Descending On France 1780
Chapter 67 - 67 063 Our name is National Assembly

67: 063 Our name is, National Assembly 67: 063 Our name is, National Assembly In the following days, the entire time of the Third Estate meeting was consumed by the debate over whether to examine the credentials of the delegates separately.

But the number of representatives from the Third Class was equal to the combined number of the First and Second Classes, so they did not actually have a numerical advantage.

As a result, the meeting was locked in an endless tug-of-war.

In the first few days, Louis XVI had shown his face, but later on, presumably because the subject of the debate was too boring, His Majesty had slipped away.

Thus, in the absence of the royal family and nobility, the Third Estate meeting dragged on for six weeks over whether to examine the credentials separately.

On the morning of June 10th, the situation took a turn.

That morning, Anning was dozing off in his seat when suddenly a voice thundered through the hall, “Enough!

I’ve had it!”

Startled, Anning snapped awake and hurried to look around to grasp the situation.

Then he saw a nobleman with a face like a shoehorn standing in his place, making an impassioned speech: “I’ve had it with quibbling with the commoners!

They’ll drag us into pointless squabbles!

What have we achieved in these six weeks?

“Nothing at all!

We’ve wasted six weeks of time!

I propose that all the noble delegates follow me; let’s go discuss in the place that belongs to us!”

Anning was dumbfounded; this turn of events did not match his memory.

He remembered that in the Third Estate meeting, it was the Third Class that first broke away from the First and Second, going it alone.

How could it be the other way around now?

The horse-faced noble’s rallying cry incited many conservative nobles hostile to the Third Class to stand up.

These die-hards had become irreconcilable with the Third Class over the past six weeks.

The representatives of the Third Class watched the nobles leave, and then a cardinal among the clergy stood up: “Then we shall also leave.

His Majesty had long ago given the order to split us into traditional groups for reviewing credentials.”

The clergymen stood up in twos and threes.

Anning heard someone say to Sais, “Mr.

Priest, please persuade your colleagues!”

Sais stood up.

So all eyes were then focused on Sais.

He cleared his throat and, facing the expectant Third Class representatives, said: “I have no intention of detaining my peers!

These days I have been reflecting, is it really necessary to drag the other two estates into the discussion?

“We are the representatives of the Third Class, representing ninety-nine percent of the people of the nation!

The Nobles and Priests only account for one percent of the population; they are just the representatives of one percent of the people!

“According to the principle of equality, even if the representatives of one percent leave, it will not affect the authority of the meeting, right?”

The representatives of the Third Class looked at each other in dismay.

Sais continued: “I propose that we start voting now.

As representatives of ninety-nine percent of the nation, the assembly we form is the assembly that represents the entire nation!”

After a moment of silence, Dan Dong was the first to shout out, “Vote!

We are the assembly that represents the entire nation!”

After a short pause, everyone began to shout, “Vote!”

“Let’s vote!”

Anning, seeing this scene, breathed a sigh of relief because history had returned to its original track.

Because he relaxed, Anning quipped, “Representing ninety-nine percent is nearly the same as representing everyone; math tells us there’s nothing wrong with that!

Math doesn’t lie!”

A delegate nearby also shouted, “That’s right!

Math doesn’t lie!

Ninety-nine percent is as good as all!”

Sais turned to the Clerk who was in charge of recording and said, “We are about to start voting!

We will use open vocal voting to tally the votes.

Please, Mr.

Clerk, help to oversee the voting process.”

The Clerk was a bit confused: “Uh…

I’m just here to record…”

“Yes, we just want you to record, you will see this is a fair and square vote!” Sais turned to the crowd and said, “We need two more people to be responsible for the vote calling, would any gentleman be willing…”

Maximilien Robespierre stood up: “Let me do it.

At my hometown courtrooms are large, and as a lawyer, you must have a clear and loud voice to ensure that the entire jury can hear your defense.”

