At Macon "a few aristocrats muttered to themselves, but not one dared say No."[1116] It would, indeed, be extremely imprudent.

At Montbrison, "six individuals who decline to vote," are denounced in the proces-verbal of the Canton, while a deputy in the Convention demands "severe measures" against them.

At Nogent-sur-Seine, three administrators, guilty of the same offense, are to be turned out of office.[1117] A few months later, the offense becomes a capital crime, and people are to be guillotined "for having voted against the Constitution of 1793."[1118] Almost all the ill-disposed foresaw this danger; hence, in nearly all the primary assemblies, the adoption is unanimous, or nearly unanimous.[1119] At Rouen, there are but twenty-six adverse votes; at Caen, the center of the Girondin opposition, fourteen; at Rheims, there are only two; at Troyes, Besancon, Limoges and Paris, there are none at all; in fifteen departments the number of negatives varies from five to one; not one is found in Var; this apparent unity is most instructive.

The commune of St.Donau, the only one in France, in the remote district of Cotes-du-Nord, dares demand the restoration of the clergy and the son of Capet for king.

All the others vote as if directed with a baton; they have understood the secret of the plebiscite; that it is a Jacobin demonstration, not an honest vote, which is required.[1120] The operation undertaken by the local party is actually carried out.