Evansville weekly journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 184?-18??, 1848-05-11
EXECUTION oF LOUIS XVI.

! All our TcdQGIS dtC tfiOiO Vi 1888 i0tiitiioi
with the bloody scenes of the French Rev
olution. and doubtless will be interested
in the following sketch from that awful
drama:
On the 18th ofJanuary the convention pro-
ceeded TO vote what the punishment should
be. death or Punishment. Every member adj
vanced sngly 10 the tribune, and openly gave
his vote For forty hours the voting contln-
ued, during which lime the galleries were
crowded, the bar OF the as, emily besieged with
| deputatons, and the Jacobin club maintain
ing The excitement by continued nHammaio-
~ harrangues. As each OF the celebrated
deputies proceeded TO give his vote, the in
teresl was absorbing;but when Orleans (Louis
PhIlippe's father0 totitred 10 the appointed
place, with face pale as death, silence per-
leciIy awful pervaded The hall. Exclusively
governed by Duty" said the unhappy man,
land convinced that all those who have re-
sisted the sovereignty of the people deserve
death, my vote is DEATH" Another breathless
silence succeeded the conclusion of the
voting.
sc lizens," at length said Verginand, the
President, 81 announce the result of the vote
there are 72l votes; a majority OFFS have
voted for death. In the name of the Conven-
ton declare that the punishment of Louis
/ Capet is DEATH" Parazed al the very I'M
expected division, which had been occasion
ed by the succession of their party, the Gil
rondsis made but one more struggle, and
that was for delay in the execution of the
sentence. The vote had made their opponents
too strong for them, and their last proposition
was negatived by two-thlrds Of the duputies.
Fully prepared for his fate, the King receiv-
ed The result of the vote with mistaken firm
ness. "For two hours,' said he, 'Malesher-
hes, have been revolving in my memory,
whether, during my whole reign, have vol
untary given any cause Of complaint TO my
subjects; with perfect sincerity | can declare
when about to appear before the throne of
God, that deserve no reproach at their hands,
and that have never formed wish but for
their happiness.
On the 20lh of January, Santarre, with a
deputation ofthe municipals, read the SEN
,ence to Louis. He received il with the
same firmness as before, and asked respite
OF three days to prepare for death, the solace
of an interview with his family, the consoa
lions of a priest The Convention would
not accede 10 the request for respite, The
hour of ten on the following morning, was
/ irrevocably fixed for The execution, the other
demands were granted. From that time the
King seemed resigned and tranquil "Did
they suppose could be base enough TO kill
MYSELF" said Louis, when they removed the
knives al dinner. IL am innocent, and can
die without apprehension AT half past
eight in The evening, the Queen and her
children entered the Kings apartment. The
scene that ensued during those two hours.
the two last hours Of their united lives can
not be described. Al ten the King rose, The
parents blessed their poor son, and sought to
be separated for the night. 81 will see you
in the morning at eight O'clock" said the
| King, as his children chung around him, with
tears and shrieks.
s'Why moi seven?' exclaimed they all.
"Well, then seven-at seven-adieu."
So mournfu was the accent with which
Louis uttered those words, that the children
redoubed their lamentations; and the Prn-
cess Royal fell fainling at her mothers ieet.
With one tender embrace 10 each beloved
one, the King tore himself Gom his agoniZed
family. The rest Of the evening was devoted
to his confessor, the Able Edgeworth, that
heroic priest who dared to afford the last Office
Of religion to his King. Al midnight the King
retired to bed, and slept peacefully until fiv e.
At that hour he rose, gave his last insiruc-
lions to his faithful valet, Clary, entrusted
him too with his last words 10 his wife and
children and few relics he had to distribute
among them. He wished 10 cut of his hair
with his own hands, and escape the degrade
ton of thai operation on The scaffold, but The
guards refused his request. They feared he
would use the scissors for his own deslruc-
ton, for they could not believe that the mild
and meak-minded King could dare 10 die on
the scalfold.
Louis then received the sacrament, at a
small altar prepared in his chamber. and
heard the last service of the dead, while the
noise OF the people throughout the streets,
and the rolling Of drums, announced the pre-.
paration for the execution. Al nine, San
tare came to the Temple. "You come to
seek me- said the King. "One minute, and
| am ready" As he said this he entered
l his lille chamber, and brought out his last
will, which he asked Saniarre 10 take, the
creature refused, aud the King deposited ii
in The hands of one of the municipas who
had accompanied him. For two hours the
long procession was dragging its way through
the streets of Paris, everywhere bemmed
and hedged in with an imposing military
force, that rendered every attempt at a res
cue ruthless. Al last he carriage stopped
S near the Palace of Louis XIV, between The
gardens of the Tuileries and the Champs
Elysees.
s The place was lined with cannon, and The
! crowd reached as far as the eye could see
: on every side.
'.This is the place, is it not9" whispered
Louis to his confessor, and then, with an air
Of the most perfect sef:possession, descend
ed from the carriage and undressed himself
: without the aid of his executioners. The
men approached TO pnion his arms. A mo-
f meniary anger seized him as he exclaimed:
4 -f'No, will not submit that" The execu-
TONERS called for aid, and were about to use
force. "Submit TO this outrage" s said Eoge-
, worth, ''as The last resemblance to that
Saviour who is about TO reward your suffer