Sais: “Alright Maximilien, you’ll be in charge, I’ll find another to assist you…”

Dan Dong rushed to Robespierre’s side.

Sais: “Alright gentlemen, if you agree that we can represent the entire republic, please cast your vote!

We guarantee fair treatment for everyone!”

The previously noisy delegates quieted down.

In this era, there weren’t convenient things like running water pens, so writing all had to be done with a pen dipped in ink.

Delegates lined up, took paper from the clerk, and then wrote “approve” or “disapprove” using the clerk’s pen.

Those who had completed their votes walked up to Robespierre and handed him the paper that marked their choice.

Robespierre collected the ballots and counted them out loud: “Approve!

Approve!

Still approve!

Here’s a disapprove…”

Dan Dong held a pen and tallied the votes in a notebook with a system of four vertical and one diagonal line—similar to a Chinese person writing the character “Zheng.”

Thirty minutes later, the result was out.

Robespierre loudly declared: “493 votes approve, 41 votes disapprove!

I proclaim, from now on, we are the National Assembly representing all the people!”

Everyone cheered.

The crowd watching from both sides of the stand also erupted into warm applause!

Maximilien Robespierre repeated aloud what he had just said: “From this moment, we are no longer the representatives of the Third Class!

We are the representatives of all the people!”

Sais said: “Correct!

I propose, we officially start the first agenda: reviewing representative qualifications!”

At this moment, Mirabeau stood up and asked: “Wait a minute!

Before that, shouldn’t we decide on what this brand-new assembly should be called?

We can’t keep using the name ‘General Assembly of the Three Estates’!

We need to distinguish ourselves in name from those vermin from before!”

After a brief silence, the delegates loudly agreed.

“That’s right!”

“Change begins with the name!”

“It must indicate that this is a brand-new entity!”

Sais struggled to quiet down the clamor until the room fell silent, then he said: “Therefore, I propose, to distinctly differentiate from the General Assembly of the Three Estates, we should call it the Famous, Genuine Representative Assembly!”

Anning was stunned upon hearing the name suggested by Sais: Damn, are you serious?

Isn’t this name just a joke?

Then a man named Munier stood up and loudly said: “It should be called the Majority Assembly!

Because we represent ninety-nine percent of the people, we are the absolute majority!”

Anning was even more shocked because in Russian “Bolshevik” means majority.

This is a naming collision!

Good grief, the Bolsheviks have been brought forward nearly one hundred and twenty years!

Mirabeau stood up: “I propose we call it the Assembly of Frenchmen!”

As soon as he finished, immediately, someone was displeased: “I am a damn Breton!

We don’t share the same crown with you Frenchmen!”

This was promptly supported by the people of Aquitaine.

Indeed, those who played Paradox Interactive’s game “Crusader Kings” would know that the land of France is now divided among several different kingdoms.

If you conquer the current land of France in the game, you could usurp at least three crowns: the Kingdom of Brittany, Kingdom of Aquitaine, and France, and depending on the situation, Burgundy could be claimed.

Controlling three kingdom crowns in the game allows you to become an emperor and establish an empire.

Thus, Mirabeau’s proposal failed because the French national consciousness had not yet fully awakened.

Subsequent proposals were made, but all were immediately met with opposition.

The names being suggested started to become increasingly strange, with even propositions like “The Assembly Composed of Lawyers, Judges, Factory Owners, and Clerks.”

Anning was the first to object unless the list of professions included “teachers, military officers, and leatherworkers.”

After a long debate, Anning could no longer stand it and stood up, slamming the table: “Enough!

I think we should just call it the National Assembly.

Simple, straightforward, and forceful!”

The chamber quieted down all at once as everyone considered Anning’s proposal.

At this moment, Sais said: “Let’s still vote; voting is a good thing.

Maximilien, we’re counting on you again.”

After more than half an hour, the delegates passed Anning’s proposed name with 443 votes in favor and 91 against.

The National Assembly was officially declared established on this day.