7540. REVOLUTION (French), Provincial Assemblies.—
The establishment of the
Provincial Assemblies was, in itself, a fundamental
improvement. They would be of the
choice of the people, one-third renewed every
year, in those provinces where there are no
States, that is to say, over about three-fourths
of the kingdom. They would be partly an Executive
themselves, and partly an executive
council to the Intendant, to whom the executive
power, in his province, had been, heretofore,
entirely delegated. Chosen by the people, they
would soften the execution of hard laws and,
having a right of representation to the King,
they would censure bad laws, suggest good ones,
expose abuses, and their representations, when
united, would command respect. To the other
advantages might be added the precedent itself
of calling the Assemblée des Notables, which
would perhaps grow into habit. The hope was
that the improvements thus promised would be
carried into effect; that they would be maintained
during the present [Louis XVI.] reign,
and that that would be long enough for them
to take some root in the constitution, so that
they might come to be considered as a part of
that, and be protected by time, and the attachment
of the nation.—
Autobiography. Washington ed. i, 71.
Ford ed., i, 98.
(1821)
