The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-12-08
GEN. LAFAYETTE.

GEN. LAFAYETTE.
When this soldier of the revolution left
crptiOn IN France was the subject of much
speculation aud anxiety--and 1t Was anti
cipatrd that he would meet with sonrthia 2
like insult aud contumrly. But our anxle-
y and speculation were hnshrd, aud our
anti, ipatlons dls,lpaied, when accounts
reached us OF his reception at Hayre.-
Scarcely, however, hid we congratulated
| ourselves on the good disposition manifest
ed by the French government, and become
| settled in the belief that lis re-. dictionary
msfortunes had taught II wisdom, 10 Sd,
| nothing ot the delicate relations suhsIstlng
between itself and Gen. Lafayette, "heo
W al" greeted With tidings al an extranr=
binary aud disgr ceful character Jealous
If the honors every where 80 freely be-
! slowed in this country upon the early
champion Of its independence, aud perhaps
fearful that the influence III the opinions
broachrd in the French Revolution had not
| entirely died away, the government seems
! to have followed the general, step by step,
! from lia,re to LaGranGr, with AN armed
! police. Nothing occurred to induce "A sns-
! picinn of hoslle feelings IN Tia" part oil iii,
! government of France, towald, Gen La
| 4 A I At
! place. IT appears, he was invited IN dine
with VI. Cabtnon, who observes the Paris
journal de ItJatS had represented thai
Department in the French Chamber Of
Deputies as long as the people had II in
their power 10 say who should be their re-
preventative. After dinner, large crowd
collected before th, house of NJ. Cabanon,
and greeted that gentleman and his gsests
with serenadr, aud other demonstrations
ofrcsp"ct. The most perfect order, how
ever, was maintained until, from two
separate quarters Of the town, detachments
ofthc Gardr Royale and of the Gcn's d.
armcs simultaneously appeared upon the
ground, the latter charging firiousIy upon
men, women and children, without any
cause whatever. Several persons were
killed, aud Others wounded. The French
government may pronounce this an unan-
thori2 d act, and rndeavor thus To clear it,
skirts Of the odum winch il richly merits.
But, If it hopes To be unsupported, ii must
go farther. Ii must bling the perpetrators
of the outrage to condisn punishment. 1t
must screen itself by chastising its agents.
1t viii be- IN vain 10 qnibbie about the mat
ter. There Is but one way 10 wash it,
! hands Of the disgrace which attaches 10
the daring and llagrant violation of all law
and that is to bring the actors in thu
scene at once before the public tribunals of
the country. that they may meet the a.
ward of justice.-Even this manifestation
of royal displeasure, could not prevent the
citizens paying To Gen. Lafayette the ut
most respect and, although orders were
given that DOT horse should be hied out
10y the livery men, IA large casalcade es-
corted him three leagues from Rourn. II
was expected, at the last accounts. that the
General would almost immediately visit
Paris. To this quarter we look for more
decided expression of the sentiments of
Charles \. and his ministers. They sure
~ cannot be SO far behind the age in lber-
aIlty and intelligence as to attempt to per-
secute him. The French Revolution. if i,
was attended with no other beneficial con.
sequence, had the effect Overwhelming inves-
tlgation, aud leading men TO form correct
opinions not only Of the relations which
exist between each other, but also of the
duties and privileges which reciprocally
belong to the governors and the governed.
1t will, consequently, require no great en-
cr'achments Ia induce "A CONFUSION similar
to that which al the close of the last cen
tury, converted the whole of France into a
Golgotha, If the seclusinn in which tn.
Bourbon family lived during the period of