valenciennes, Conde, Quesnoy, Landrecies, and Newport, cost little blood to the republic, ere they were restored. The garrisons surrendered at discretion, and France triumphed by her generosity and courage.

"In remembrance of these blissful events, Conde has received the name of Nord Libre; and under the walls of that fortress we found 150 waggons of stores, provisions, and ammunition of all kinds.

"The emigrants taken in the different garrisons, have been delivered to the military tribunals. The National representatives on missions, have taken proper steps to restore to those fair communes the usual activity in their commerce, primary schools and authorities."

The report was received with great applause, and the Convention immediately decree that,

1. It should be printed and sent to the armies, the popular societies, and constituted authorities.

2. The convention approve of the measures taken by the committee of public safety relative to the surrender of the four garrisons, and the decree of the 16th Vendemiaire.

3. That six copies of the report should be delivered to each of the deputies.