Had it proclaimed from the beginning the laws repressive of emigration in troubled times, during revolutions, or on the eve of war, it would have proclaimed a national truth, and prevented one of the great dangers and principal causes of the excesses of the Revolution.
The question now was no longer to be treated with reason, but by vindictive feelings.

The imprudence of the Constituent Assembly had left this dangerous weapon in the hands of parties who were about to turn it against the king.
XIII.
Brissot, the inspirer of the Gironde, the dogmatic statesman of a party which needed ideas and a leader, ascended the tribune in the midst of anticipated plaudits, which betokened his importance in the new Assembly.

His voice was for war, as the most efficacious of laws.
"If," said he, "it be really desired to check the tide of emigration, we must more particularly punish the more elevated offenders, who establish in foreign lands a centre of counter-revolution.

We should distinguish three classes of emigrants; the brothers of the king, unworthy of belonging to him,--the public functionaries, deserting their posts and deluding citizens,--and finally, the simple citizens, who follow example from imitation, weakness, or fear.

You owe hate and banishment to the first, pity and indulgence to the others.