Named in Floreal Year III, he was one of the eleven members of the committee that drafted the Constitution of the Year III. By offering the decree of two thirds, he promoted the re-election of two thirds of conventional in the new legislative body. He served as President of the Convention from 24 September 1795 until his replacement by Genissieu on 8 October 1795. During his term, the Convention faced a royalist insurrection and declared the abolition of the death penalty from the date of conclusion of peace. They also voted to accept the Constitution of 1795. His speech honoring the executed Girondins, "In honor of the Deputies who died as Victims of Tyranny," which he made on 3 October 1795 during his presidency, illustrated the lasting effect of the Girondin eloquence upon their audiences, and "analyses the characters of the chief orators with admirable felicity of expression." It was also the first public tribute to this important group of orators. On 26 October 1795, the last day of the convention, he proposed a decree of geneneral amnesty "for deeds exclusively connected with the Revolution" which was accepted and proclaimed.