Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1844-11-14

viii be invited.
Night with the sac0bin Club.
The following is from powerfully written paper IN
a late number of Blackwood, entitled A." Marston, or
the Adventures of a Statesman" The narrator has
just escaped death by the gullotnc. aud IN dashlng
along through dark lanes and alleys, suddenly
encounters crowd of Sans Culottcs who are on
their way 10 the meeting Of the Jacobins. He Is
compelled to join them, and in their company observes
what follows:
I've now plunged into the darkness Of vast pile
cvidentl, convent, and where the chill Of the
massive walls struck to the marrow. | felt "a If
walking through a charne house We hurried !:
trembling light towards the end Of immense and
lofty aisle, was our guide and the crowd long familiar
with the way, rushed through the ntricaccs where
many feet of monks had trod before thcm and where
perhaps, many deed that summed the day had been
perpetrated. At length spiral stair brought
long gallery where our entrance was marked with 4
shout of congrauation; and tumbling the benches
and each other length took our seats in the highest
part, which, IN both the club and the National
Assembly, was called from iis height. the Mountain.
and from the characters which generally held it, was
a mountain of flame. In the area below, once the
nave of the flames, sat the Jacobin club. now. for
the first time, that memorable and terrible
asscmblage. And nothing could be more suited than
lis aspect to It's deeds. The hall was Of such extent
that large portion Of ii hardly visible and the
few lights which hung from the walls, scarcely
displayed even the remainder. The French love of
decoration had place here: neither statues ror
pictures, neither gliding sculpture, relieved the
heavineSs Of the building. Nothing of the arts was
visible but their rude>t specimens the grim ciieies
of monks or martyrs, the coarse bachcnng carvings
of barbarous age. The hall was full for the cu,
contained nearly two thousand members and on ;hs
night all were present. Yet, except the occasional
cries of approval anger when any speaker had
concluded, and the hablual murmur of every huge
assembly, they might have been taken for hos. If
spectres; the had entirely The aspect of huge
vault, the air felt thick and the gloom was So fob
dispersed by the chandeliers. All was scripiur5..
The chair of the President stood on n tomb an
antique structure Of black marble The elevated
stand from which the speakers generally addrc Scd
the assembly. had the strongest +, resemblance ,f a
scafold, and behind II, covering the wall. were
suspended chains and instruments of torture of every
horrid kind used in the dungeons of old times and
though placed there for the sake of contrast; with the
mercles of more cnl ghtencd age vet enhancing the
general idea of n scene of death.
Ii required no addition to render the hall of the
Jacoblns fearful; but the meetings were always held
ut night often prolonged through the whole night
Always stormy, and often sansuinary dagrcrs were
drawn and pistols fred-as s>nations in the street
sometimes followed bitter attacks on the benches and
at this period, the mutual wrath and terror of the
factions had risen TO such height that every meeting
might be only prelude Of exile or the axe: and the
dcibcration of this especial night must settle The
question whether the monarch or the Iacobn club was
10 ascend the scailod. Il was the debate on the
execution Of the unhappy Louis XVI.
The arrival of the crovr among whom Ind talcr
mn unwilling scat. evidently gave new spirit To- tic
regicides; the moment critical. Even in laco-
binlsm all were not equally black and the fear Of the
national revulslon at desperate deed startled
many. who might have not been withheld by fec limos
Of humanity The leaders had held consultation
while the debate drawing on It's slow length: and
Danton's old cxpcdiont of terror" was resolved on
His cmissary had been sen, round Paris to summon Il
his bandtti and the low cafes, the Faubourr tavern
and every haunt of violence, and every drunkcnncss
of crime had poured forth The remnant of the
Marsecs-a gang of actual galley slaves, who had
led the massacrc-thc paid as>assns of the Marias
and the subrcur> Of the Royal Guard who after ,reo
son TO the King. had found profitable trade in livrc
the robbery and blood of the mobiles and priests
formed this reinforcement; and their cnirance ,nte
the gallery was recognized by the clapping of hands
from below. which they answered by a roar accoinra.
med with significant sign of casplng their kniyc.
ard sabres.
Danton Immediately rushed into the Tribune baf
seen HIM before. on the fearful night which prerare,
the attack on the palace; but he then in L,
haste and effective savagonc,s Of the rabble lie now
played the part of leader of political sect anc
the commencement of his address adopted something
of the fecorum Of public council.
as
club it still retained jealousy of the superior
legislative rank of the assembly of National Repre-
sentatives. the Convention. The forms OF the Con
vention strictly initiated and even those Iaco
bins who usually led the debate scrupulouslv wore ~
dress of the best orders prbospierre was eaboraen
dressed whenever he appeared in the Tribune. am
even Dan,on abandoned the cqnaipe costume for tn
time
was struck with snowy stature, his bold forehead
and his commanding attitude. hc stood waving iii
hand over the multitude below, as if he waved ;
sceptre. HIS appearance received with genera
shout from the gallery. which he returned with ;
profound bow. and then stood erect till all sounds hat
sunk His powerful voice then rang through tho
extent of the hall He began with CONTEMPLATING th
people on their having relieved the Republic from it
external dangers. His language at first moderate
and his reorganization of the pcrils which must have
betallen conquered country. sufficiently true an,
touching. but his tone changed. and | saw
the true Jacobin. What" he cried. are those peril.
TO the horrors of domestic perfdy What are til,
ravages the frontier 10 the poison and dagger a
our fresides What is the gallant death in the field
10 assassination in cold blood Listen. fellow-citi
zens there is this hour plot deeper laid for YOU
destruction, than ever existed in the shallow heads
could be executed by the cowardIv hearts. o
their sodiery. Where is that plot In the streets
No. The courage of our brave PATRIOTS Is aS proc
against corruption against war. This folowc,
by shout ircfn the gallery. = l. ii an the Tucrics
No. There the national sabre had cut down tie ire,
which cast its deadly fruit among the nation Where
then, Is the focus Of this pot-wherc the gathering O
the storm that Is to shake the baticmon;s of tn,
Republic - where that terrible deposltc of combus
tbes which the noble has gathered the priest mas piled
and the King has prepared 10 kindle Brave citizens