Elected Chairman of the Department and National Guards in a consulta at Orezza, Pasquale Paolicalled upon to play an important role, says he is more inclined to defend the Constitution than to “interfere in ordinary affairs”
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On July 14, 1790, the day of the Feast of the Federation, Pasquale Paoli arrived in Macinaggio where he received an enthusiastic welcome commensurate with his personality, shaped by the ordeal of exile in London, reinforced by an international stature acquired by a long journey through Europe from Livorno to London. If he had to avoid the France of Louis XV in 1769, for security reasons, he was now welcomed in Paris with benevolence, both by Louis XVI and by Robespierre. “Disembarked in Corsica on July 14 at Macinaggio, he entered Bastia in the middle of an immense crowd. His presence is felt as the return of the rightful ruler of the island. »(1)
In a surge of popular joy, people dance in front of the illuminated houses. With the Constituent Assembly in power, exiled Paoli was given a major role in Corsica. The Superior Committee of Bastia visits him, as well as the Viscount of Barrin.
After having been the privileged guest of George III for more than twenty years and having frequented the salons of London good society, the head of the Corsican nation has decided to leave London to return to Corsica. How was this turnaround made possible? The idea had been in the air for several months among Paoli’s supporters, but it took until it matured in his head to win. “On February 22, 1790, a General Assembly was held in Bastia. Panattieri, deputy for Calvi, proposes that in the face of the disorders with which “the Fatherland is threatened”, we demand the return of Pascal Paoli. He asks his colleagues to let the general know of their desire to see him return to the island. Panattieri’s motion is enthusiastically received. »(2)
A delegation including Achille Murati and Panattieri is therefore mandated on February 25, to pick up Paoli in London and accompany him in his steps. On April 3, they arrive in Paris. Guided by La Fayette, Paoli is surrounded by a surge of sympathy, everyone wanting to touch the hero of the day.
The gazettes call it the “Corsican Washington”, which angers Spinola, the ambassador from Genoa saying of Paoli: “He appears as a ‘convinced partisan of the Revolution’, but he does not know if he should return to Corsica. In fact, Paoli does not know what is expected of him and, if he returns to the island, what his room for maneuver will be. »(3) However, because of the benevolent eagerness of which it is the object, “Paoli now knows that he was brought in to restore order on the island. Friendly demonstrations don’t change that. He also knows that he won’t have any real means”.(4)
However, the general accepts his new mission with a certain confidence, eager to act for a new Corsica now placed under the regime of the French Revolution, as evidenced by his letter sent from Paris to Limperani on May 1, 1790: “Better times are also coming for our poor homeland. His fate is now in our hands. This generous nation could not be better disposed towards us, and the beneficent Sovereign willingly agrees with the National Assembly to adopt all the means which can relieve our country of the oppression suffered up to now. It is enough that we proceed with harmony and moderation, and in the end everyone will be happy with the new system of government, under which Corsica, like all the other provinces of the monarchy, will be governed. »(5)
Paoli statue, November 30 declared “national holiday”
On September 9, during a consultation held at the convent of San Francescu d’Orezza, Paoli, covered in praise, was entrusted with the dual position of President of the Department of Corsica and Commander-in-Chief of the National Guards.
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During an important speech which marks his return to politics, Paoli recalls the past struggles which allowed this island to govern itself, when others “groaned under the scepter of kings”. Today, the Corsicans must show a perpetual attachment and “a total adherence to the happy constitution which unites us to it under the same laws and under a citizen king”. (6) This speech is hailed by the Orezza assembly which confirms Paoli as president.
In other words, Corsica must unite with France, but keeping a margin of maneuver, a certain autonomy: “Attachment, union with France, but on condition that France left the Corsicans free to administer themselves. »(7)
However, Paoli who in London said he aspired to a quiet retirement, must now face the traditional evils that plague Corsica: “The costs of trials and disputes devour the heritage: salaries of agents, controls, unlimited dismissal of sentences… Trials only end when the parties are reduced to the state of skeletons…”(8)
The day after the Orezza assembly, Christophe Saliceti, elected attorney general, was charged with Charles-André Pozzo di Borgo to bring the minutes to the Constituent Assembly. The members of the first provincial assembly of Orezza then propose to raise a statue to Paoli and to grant him an annuity. The general refuses both, but he will still have his statue. Among the decisions taken, that of decreeing November 30 as a national holiday: “Before the end of the meeting of the Assembly, various demands concerning the release of the Corsicans still detained, the rehabilitation of those who were executed, the annulment of the concessions and deliberations in favor of Marbeuf and other French officers of the time of conquest. Finally, November 30 is declared a national holiday. »(9)
The first meeting of the General Council chaired by Pasquale Paoli is held on September 30 in Bastia, the new capital of the department, but Paoli will sit there only once, on November 11. “And on January 16, 1792, he wrote again: I don’t want to interfere in ordinary affairs. But where it is necessary to defend the Constitution, I will take the musket and march with the good patriots. On closer inspection, Paoli is not a head of state but a theoretician of the state, of power. »(10)
As the year 1790 drew to a close, Paoli assumed full power, henceforth holding the political and military commands. But the decree of the Constituent Assembly on the Civil Constitution of the Clergy creates tensions in Corsica, where it is hard to accept that priests are appointed by another authority than the pope. “Pascal Paoli is in favor of the application of the Civil Constitution, which he tries to put in place gently, and invites priests to swear. »(11)
Or, Mgr Verclos, Bishop of Mariana refuses to take the oath and leaves Corsica. The year 1791 promises to be delicate for Paoli.
(1, 9, 11) JM Arrighi and O. Jehasse. History of Corsica and the Corsicans. Perrin. / (2, 3, 4, 6, 7) Antoine-Marie Graziani. Pascal Paoli father of the Corsican homeland. Tallandier. / (5) Correspondence of the Superior Committee of Bastia. Science Society Bulletin. 1894. / (8, 10) Michel Vergé-Franceschi. Paoli. A Corsica of lights. Fayard.
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