Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1815-10-18

with my regiment to Grenoble. Where was
your regiment stationed Pit was quar-
tered on tne ramparts. By whose order
did it leave its post, and proceed in the di-
reot'on of Gap, towards which place Bo-
napaite was approaching ? BY mine only.
What was your rallying word when you
gave the order TO advance, YiOe i'Emhe-
ren'. When did you give the Eagle to your
regiment On leaving the suburbs OF
Grenohe. Did you tear off your white
cockade and mount the tri-colored! No,
had none. Did not Gen. Devilliers pur-
sue you, and use authority and persuasion 10
bring you back to your duty? Yes, he
spoke of the bonds / had broken, and of
the consequences which might result from
my conduct /; / told him that the interest
OF my country was superior to every other
consideration. Have you any communica-
tons 10 make None.
The prisoner wished to submit to the
court an observation as to the Course adopt
ed in his examination. The law, he said
directs the hearing of testimony as to the
facts of the case, and not as TO the circum-
stances which may have led to this or that
action. But it especially requires that mil
itary offences should be tried by courts
formed out of the Division to which the par
ties belong, that they might have an opportu
nifty OF making their defence perhaps even
on the very spot where the ailedged offence
was committed. The last Decree of his
Majesty seemed to deprive him of the be-
.heht of this law, and he wished to know if
1t could not now be awaited of. The court
reported progress and proceeded in the
examination of witnesses.
Count D'Agoult, Colonel of the Guards;
+. Bouret, ii. Andru, and Henry Decrouy,
testified some as witnesses and Others
from hearsay, as follows That the pri-
soner whose regiment arrived at Grenoble
on the morning of the 9TH of March, and
was stationed on the ramparts, had We
~ warm dispute with Lieut.. Gen. Count
Merchant, his superior officer Sand left
him much out of humor. Towards three
o'clock he ordered his regiment to advance,
and had scarcely got ont of the city before
he drew his sword and cried out Vive lie
Emfiereur. Breaking open a box, from
which he took gilt eagle, he mounted it
upon branch of willow, and that same
evening returned in the suite of Bonaparte.
Gen. Devilliers 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 horse
by chance, he gallopped towards the de-
serters, and prevailed upon about hun
dred to return-but reaching the head of
the troops, neither his orders, enureaties
or threats were attended to-I spoke to
Mr.. Labedoyere of honor and country-he
retorted, country and honor but evident
Yin different sense, and / could do no
thing with him. The dispositions of seve-
raj other Witnesses did not strengthen
no fharr was. 49, 3 II
prisoner.
The Judge Advocate oesan--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 King caused the invasion of
our country and led the nation to the brink
OF a precIpice, dreadful to contemplate
He hastily recapitulated the conduct Of the
prisoner-tIe was culpable as a French
man, soldier and Cnmmander-Guiliyo of
Rebellion to his superiors and treason TO
his King. He repealed all the political
considerations which had been urged to ex-
cuse or e2tenuate mis- crime. Tribunals
bound to maintain the discipline of Armies
were governed by facts and not by results
and consequences.
Let Mr.. Labedoyere dare to contemplate
the evils, h has not feared to bring down
upon his Country--let him see our provin-
ces grooming under the weight of foreign
armies--let him see the situation of France
and then judge. Let not that false
and dangerous doctrine which has been
urged by his defenders, be allowed to ope-
rate, that 7ohere the number Of tie euiktv
rs immense, hGrdon becomes nece8sarY. But
the FIRST prosecution says that the first pu-
instrument ought to fall on the first offender
What Suppose Col. Labedoyere had oily
been guilty of a single act of revolt, would
he not have been punished And because
MS guilty example has found so many follow
ers, and his crime been attended with such
terrible consequences, must he be acuuit-
ted No. In his severe though Just inflex-
ibility, Mr.. Viotti as propounder of the
law and public prosecutor, moved that Col.
Labedoyere should be declared guilty of
rebellion and treason, but not Of enveicle-
ment (embauchage, y and that he be deera-
ded and stripped Of his decorations.
MIR. Bexon, who was present, not Is At
torney, but Counsellor for the prisoner.
merely Observed to the judges" Gentle
men, before ] concluded TO assist my client
IN his misfortune, IL became ny duty to
study the man---to probe his soul. have
found him full Of nobleness Of mind, and
have thought his defence could not excite
more interest from you than from his own
mouth"
Mr.. Labedoyere now rose and read his
detence. which appeared to be written in
haste, and without method upon slips of pa
per:
IT, on this important day, my life a.
lone were compromised, should abandon