Theirvoice，accordingly，seemstobethevoiceofthepeople；theircontrolisestablishedonthatofthelegalauthorities；theyhavetakentheleadthroughpersistentandirresistiblemisdeeds；theircrimesareconsecratedbyexemptionfrompunishment。
\"Amongofficialsandagents，goodorbad，constitutedornotconstituted，thatalonegovernswhichisinviolable。Nowtheclub，foralongtime，hasbeentoomuchaccustomedtodomineering，toannoying，topersecuting，towreakingvengeance，foranylocaladministrationtoregarditinanyotherlightthanasinviolable。\"[57]
Theyaccordinglygovernandtheirindirectinfluenceispromptlytransformedintodirectauthority。——Votingalone，oralmostalone，intheprimarymeetings，whicharedesertedorunderconstraint，theJacobinseasilychoosethemunicipalbodyandtheofficersoftheNationalGuard。[58]Afterthis，throughthemayor，whoistheirtoolortheiraccomplice，theyhavethelegalrighttolaunchorarresttheentirearmedforceandtheyavailthemselvesofit。——Twoobstaclesstillstandintheirway。Onetheonehand，howeverconciliatoryortimidtheDirectoryofthedistrictordepartmentmaybe，electedasitisbyelectorsoftheseconddegree，itusuallycontainsafairproportionofwell—informedmen，comfortablyoff，interestedinkeepingorder，andlessinclinedthanthemunicipalitytoputupwithgrossviolationsofthelaw。ConsequentlytheJacobinsdenounceittotheNationalAssemblyasanunpatrioticandanti—revolutionarycenterof\"bourgeoisaristocracy。\"Sometimes，asatBrest，[59]theyshamefullydisobeyorderswhichareperfectlylegalandproper，oftenrepeatedandstrictlyformal；afterward，stillmoreshamefully，theydemandoftheMinisterif，\"placedinthecruelalternativeofgivingoffensetothehierarchyofpowers，orofleavingthecommonwealthindanger，theyoughttohesitate。\"Sometimes，asatArras，theyimposethemselvesillegallyontheDirectoryinsessionandbrowbeatitsoinsolentlyastomakeitapointofhonorwiththelattertosolicititsownsuspension。[60]Sometimes，asaFigeac，theysummonanadministratortotheirbar，keephimstandingthree—quartersofanhour，seizehispapersandobligehim，forfearofsomethingworse，toleavethetown。[61]Sometimes，asatAuch，theyinvadetheDirectory’schambers，seizetheadministratorsbythethroat，poundthemwiththeirfistsandclubs，dragthepresidentbythehair，and，afteragooddealoftrouble，granthimhislife。[62]——Ontheotherhand，thegendarmerieandthetroopsbroughtforthesuppressionofriots，arealwaysinthewayofthosewhostiruptherioters。
Consequently，theyexpel，corruptand，especiallypurifythegendarmerietogetherwiththetroops。AtCahorstheydriveoutasergeantofthegendarmerie，\"allegingthathekeepscompanywithnonebutaristocrats。\"[63]AtToulouse，withoutmentioningthelieutenant—
colonel，whoselifetheythreatenbyanonymouslettersandobligetoleavethetown，theytransferthewholecorpstoanotherdistrictunderthepretensethat\"itsprinciplesareadversetotheConstitution。\"[64]AtAuch，andatRennes，throughtheinsubordinationwhichtheyprovokeamongthemen，theyexhortresignationsfromtheirofficers。AtPerpignan，bymeansofariotwhichtheyfoment，theyseize，beatanddragtoprison，thecommandantandstaffwhomtheyaccuse\"ofwantingtobombardthetownwithfivepoundsofpowder。\"[65]—Meanwhile，throughthejacquerie，whichtheyletloosefromtheDordognetoAveyron，fromCantaltothePyreneesandtheVar，underthepretenceofpunishingtherelativesofémigrésandtheabettorsofunswornpriests，theycreateanarmyoftheirownmadeupofrobbersandthedestitutewho，inanticipationoftheexploitsofthecomingrevolutionaryarmy，freelykill，burn，pillage，holdtoransomandpreyatlargeonthedefenselessflockofproprietorsofeveryclassanddegree。[66]