The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-12-09
MORNING, DECEMBER 1851

fined to criticising the measures proposed by Louis
Philippe when the king was gone and Cavaignac
was called on not to cavi but to create not to cr
tcise but to originate, he found himself wholly un-
prepared to do better than his royal predecessor.
The only excellent bill prepared during his term of
power was one for the better organization of the
National Guard, and the reduction of the army to
about half of its present force Lamoricere was it's
author, but Cavaignac never had the nerve to pre-.
sent it to the Assembly, against the advice of his
mOnarchcal counselors.
must pass over the names Of the eight brave Gen
erals who died in storming the barricades in June
can do more than allude to all the living ones
with the exception of General Changarnier, who
bids fair to play principal part in the great drama
now going on in France.
Changarnier is the type of the carpet knight
soldier. He is work in two Volumes of which
the first is a boudoir novel, and the second is a
history Of battles. Nothing be more unlike the
General, whose name alone makes the Arabs trem-
ble than the slightly built slender-faced, finger
rDged, scrupulously indeed finically, neat and soft
hammered gentleman one meets in the saloons.
His coat has evidently been made at Humans
the ruffies of his shirt bosom in the newest
mode, and the scratch which conceais his badness
is nicely brushed and coquettishly arranged. There
are dellcacy and purity in the outlines of his face,
which harmonize well with his general appearance
as he is about to sit for his portrait to country
man, William n. Powell, you will be able to Judge
OF them better than from any description | could
give you. In conversation, the three most promi-
nent OF the African Generals differ greatly from
each other. Lamoriciere is impetuous, fiery, and
not infrequently abrupt but has witha certain
geniaity and good humor.
Cavignac is serious almost to gravity, when the
occasion is one of formal nature as in reception
or great ball but he unbends and makes himself
very agreeable at dinner parties and among his
personal friends at no time, however, does his
conversation sparkle with the scntilatons Of wit
or rise much above the prosiness of an intelligent
man, whose nature has no sympathetic qualities
Changarner is not genial, but he is witty. If you
meet him him in society without knowing him,
you remark that the delicate looking gentleman,
who appeared to appreciate every good thing that
was said contributed some very sharp things to
| the conversation. On reflection it occurs to you
that these sharp things were about all he did say
The second time you meet him without knowing
him, and this is easy since the French do not intro
duce their guests to each other except for some
particular reason, you regard him more closely !;
you remark quiet dignity about him that had es-
capped your notice, and, under the gracefully worn
| mask OF levlty, an undehnabe air that makes you
feel he never loses possession of himself and is not
the top he seems, you observe that his apparently
sportve conversation always has some thing ironi.
| cal or harsh at the bottom that his phrases are
short sharp and incisive poniard thruss, and that
his wit is not cheering but dazzles like the cold
/ pIiSut, Hetdic RicdHl OF sclmetar. You quit him
| with an uneasy sensation OF something dark and
| mysterious about the man, and do not soon forget
the dozlng panther expression of those blue eyes,
| whose leaden hue is that of the extinguished Gin
ders OF the mouth of volcano. The ladies', how
ever seem to like him very much. He rarely ap-
pears at the tribune of the Assembly whenhe does.
1t is to make the brief sententous speech of Gen
erai at the head OF his army. His last closed with
the famous apostrophe: Representatives of the
people deliberate in peace" which his enemies
thought savored somewhat OF the dictator.
:, AS military commander, he has superior in
| france The soldiers and officers who have
served under him admire and con6de in him ,ha,
| they love him, will not say. Those who have
| been with him in Africa enthusiastic in praise
OF his courage, presence of mind, fertility Of
resource, perseverance and indefatigabeness. His
| soidery qualities command also, the confidence Of
the legislative majority, which has, on more thar
one occasion, designated him as its favorite When
| Marshal Bugeaud wished to characterize his prin.
cipal subordinates he said: "When send Ca
vtignsc to a certain point, | know he will go as
stealthlIy as leopard when | send Lamoriciere
| | don't know whether he will creep like leopard
jump like lion, or go straight like bee but, as
for Changarnier he always takes the bee line >
On one Of his expeditions in North Africa, Chan.
GARNER had taken Arab guides, but distrustine
them, had posted men near them to shoot them
down on the first sign Of treachery As soon at
the party had become fairly engaged in long
narrow pass between two hills, covered with under
| growth, murderous fire opened on it from above
The guides were shot, but Changarnier lost two
thirds of his before he could extricate them from
the pass, and reform their broken ranks on a smal
| plain several miles distant
Fifteen minutes were given for repose, eating
| and binding up Of wounds the cry To horse =
was made, every man took his place, and the Gen
eral rode up and down the ranks to tell his mel
, what they had to do His speech, told me b!
f one who heard it, ran in this way: Soldiers
we have been well whipped. Out Of every five o
, six battles with Arabs they whip US once. This i
once too many. l am going to teach them lesso
they will never forget They are now rejoicn,
} | over their victory. We shall find them dancing il
their tents and houses, and unprepared for resist
, ance. know, my braves, that we shall cut then
| in pieces" The little troop advanced in silenc
| towards the Arab village, by the same defle wher
so many of their comrades lay stffening in deatl
3 1t was as the General had said the Arabs were i
the height of their mirthmaking. The musi
sounded a terrible charge, and the French horse
men dashed in upon the multitude of their enemies
The hour, the surprise, the blast the buges an
!, | the charge, spread panic among the Arabs Th
/ | victory of the French was complete. Not a so,
e | was spared alive; men, women children, infan
a at the breast, were killed the village, with ever
house for league around, was burned to tn
ground the fields were dstroyed, and the place lie
c | blackened spot Of desolation. This was Cha,
0 | garniers lesson to the Arabs.
His personal courage and energy are unsu
/ ! | passed. An eye witness has described to me
incident of the prevented instruction of the 18th
: June, prevented by the decision and masterly pr
cautions taken by Changarnier. As the Gener
was scattering the unarmed crowd on the Boul
d | ward, man sprung at him, and either struck
l. him, or attempted to drag him to the groun
: ChangarnieI seized his enemy by the throat az
!. making his horse leap forward dragged him son
q distance, and dashed him with great force on Il
pavement, just before one of his ad-de- camps, or
= ing: Finish that assassin" A sabre fash,
IS through the air, and moment after the brains
T. the rash assaant were scattered on the Bouleyar
g The same day that the insnrrecton was put dsw
y nothing but the active intervention of the Preside
II prevented Changarner from arresting and shootir
J. seventeen Of the principal Socialists. Emile
e Girardin figured at the head OF the list Such
u the man Louis Bonaparte may yet find in his Dat
O Such is the man the National Assembly NAV v
have for MASTER and France for dictator. H
I time however, will be short, for orce and resoI
: tion without genius and intelligence to guide ther
= cannot prevail the democratic tendencies of
y | whole nation.