Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-02-03

.ure. According tot, the establishment
by force OF al iileg innate authority, must
Cause the total destruction of people
The usurper would not fail to puhish those
who should refuse to submit Co h;u,,
while the legitimate prince. in his turn,
would strike those who had submitted to
the usurpatinn.
The English legislature, foreseeing this
violent situation, provided for the public
safety by a statute passed in the eign of
Henry VII. which declares, that no one
shall be held guilty for obeying n sovereign
actually reignmg-This law, according TO
publicists, is founded on these considera-
ons, that 4 prince who is reduced by force
To leave his states, cannot exact ODE dience,
while he is unable to afford protection--,hat
1t belongs not To individuals possessing no
authority to discuss the title of sovereigns
and that the most manifest usurpatiou
not less imposes the necessity of obedience
than the most legitimate authority.
But why should say more TO prove that
in such a case, the citizen who submits to
the existing 'thority, is justified by the
cirC umstance! Was not this rule, so
necessary for the repose of states, fully &C
knowledged and consccrated BY his majesty
at the moment OF his entering his king
DOM Do we not read in his proclamati
on of the 28th of June, that he reg ,rded no
Frenchman iae.rcus06ie e.rce1it the nSti-
gators and authors Of the horrible conSfiirQ-
cy. which had forced him to leave France
but that he wished to throw veil over all
chat passed from the day Of his Leaving
Lisle until that of his entering Cambrais
A stranger, as all my coniuct proves,
to the plot, the authors of which the king
has thought himself bound to punish. and
not having served under the iilegitimate
government, except during the interval
elapsed between the two epochs marked
by the proclamation, on what ground can
be the object of punishment, when my
security rests on the highest guarantee
My own innocence and the kings word?
What, then, IS the cruel fatality which
arrays against me all the wrath of his ma
jeSty, while his letter of the 18th Of
March, poSterior to my retreat from the
min stry, still assured me of mis- favor, and
while his proclamation OF June 28,h excu-
ses the involuntary errors in which par
ticipated CluIng that interval, With SO
great number Of Frenchmenf
Can it be my conduct since that prucia-
nation which has rendered me unworthy
of the benefit it guarantees? No, that is
m,snsslble: for that couduct, as the army
and the capital can attest, was such as, OF
itself perhaps, ought to suffice 10 recover
for me all the favor of my sovereign.
Can the ministers have neglected to in
form his majesty. that before the 2Sth of
June, and from the moment that the abdi-
cation of Bo0aparte permitted me openly
to express my wishes, | neglected no eff
fort, avoided no danger in endeavoring TO
recall the troops, the citizens and the diff
ferent authorities of the State to our legiti-
mate Princes? While mems minds, and
all the factions were agtated with the
question OH what head the Grown of France
| regarded as vacant, should be placed, vas
l found to hesitate moment in recogniZ-
| ing and proclaiming tAe right of the Bour-
bons Did not appear in this Chamber
! of Peers, before the provisional commits
sion OF government, in the presence of all
| the generals Of the army assembled in d
! Council of war to deliberate on the de-
fence of Paris Is it necessary that
| should state, that my zeal and frankness in
| maintaining that the honor of France de-
! pended on prompt submission to the
| Fling, rendered me suspected by the go
vernment, and caused my recall from the
army the command Of which was entrusted
to Count Grouchy
| Doubtless, never thought of demand
ing from the Court the reward of this
| conduct believed / was fulfilling my
| duty. It was my country / considered nv
self defending. But though was far FROM
looking TOR any recompense, ought | to
| have expected that as the reward of my
| zeal and devotedness to the cause of the
| King, his ministers would class me with
those who have been signalzed as the
/ most criminal or the most dangerous of
his subjects 1t is because I, almost alone,
| had had the courage, in those mo,Dcnts of
difficulty, to REGAL to her duty France, then
re-b Come free to follow Il, that my name
has been placed at the head of the list of
the prescribed!
The more ] reflect on this strange re-
| suit, the more compare it with my con-
duct and the wisdom of the King, the more
must | be confirmed in the conviction,
that the mind of his Majesty has been de-
ceived, that my conduct has not been
| known to him; that ignorance OF csIumny
can alone have instituted the process a.
| sainst me. / may then hope, that his
| Majesty, on bsing better informed, will
| himself dtign to correct the fatal error of
which am the victim. For tnis, his know
ledge, his justice, and his bounty, are my
guarantees.
But were | SO unfortunate as to find that
his Majesty considering himself bound by
| first determination, should not think fit to
employ his own authority in repairing the
| injury he has done me, and should entrust
to others than himself the examination and
! appreciation Of my conduct, there is at
lelst one act Of justice which doubtless ]
shall not solicit in vain. 1t is to be sent,
! without further delay, before the Judges
4 Il far.s. Il In. r