He was a firm believer in the republican form of government, and sat with the center left, but on topics such as religion held conservative views.

Edmond Edouard Ernest Victor Toupet des Vignes was born on 5 September 1816 in Givet, Ardennes.

[2] In his election campaign he demanded free and compulsory education, improvement of the lot of workers through progressive organization of work, and full liberty of association.

[2] On 8 February 1871 Toupet des Vignes was elected representative of the Ardennes in the National Assembly, and took his seat with the Centre gauche parliamentary group.

On 14 June 1871 he seconded the motion by Louis Blanc that members of the government of national defense should have to account for the way in which they had exercised power during the Siege of Paris.