The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-07-04
From Lsmartine's History of the Girondists

Trial and Execution of Charlotte Corday.
When she was seated on the bench of the pri-
soners, she was asked if she had defender. She
replied that friend had undertaken this Office but
not seeing him, she supposed his courage had failed
him. The president then assigned her the young
Chauveau Lagar1e, afterward illustrious by his de-
fence of the Queen, and already famous for his eo-
quence and courage in causes and times when the
advocate shared the peril of his client Chauveau
Lagarde placed himself at the bar. Charlotte gaZed
on him. as though she feared lest, to save her life
her defender would abandon some part of her honor
The widow Of Marat wept while giving her evil
dence, Charlotte, moved by her grief, exclaimed
"Yes, Yes-'twas | that killed him."
She then related the Fermentation Of the act for
three months; her project Of stabbing him in the
Convention; and the r4se she had employed TO OBJ
tain access TO him,
81 Confess" said she, with humility, "that this
means was unworthy Of me but it was necessary
to appear to esteem this man, in order TO obtain ac
cess to him.
"Who inspired you with this hatred of Marati"
she was asked
81 did not need the hatred of any one else,' she
replied. MY own was sufficient besides, you
always execute badly that which you have not de-
Yised yourself"
"What did you hate in him!"
" His crimes'
"What did you hope to effect by killing hint"
q" Restore peace to my country"
-" Do you, then, think that you have assassinated
all the Marats :"
" Since he is dead, perhaps the others will trem.
ble.''
The knife was shown her, that she might recog.
nize it. She pushed it from her with gesture OF
disgust
sYes," replied she g | recognize it."
What persons did you visit at Caen "
every few; | saw Larue, a municipal officer,
and the Cure Of Saint jean"
odd you confess to conforming or non-juring
priest &"
Neither one nor the other''
Since when had you formed this design?' 90
I" Since the 3lst of May, when the deputies Of the
people were arrested. | have killed one man to
save hundred thousand. | was republican long
before the Revolution
Fauchet was confronted with her
Sc l only know Fauchet by sight, said she, dis
dainfullv :" look on him as man devoid of prin-
ciples and | despise him."
The accuser reproached her with having dealt
the fatal stroke downward, in order to render il
more certain, and observed that she must doubtless
have been well exercised in crime. At this sugges-
ton, which destroyed all her deas by assimilating
her to protested murderers, she uttered a cry Of
horror.
"Oh, the monster!'' exclaimed she, +" he takes
me for an assassin! %
Fouquer Tinville summed up, and demanded
| that sentence of death should be passed.
Her defender rose. The accused, said he
confesses her crime, she avows its long premedl-
tation, and gives The most overwhelming details
Citizens this is her whole defence This imper-
turbabe calm and entire forgetfulness Of SELF which
reveals no remorse III presence of death-thls calm
and this forgetfulness sublime in one point of view
is not natural they can only be explained by the
excitement of political fanaticism, which placed
the poignard in her hand. Il is for you decide
what weight so stern fanaticism shoald have In
the balance Of justice | leave all to your CON
Sciences"
The Jury unanimously sentenced her TO die. She
heard their verdict unmoved and the president
having asked her if she had anything TO say relative
to the punishment inflicted her, she made no re-
ply but, turning TO her defender Monsieur, =
said she, "you have defended me as wished TO be
defended THANK you ] owe you proof of my
| gratitude and esteem, and offer you one worthy
of you These gentlemen pointing to the judges
have just declared my property eonfiseated; owe
something in the prison, and bequeath to you the
| payment of this debt.
During her examinations she perceived painter
engaged in taking her likeness without interrupts
| ing the examination, she smilingly turned towards
the artist in order that he might the better hel
features. She thought of immortality, and already
sat for her portrait, TO immortality.
Behind the painter stood young man, whose
/ fair hair, blue eyes and pale complexion marked
! him for a native of the North. His eyes were rv-
| eted on the prisoner; and at each reply he shu1
| dered and changed color. He seemed to drink IN
her words, and to associate HIMSELF by gesture at
titude and enthusiasm, with the sentiments she ex
pTBSSSu
! he drew to himself, by involuntary ordinations
the attention Of the audience and of Charlotte Cor
! day. At the moment when the President passed
sentence of death, the young man rose from his seat
! with the gesture of man who protests from the
bottom of his heart, and then sunk back as though
his strength had failed him. Charlotte, insensibe
to her own fate perceived this movement, and COM
/ pretended that, at the moment when all on earih
abandoned her, a kindred spirit attached itse1 70
hers, and that, amidst this hostile or ndiilerent
throng, she possessed an unknown faend' ana slie
/ thanked him with a look.
This young stranger was Adam Lax, a German q
republican, sent TO Paris by the reVolunonlsts OF
Mayence, to concert the movements OF eer1 c
with those Of France in the common cause u nu-
man reason and the liberty of the people. Ills eyes
followed Charlotte until she Disappeared AMIDST lle
gens dar1aes beneath the arch of1the stairs. Ills
/ thoughts never quilted hef.
On her return to the Conciergerie, which was so
soon 10 Weld her mp the scafod, Charlotte Cor,
tJav smiled on her companions in prison, who lad
RANGED themselves in the corridors and courts 10 see
4 her mass She said TO the concierge:
81 had hoped that we should breakfast togelher
once more but the judges detained me so long tnat
| vol1must forgive me for having broken my wore.
The executioHer arrived; she requested nun 10
allow her time to finish letter, which was neither
the ontpourng Of weakness nor regret but the last
| act Of wounded friendship-addresslng an eternal
reproach to the cowardly spirit which had aban-
It was addressed to Doulcet De POnteeOulant