THE WORLD'S FAMOUS ORATIONS
my principles, and the fortitude of conscience. I am going to state, in my turn, the real points of difficulty, with all the accuracy in my power; and I beseech such of my adversaries as shall not understand me, to call on me to stop, that I may express myself more clearly; for, as to the reiterated reproaches of evasion, of subtilty, of doubling and winding, I have resolved to shake them off, "like dewdrops from the lion's mane."[1] As far as on me depends, this day shall unveil the secret of our respective loyalties. M. Barnave has done me the honor to answer me alone; I mean to pay the same compliment to his talents; I am going to endeavor, in my turn, to refute him.
You have said: "We have instituted two distinct powers, the legislative and the executive; the one is commissioned to express the national will, the other to execute it. These two powers ought never to be confounded."
You have applied these principles to the question of debate—that is, to the exercise of the right of war and peace.
You have said: "We must distinguish between action and will; action shall be the king's, will the property of the legislative body. Therefore, when the question shall be to declare war, such declaration being an act of will, it shall be the province of the legislative body to make it."
- ↑ Mr. White, the translator, explains in a foot-note that the words here quoted were interpolated by himself.
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