2164 ([return])
[ Moniteur, XX, 444 ( Report by Barère, Floreal 22, year II). "Mendicity is incompatible with popular government.">[
2165 ([return])
[ Ib., XIX., 568. (Report by Saint-Just, Ventôse 8, year II.)]
2166 ([return])
[ Ib., XX, 448 (Rapport by Barère, Floreal 22).]
2167 ([return])
[ Ibid., XIX., 568. (Report by Saint-Just, Ventôse 8, and decree of Ventôse 13.) "The Committee of Public Safety will report on the means of indemnifying the unfortunate with property belonging to the enemies of the Revolution.">[
2168 ([return])
[ Ibid., XIX., 484. (Report by Barère, Ventôse 21, year II.)—Ibid., XX., 445. (Report by Barère, Floréal 22, year II.)—Decrees on public assistance, June 28, 1793, July 25, 1793, Frimaire 2, and Floréal 22, year II.)—this principle, moreover, was set forth in the Constitution of 1793. "Public help is a sacred obligation; society owes a subsistence to unfortunate citizens, whether by providing work for them, or by ensuring the means of existence to those who are not in a condition to work."—Archives Nationales, AF. II., 39. The character of this measure is very clearly expressed in the following circular of the Committee of Public Safety to its representatives on mission in the departments, Ventôse, year II. "A summary act was necessary to put the aristocracy down. The national Convention has struck the blow. Virtuous indigence had to recover the property which crime had encroached upon. The national Convention has proclaimed its rights. A general list of all prisoners should be sent to the Committee of General Security, charged with deciding on their fate. The Committee of Public Safety will receive the statement of the indigent in each commune so as to regulate what is due to them. Both these proceedings demand the utmost dispatch and should go together. It is necessary that terror and justice be brought to bear on all points at once. The Revolution is the work of the people and it is time they should have the benefit of it.">[