Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-02-17

ing heir fasehood said 10 him. "Casar when you wish
in future TO examine the life Of of honor, inquire
only OF Of honor-Posf haze Cesar de homes
It's hominib,ls inquirs honestis mondato" At length
the time came when the administration OF 1921 was to
! be dissolved. Other times followed, during which new
grets and new wrongs assaed me. Other events sue
ceeded the unhappy precursors OF those great shocks
of fortune which have now behold At this period
| lived remote from the world i was neither to be
seen either in the Kings Palace in the circles.
had removed myself out OF the way oil fortune, but she
came to me, ii IL be her. when avoided her. why
did not repulse her! Whoever, being an enthusiast
Of honor has been long prosecuted, and receives on
sudden high mark OF esteem, splendid rcParauon oil
a long injury let him answer for me.
Whososver has loved his King, has received benefits
at hi. hands, aud has been called upon ny him In the
hour of diff Guilty, let HIM answer Tor me! what were
my desigus IL IL asked! what my opUion regard
ing the coup fetdf, aud il was II not true that
medtated il, and prepared 10, it, from this period
have no repugnance to say, Messeufs,-the more
perlly because the opinion which is thus sought, has
not renamed secret tu has been produced 10 public,
has been wrtteD aud even printed and thus revealed
precisely at the time when II is desired to penetrate
into my sentiments and my mind and d, 10 consequent
all that is requisite to satisfy aud persuade those who
inter- ogate meHere then, Mee.i-urs, Is whhl wrote
this subject at the end OF April, which was publish
ed in the country, and even at Paris, at the end of
May, several days after my admission into the Minis
try. coup detdt may be legal when its object 1, to
sire sthen the constitution. say only thattt may be-
that il 10 legal, because il st depends upon the
choice OF the and besides on aoo'her very con-
siderable circumstance, namely, that although be
legal 20 save the constitution by coup mat
nevertheless true only the suppo.iion that the con-
stitution cannot be saved without this coup detdt
coup fedt may be legal, without its authors being
cessary excusabe tor havag had Recourse to IT, That
would happen il il had been in their power 10 prevent
its cessity, an they neglected or refused prevent
IT, They would be nexcusable for having suffered the
necessity TO arise but the necessity occurring they
would st be inexcusable II they resisted IT, Un,ortu
ate CONDITION OF statesmen! COups defdt are always
illegal when they adopted merely to satisfy the anu
ti,ion II those who execute them. except no one:
Ia (otfns ~
tat like wise odious and Illegal when their object
is to overturn the constitution OF the state. Three
things independent OF lis object, TO be considered in
coup deat; the necessity, the necessity recognized
and
1t is not uf lent that tbs coup dsat be necessary,
that IL be OF that latent and secret necessity which
etmes reveals itself small number OF minds by
doubtful and almost insensible sgns-here mus, be
nothing less than manifest necessity, clear, obvious
witch putsuades and suhngate' by the evidence Of its
reality; by necessity is acquired the right to under
take it, by public conviction, is obtained the assent
which gives iavors Success IL the most in
dpens condition OF coup etat. However legal may
be the end, however measured may be the means
in II only fault as sovn as these means TAI, Ii
is no. might be thought, because IL is nearly nfal
bs that they in that involve in ruin those who
had attempted them, but because the i'll success Of
the attempt never fails to augment the force OF the
evil which could moi be surmcuned. IL IL one oil
the cases. happily rare occurrence, whore ii ceases
to be unjus, TO nflict blame misfortune The ac'
" Of would nevertheless not be sufficient rea-
son fer understanding eoups defut. know nothing in
which ii is dangerous to do at all times what we
might do.-He who too frequently NEEDLES with the
consti;ulon o. a country, even Tor the purpose oil
strengthening il, runs great risk Of gathering no
othsr II nit than that OF having taught its adver.aries
they may nerneddie with il, in their turn, In
der to verturn it, Coups detaf mayl do not deny,be
come resource, faculty duIy.-But do not sspa-
the faculty from the duty; Is one OF those things
in which we do only what ought to DO, and in
which oug ht to do only what we can. So
far the undertaking is no.l indispensable, we have
right 10 do il; far IL is impraccable, II Is our
duty. Extreme skill is dpayed in con,riVing that
the undertaking should never become Indispensable
The greatest skin next in degree, would be shown In
contrving that ehouid never be at the same time i'm
practicable and indispensable. OF all the duties which
fortune impose upon statesman this, without con
troversy, i. the rarc and strange In others he
Gus hit in ID 10 this his creates praise IL TO
void it," This, Messieurs,s what thought aud what
sad-ThS is what was ard is sill at the presen, mo
nay opinion upon this important question; aud u IL
had be true, as il Is expressed in one Of my uerrofa
tores that sometimes sought Influence by such pub
LEGATIONS this minds eisva'ed above me, you may
now Judge in what opinions should have wished TO
establish them by that influence. And yet the Ie'oiu
ton taken. the ordinances were drawn up, they
were signed, and my name is found there! Why did
sign them The secreti in my heart and ought not TO
sscape-I, lie accompanied with bitterness and sorrow
full recoilec.ons But what was to be tonewhat step
was TO be taken
The crisis was Imminent; minds of the least perspi-
Guilty no longer doubted it. Whatever course was Ia
ken either that Of waiting that OF preventing, 1t
could fail to break forth. Was this the moinent for
Oil servant oil the hng, VINO coOu no longer bin'
der what was coming, who had suffered 50 much al
ready, and who had received many tavors,-was
this the IsomeDt to withdraw himself from peril, and
TO aggravate by an unimely and Interested retreat,
the endorsements OF uaiionalready so dangerous?
followed sadly and resolutely the movement which
impressed, and ia spite OF the grief whose weight
Expresses me, certain am Of not having by my sd-
hesion ADDED any thing to the events which were
ia preparation; and although cannot console myself
for the innumerable nisfortunes in which have ia.
ken part, dare hardly inquire Oh myself whether
repent of my own mi fortunes.
Even now, Messieurs, and in your presence, expo
rience kind Of Joy, sad and bitter is, at not hav
ing separated my fate from that OF my benefactors and
having COMPOUNDED by this last testimony OF denial
and gratitude those, in small number, hope, who did
fear extend, to me, the injustice OF their
discomfort and their doubts. Certain personages
surprised that have separated myself from the King.
return thanks for that surprZe TO those who have
experienced it, 1t shows that they judge me right
y and that they expect from me precisely what have
done No, have not initiated the example OF the
Earl of Milford. No. have not dshonored my mis-
fortune by cowardicc. might have fled the 29th
and the GOTH There still time. retreat was Of
fered me, but did not accept il. was, however no
lonoer minister, and had longer any duties TO per-
form: but though had official duties, had the du
~ of honor. did not till | received the
der of the King; formal and reiterated order-when
there was no longer any hope not even that OF dying
near him; when flight, become almost impractical
bic was for me but additional danger-Blood has
flowed This is the recollection which weighs on my
heart Peace to those who have fallen Peace to
those who have survived However hard has been my
| fate-great as the wrongs which have been done
me- sentiment can exnguish in me that OF sympa-
Inv and pity Nothing can restrain from pouring
out tears on the blood which has been split. ought TO
do more STILL If had been the Of those misfor
tunes owe much indeed, although cannot reproach
myselG let friends and enemies alike accept the
rowful but just tribute which pay them all, and which
LII 49, L..