The banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1844-1847, 1846-08-26

form riddlcd with bullets. and his face
singed and blackened with powder he
marched on foot with drawn sabre at
the head OF his men. In vain did the ar
tlllery hurl its storm of fire and lead in
to that living mass Up to the very
nuzzlcs they pressed, and driving the
art'llcrymen from their own pieces.
on through the English lines. But at
that moment a file Of soldiers who had
lain flat on the ground behind a low
ridge OF earth, suddenly rose and poured
volley in their very faces. Another
and another followed, till one broad
sheet OF flame rolled on their bosoms,
and such fierce and unexpected flow,
that human courage could not withstand
1t. They rcelcd, shook, staggered back,
then turned and fled Ncy was borne
back in the refuent tide, and hurried
over the field. But for the crowd Of fu-
g'tlvcs that forced him on, nc would
have stood alone, and fallen on his foot
steps. AS ii was, disdaming to hv.
though the whole army was flying, he
formed his men into two immense
squares, and cndcavored to stem the ter
rlhc current, and would have done so if
It had not been for the thirty thousand
fresh Prussians that pressed on his ex-
hausted ranks. For long time these
squares stood and let the artillery plough
through them. But the fate of Napolc-
on was s~rit, and though Ney doubtless
did what no other man in the armv
could have done, the decree could not
be reversed. The Star that had blazed
so brightly over the world, went down
IN blood; and the bravcst Of the brave"
had fought his last battle. 1t was wor.
thy OF his great name, and the charge of
the Old Guard at Waterloo. with him at
their head, will be pointed to by reno
test generations with shudder.
We now come to the expiation of his
treason by public execution. The al
lies, after they assembled in Paris, de-
mandcd some victims 10 appease their
anger. Many were selected, but better
counsel prevailed, and they were saved.
Ney was prominent example; ne mad
routed their armies too frequently and
too nearly wrested their crowns from
them at Waterloo, to bc forgiven. 1t
was intended at first TO try him by mar
tlal law, but the Marshals Of France re-
fused to sit in judgement on so brave,
generous, and heroic warrior. BY
royal ordinance, the Chamber of Peers
was directed to try him. Scorning to
take advantage of any technicalities of
the law, he was speedily found guilty
and condemned to death, by a majority
of a hundred and fifty-two. Seventeen
only were found to vote in his favor.
That he was guilty of treason in the
charge, is evident, but not to that extent
which demanded his death. No man
had done more for France than he, OF
loved her honor or glory with a higher
affection; and his ignominious death is
a disgrace to the French nation. Justice
was the ercusc, not the ground of con-
demnation. 10 have carried out the prin-
cipIe on which his sentence was based,
would have ended in public massacre
Ncy and Labedoyere were the only vic
Tins offered up to appease an unjust ha-
tired. Besides, Ney's person was sacred
under a solemn treaty that Wellington
had himself made. One of the articles
of that treaty, expressly declared that
no person should be molested for his
political conduct during the hundred
days" On such conditions was Paris
surrendered, and there never was more
fragrant violation OF national honor than
the trial of Ney. The whole affair,
from beginning to end, was deliberate
murder, committed from feelings of re-
venge alone. Napoleon never did so
base an act in all his life-and on Wei
llngtons forehead is spot that shall
grow darker with time, and cause ma
ny curse to be uttered over his grave.
lie should have interfered to have saved
so gallant an enemy at the hazard of
his life, but he let his honor 60 down
before the clamor of vindictive enemies,
and become murderer in the sight OF
the world. Men 21ns DubLicEv sb0t nc n