Magistrates of the Parlements
The Magistrates of the Parlements - Truly Noble? Reading the remonstrances of the Parlements between the years 1775 and 1788, one is struck by the zeal and enthusiasm with which the magistrates, public servants drawn from the nobility, fought for the rights of France's poor. Claiming to desire to "plead the cause of the people before Your Majesty's tribunal" (52), they provided a voice to the King for members of French society who could not speak for themselves. There are indications, however, that their intentions were not completely altruistic. Were they really sincere in their desire to aid the lower classes, or were these nobles leading a fight which they felt would retain their popularity and build their support amongst the masses? For although they are seen to have fought for equality in the form of just tax collection procedures, fair legislative representation, and honest beaurocrats (see the Remonstrance of the Cour des aides, May 6, 1775), they also fought vociferously to retain France's traditional tax structure, in which the First and Second Estates were exempt from paying land tax. When Calonne, and then Brienne, tried to relieve France's financial burdens by instituting a universal land tax, a move which
These same bodies, which had previously presented themselves as paragons of equality and liberalism, were now preventing France's greatest ever class breakthrough from reaching the nation's poor. For just one year after the remonstrance of the Cour des aides, they had the chance to provide France's lower classes with a level of financial freedom far exceeding the reforms they had been advocating before the king in 1775. And the most clear statement: "we magistrates, who regard ourselves as representatives of the people" (65). Furthermore, they argued, such a disruption would lead to a slippery slope of the leveling of the classes, eventually resulting in no class distinctions whatsoever. Throughout the document, references are made to the role which the magistrates play as representatives of and advocates for the people. It was harsh criticism of the Crown. But did they do so at the expense of their personal rights and privileges? Certainly not. The solution: simplify the tax system. In short, those brave soldiers from earlier ages had little connection to much of the nobility of the age. But without class distinctions, they asked, how would society function? Who would assume the role of the farmer? Who would be the artisan? Who would lead the military? If everyone would be free to choose any profession he desires, the proper balance of professions in French society would be disrupted. would have invariably eased the financial burdens of the Third Estate, the magistrates of the Parlements fought with the same zeal exhibited previously on behalf of the people to fight against this legislation (see remonstrances from March 1776 - May 1788). Ruling authority, they argued, had become out of control, with beaurocrats asserting their power in ways which grossly interfered with individuals' personal rights. We must assume that in opposing the taxation reforms of the late eighteenth century, the magistrates had one simple motivation: greed. Furthermore, the fiscal system was described by the remonstrance as being "repugnant to humanity" (53), overburdening the lower classes, and throwing them into a state of excessive poverty. The political climate in France at the time was such that the power was centered with the nobility.
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