Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-02-12

hSAN'oS IVA pNh's W. " uiIA 4
whole =
brave National Guards-You will n,,.,
of nv regret in learning that General Lab
has gwen n his resignation. ~lattered ms
that l should have seen him longer at your = |
and animating your zeal by his example. 4 br'
great service he has rendered the cause At
tv. feel his resignation the more. as he b,.t
a short time to live. The brave General 10y
glorious part to maintain order in the late ~
ton. find another consolation in naming g.
Lobau COmmandant-G General Of the N,.,.
Guards of Paris. lie joined and partook ~
dangers and in your glory on the memo,,S
days of July: his brilliant military quali,is, 4
his patriotism rendered him worthy 70 Comm,
this Citizen Militia, by which | ain proud 10
surrounded: and have given ME new p!cJe, /
their confidence and affection.
Paris Dec. &c. LOUIS Pr,
The motives which led to this resignation u
in one paper stated as follows: 1
The chamber Of Deputies, apparently ,I,,.
ed for reform. passed a vote e%nacting thai Il. v
tional Guards should MOI be permitted "a rS,,*
their own General.
The consequence Of this vote would have !
the removal Of La Fayette; but this unsr,,st
unpopular, and p%eriicas step was to have II
obviated by a direct appointment from The Ere
To this, however, the patriotic General Womb 4
submit. Subsequently the King sent for IN
old and long attached friend" and the in,it.
was accepted. i
Lafayette declared that lie appeared not A. i
unconnected individual, but as a negotiation. i
in reply to the Kings earnest .~ltrea;y ,h,,
would re-accept the command IN chief Of n
Guards from his hands, said that he could 10,
do so without an infusion of popular strersd
to his Majesty present Councils, and the inn
duction Of such an electoral law as would ,y
fly the neop!e. and give solidity to the i~nstituds
of the revolution.
The General himself, however, has given thefoUr
ing explanation Of his resignation in the Chanb1
Resignation Of LGfayeHG-The sitting Of N
Chamber of Deputies on the eth Dec. va, j
merously attended in consequence of the elsk
ordinary degree of interest excited BY recent
currences. The Chamber were proceedng
the discussion of the law relative to the NatsN
Guard. when Gen. Lafayette entered and va, J
ceived with universal applause, upwards Of U1
hundred members going up to him and .hakuE
his hand. The General then went to tie Pre-
dent, and after a short conversation with him +
dressed the Chamber as follows:
"In a nelghboring nation, it is The cusbk
when a citizen retires from a distinguished of b
for him to come before his fellow citizens, Il
explain the cause, and | am sure the Chan !:
will grant me the same favor. ALWAYS Nj
considered that the post of commander in q
of the National Guards of France was incOn;
tible with q constitutional monarchy except T.
der circumstances of the most absolute net.5
ty. 1t was this conviction that led me, in II
| when three millions of National Guards win
to elect NE their commander, at the Federat1
by $4,000 Deputies, to apply TO the cOnsttgd
Assembly. and urge them TO issue a decree
opposition to this desire. Such still was myqd
ion when the Lieutenant General Of the III
dom, who has since become our King wished
to accept the same appointment, and | feiE1
self bound to accept it, but always ~re'alrn.1
intention of laying it down, as soon as va
tlsfied that it was no longer necessary Tor me
retain it, earlier if peace remained uObrOS'na
at a later period had war ensued. The t'of
ed opinion of the chamber has FASTENED trF 4
Rod, and out Of respect for it | have not vl01
till the law was submitted to the other brands
the state. 1t Is merely a matter Of date; b
should be deeply hurt, if any one imagined Il
no one, who has been acquainted with me dIT
the last "a years Of my life. Can believe, that
conduct has been dictated by any personal Z
ing. | will go further, and say, that tins oPl
of the Chamber has afforded me an oPpor'uh
The high authority with which | was In's'
has given umbrage which you, gentlemen 0
have heard Of: and this umbrase has even
| felt in certain diplomatic circles. The cav
now at an end, and | have now no other honor
that of being one of your colleagues.
some word more, gentlemen, | should not
given in my resignation. which the k'nsh '
cepted with all that goodness he has ever
towards me, before the Crisis we have no" u
ly got over was at an end. At this time ny
scientiGus love Of public order is SATISFIED, :
cannot say the same OF my conscientious ~
liberty. We must all r~ecollect the prosr'D
announced at the Hotel de VilIe--a popularm
supported by republican institutions. TIVE
cepted, but we have not all put the same
struction upon it; it has not always been i
preted by the councils of the King in the
sense IN which it was understood By me, WV
more impatient than others that it should Ok
lied: and whatever may have been myPe
independence in all situations, | feel nv
the present moment more at my ease IN NV
inc nv opinions with you. For the resi- ns.
points upon WHICH we shall always be ID u"
we shall ever be united against our enem'es,
tber M home mr. from abroad. still thlDh !"