M Charras—They have not done the same by you
M Victor Hugo—I reply to M the minister and to M the President, who accuse mo of insulting the President of the Republic, that, having constitutional right to accuse M the President of the Republic, I shall use that right on the day I shall judge suitable, and I shall not lose my time in offending him, but it is not insluting him to say that ho is not a great man (Loud protests on some benches of the right)
M Briffaut—Your insults cannot attain him
M Do Caularneourt—There are calumnies which are powerless to reach him, know that well
M the President—If you go on, after my warning, I shall call you to order
M Victor Hugo—Here is what I have got to say, and M the President will not hinder me completing my explanation (Great agitation)
What we ask from M the President, responsible for the Republic, what we hope from him, what we have the right to expect firmly from him, is, not that he should hold power like a great man, but, that he should quit it like an honest man
On the left—Very good, very good!
M Clary—Do not calumniate him in the meantime
M Victor Hugo—Those who insult him are amongst his friends, who say, that on the second Sunday of May he will not resign the power entrusted to him purely and simply, as he ought unless he be a seditious plotter
Voice from the left —And a perjurer!
M Vellard—These are calumnies, M Victor Hugo knows it well
M Victor Hugo—Gentlemen of the majority, you have suppressed the liberty of the press, would you suppress the liberty of the tribune? (Movement) I come not to ask a favor, I demand liberty of speech The soldier, hindered in doing his duty, breaks his sword, if the liberty of the tribune is dead, tell me so, that I may destroy my commission On the day the
