The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1815-08-02
[V0L. t2~--NO. a5.

" Gentlemen. he Electors oF CoH,res Of De-
fdrfmcnfS dnd " Oi&trict8-- Gemfteme1. me
Dcfnfies of the f,Dty By sea aa,d Atng = .
the Chant, dc ilds.
Emperor. Consul, Soldier, I hold every
IN ug OF the People Prosperity, in adver
slty, III the fistd OF battle, OF ,.e thrJne in
eXhe, france has been The Hniy AMI constant
OBJECT OF my thoughts ana of my actions.
- Like the king of Athens, | devoted NV
self tor my people. in the spirit Of see;,p the
promise realized oipreserving to France her.
natural integrity, her hcnors an;, he, r;sbt,
Indignation at seeing these sacred RIGHTS
acquired by twenty-five years of victopies
condemned and lost forever the crv Of
wounded French honor the wishes of the
nation have brought me back to this throne
which IS dear to me, because it is the Italia
anon OF tse independence, the honor, and the
rights of the people.
"trenchmen, in traversing, in the midst
OF the public joy, the different prov noes of the
h'npire to arrive IN my capitol, | had I,
reckon upon long peace nations are bound
by treaties, concluded by their Governments
whatever they are. My mind directed 4,
self entirely to the means of Founding our, lin.
erty by constitution conferinabie to the will
and the inter sc. OF the people. I convotsd
the Champ de Mai.
g soon learned, that the princes who
have despised all the principles, thwart-
ell the opinion and the dearest interests of so
many nations, wished to make war upon ms
hey mediate to increase the kingdom of the
Low Countries, to give it all the f,ontier
places of the North for barriers and 10 con-
cilate the differences which yet divide them.
ny snarlng Lorraine and Alsace II was ne
cessary to prepare for war. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
before personally mourning the dangers OF
battles, my first solicitude was to copst,t,.fe
the nation without delay. The people have
accepted the act, which presented to them,
frenchmen, when We shall have repuIs-
ed these unjust aggressiOns, and thst Enrope
shall be convinced of what it owes to the rights
and the independence of % millions of French
solemn law, made in the forms intended bv
the constitutional act, will reunte the differ
ent different dispositions of our now scattered
constitutions. Frenchmen, you are about "a =
return INTO our departments. Tell the citi
zens that the circumstances are grand chat
with union, energy, and perseverance. We
snau come victorious out Of this strupple }
OF a6great people against their oppressors
that gene rations to come will severely scrut,
nize our conduct (; that nation has lost ali
when she has lost her independence. Tell them
that foreign kings. whom raised to the throne.
or VINO owe to me the preservation of their
crowns VINO all, 10 the tune of nv prospey ritz
courted my alliance, and the protection of the
French people, now direct ali their blows ~
my person 1t did not see that it is against
the country, they mean them, shoula fFet
to their mercy this existence against which
they shew themselves so exasperated Rut
also tell the citizens. that, while the French
sian preserve tor me the sentiments OF love.
Oh whish they give me so much proof, s;.is
rage OF our enemies will be harmless
Frenchmea, my wish is that of the peo-
pie my fights are theirs my honor, my
glory, my happiness, can only be the honor
glory and happiness of France
1t would b. difficult to descr be the emotion
which appeared on all count nances. and tbe
long continued shouts which followed this
speech The emperor then, after receivino,
the sacrament, took the oath in these words.
swear to observe, and to cause to beob-
served the Constitution Of the Empire
The Prince Arch Chancellor. ADVANCING, -
the foot OF the throne, first pronounced the
oath 1t Obedience to the Constitution. and rs
hdellty to the Emperor. The assembly 70
peated with one voice-"We swear it,
During the speech and the taking Of The
oath, the members of the Central Denutati-
on OF the colleges, instead of returning 70
their places in the circular enclosure facing
the thron, seated themselves on the
Seps OF the throne itself about the Fmna-
ror who was surrounded by them as fatber
by his family.
They did not retire till during the TIE De-
um, which was sung after the oath, ond 1T the
moment when the Presidents OF the F,ecto-
raj Colleges advanced to receive tn eagles
destined tor the National Guards of Their Tes-
pective Departments. The eagle Of the Ma
tlonal Guard of the Department of the Seine
that OF the first regiment of the army. and
that OF the first corps the marine were kent
by the ministers of the Interior, of War and
of the Marine. "'N
The Emperor having laid aside the Tmne-
RAJ mantle, rose from the throne, advanced ~
the hrst steps, the drums beat, and his Nj
jesty thus spoke:
Soldiers OF the national guard of the en-.
pre-, soldiers Of the army and navy. con.
pde TO you the imperial eagle with the nat0n-
al colours swear to defend them at tb,. re-
OF your blood against the enemies of your ro,,T1
try and OF this throne Swear that il sh.n
always be your Acknowledgement"
Universal repeated cries of We ,,yeo,,
1t, sounded throughout the enclosure 80 =.
was amidst these acclamations. andsurrn ', -
ca by the eagles Of all the armed cor,1s IS
france, that the Emperor went viii ~
wnole reunue to place himself on the eIe,,a,
tea throne, in the middle of the C,hs,,r, o..
Mars where, as colonel of the nationa, ~
OF Paris, and OF the imperial guard. .be &c
the eagles 70 the Presidents OF he 800 800
ments and OF the six aroDd,senen,s
~