Jean-Denis LANJUINAIS (1755-1827) lawyer, deputy of the Renn - Lot 632

Lot 632
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400 - 500 EUR
Jean-Denis LANJUINAIS (1755-1827) lawyer, deputy of the Renn - Lot 632
Jean-Denis LANJUINAIS (1755-1827) lawyer, deputy of the Rennes Third Estate to the Estates General, founder of the Breton Club, member of the Convention (Ille-et-Vilaine), senator. L.A.S., Paris February 12, 1816, to a "former and most honored colleague"; 1 page large in-8, address crossed out. Magnificent letter on the so-called "amnesty" law proscribing regicides (January 7). Lanjuinais attempts to reassure his correspondent, but paints a disturbing picture of these "purges": "I hasten to assure you that you are not in the text, nor in the will of the law of proscription, entitled amnesty". Those who voted for the King's death are called "homicidal", "the proscribers wanted to proscribe all the voters [...] if this fury returned tomorrow, and prevailed, we would have to submit to it; have you ever known proscriptions to be just? The Chambers are as inviolable as kings; there is a double prescription of ten years and the poor charter and the forgiving will, and the immutable word of Saturday, abrogated on the following Tuesday by the voice of the people and of God. [...] Now, while carrying out hatreds and vengeances, we want to speak only of peace and union; God be praised, but peace and union do not prevent deplorable purges, since this barbarism must be used". He can do nothing to prevent these purges, happy as he is to escape them himself. "But you, judge your fate by the disposition of the deputies towards you, or by that of some club, some very exclusive and very good denouncer. Purges were never carried out any other way. Resignation is an evil without a remedy"...
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