For the majority was made up of two classes.

One class consisted of eager and vehement Whigs, who, if they had been able to take their own course, would have given to the proceedings of the Convention a decidedly revolutionary character.
The other class admitted that a revolution was necessary, but regarded it as a necessary evil, and wished to disguise it, as much as possible, under the show of legitimacy.

The former class demanded a distinct recognition of the right of subjects to dethrone bad princes.

The latter class desired to rid the country of one bad prince, without promulgating any doctrine which might be abused for the purpose of weakening the just and salutary authority of future monarchs.

The former class dwelt chiefly on the King's misgovernment; the latter on his flight.