Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-10-18


testified, some as eye-witnasses and others |
from hearsay, as follows: That Che prison
er whose regiment arrived at G.enobe OH
the morning of the eth Of March, aad was
stationed on the ramparts, had 4 very
warm dispute with Lieut.. Gen. Count Mer-
chand, his superior officer, aud left him
much out of humour. Towards 3o'clock
he ordered his regiment to advance, and
had scarcely got out of the city before he
drew his sword and cried out Zee Z En-
perear. Breaking open box from which
he took a gilt eagle, he mounted II upon a
branch of willow, aud that same evening
returned in the suite of Bonaparte. Gen.
Devillcrs deposed, that having heard some
disturbance on the ramparts, he went there
and was informed the 9TH regiment had left
its post and gone to join Bonaparte. He
pursued it on foot, till meeting a horse by
chance. he galloped towards the deserters,
! and prevailed upon about hundred TO re-
turn-but reaching the head of the troops,
! neither his orders, entreaties or threats
were attended to-i spoke to MIR. Labe-
doyere of honor and country-he retorted,
country and honor; hutevidently III adiier-
ent sense, end | could d. nothing with him.
The dispositions ofseveral other witnesses
did not strengthen facts, as they were not
even denied by the prisoner.
The Judge Advocate began-The at
tempt OF the prisoner he said was one of
the highest class of those crimes which had
for several months deprived France of her
legitimate KiDg-caused the invasion of our
contry and led the nation to the BRINK of a
precipice, dreadful TO contemplate. He
hastily recapitulated the conduct of the pri
soner-He was culpable as Frenchman, a
soldier and commander-Guiltyo of Rebel
lion to his superiors and treason to his
King. He repealed all The political consi-
derations which had been urged to excuse
or extenuate his crime. Tribunals bound
to maintain the discipline of Armies were
governed by facts and not by results and
consequences.
Let Mr. Lebadoyere dare TO contem-
pltte the evils, he has not feared to bring
down upon his Country-let him see our
provinces grooming under the weight of To-
reign arinies--let him see the situation of
France aid then judge.-Let not that false
and dangerous doctrine which has been
urged by his defenders, be allowed to one
rate-that lchere tie mmber ofthe guilty
is immsnse, pardon becomes necessary
But the first prosecution says that the first
punishment ought 60 fall on the first ,oAlen-
der? What Suppose Col. Lebadoyere
had only been guilty of single act Of re-
volt would he not have been punished !?
And because his guilty example has found
so many followers, and his crime been at
tended with such terrible consequences,
must he be acquitted No. In his severe
tho just inflexibiIty, Mr.. Viotti as pro-
FOUNDER of the law and public prosecutor,
moved that Col. Labedoyere should be de-
clared guilty of rebellion aud treason, but
not of enlightenment (embauchage,) and
that he be degraded and stripped Of his de-
corations.
MIR. Bexon, who was present, not as At
torney, but Counsellor for the prisoner,
merely observed to the Judges Gentle
men, before | concluded toassist my client
in his misfortune, it became my duty to
study the man-to probe his soul. have
found him full of nobeness of mind, and
have thought his defence could not excite
more interest from you than from his own
mouth"
MIR. I.abedOyere now rose and read his
defence, which appeared to be written in
haste&without method, upon slips of paper.
g II, on this important day, mylife alone
were compromised, | should abandon my
self to the encouraging idea, that he who
has sometimes led brave men to death
would know how to march to death him.
self like brave man, and should not de-
tain you. But my honour is attacked as
well as my life, and it ismy duty to defend
1t, because it does not belong to me alone
Ia wife, the model of every virtue, has a
right to demand an account oft from me.
Shall my son, when reason comes to en-
tighten him, blush at his Inheritance /? I
feel strength enough 70 resist the most ter
rible attacks, if am able to say Honour is
untouched
may have been deceived-misied by
Illusions, BY recollections, by false IDEAS Of
honour-iti is possible that country spoke
chimerical language to my heart"
The accused here declared. that he had
nointention nor was it possible for him to
deny facts, public and notorious ; he was
ready to sign the act Of accusation drawn
up against him, but he would Justify him.
self from the charge Of haviGg been con.
cerned in any plot that preceded the re.
turn Of Bonaparte; and lie protested that
he was convinced no relation ever existed
between the Isle of Elba and Paris.
Appointed Colonel of a regiment. +