, one of the active agents in the French revolution, was born in 1761,
, one of the
active agents in the French revolution, was born in 1761,
the son of an opulent attorney of Grenoble. He was educated to the profession of the law, and being appointed
deputy to the States-General in 1789, became one of the
most implacable enemies of the court, and in other respects betrayed that sanguinary spirit which at that time
raised many more obscure men into popular reputation.
He joined in most of the extravagant measures of the assembly, and argued in particular for confiscating the property of the clergy, and abolishing religious orders. In
order to catch popularity from whatever quarter, he declared himself the advocate of protestants, actors, Jews,
and executioners, and solicited their admission to the rights
of citizenship. He was likewise for the suppression of all
feudal rights and titles, and in general for all the measures
of the Jacobin party but amidst all this violence, he ventured to think for himself on some points, which proved his
ruin. On one occasion, he insisted that no law shouJd be
passed concerning people of colour, until the motion had
been made by the colonies and pointed out the certain
resistance of the planters to innovations of this nature.
Such an appearance of justice could not be acceptable at
that time. It was even attributed to corruption, of which
a more direct proof appeared soon after. On the news of
the king’s being arrested in his flight, Barnave, with Petion, and another, were appointed to escort the royal family
to Paris. He returned in the carriage of their majesties,
and conducted himself with all proper respect and attention. What had happened to produce this change is not
known it might be compunction, or he might have discovered that the unfortunate monarch was not the monster
he had represented him but from this hour Barnave became a suspected character; and he increased this suspicion, by giving in the assembly a simple recital of his mission, without adding any reflection. He did worse he even
spoke for the inviolability of the king’s person, and repelled,
with looks of contempt, the hootings of the populace. He
still continued, however, to enjoy some influence in the
assembly, to which his talents justly entitled him, and even
was powerful enough to procure a repeal of the decree respecting the colonies, which he had before opposed against
the voice of the majority. At the end of the session he
was appointed mayor of Grenoble, where he married the
only daughter of a lawyer, who brought him a fortune of
700,000 livres but all this he did not enjoy long. When
the jacobin party obtained possession of the court, in consequence of the events of August 1792, they found, or
created, proofs of his connection with the cabinet of the
Thuileries. After a long imprisonment at Grenoble, he was
brought before the revolutionary tribunal of Paris, where
he made an able defence, and probably impressed even his
enemies with a favourable opinion of his conduct. He was,
however, condemned to be guillotined, which was executed Nov. 29, 1793. Barnave was unquestionably a man
of abilities, whatever may be thought of their direction.
Mirabeau, to whom he was a rival, and whom he often opposed, was astonished that a young man should speak so
rapidly, so long, and so eloquently and said of him, “It
is a young tree, which will mount high if it be let to grow.
”