Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-02-21
An Interview with Nopoleon.


A friend has translated for us NJ BENJAMIN Con-
slani's accoun, of his interview with Napoleon, du-
ring the Hundred Days., and insert it because
is extremely we'll rendered from the original The
curt and pithy style altogether that of the Emperor
and excellenty initiated in NJ Constants abridged
reports-N. Y Albion.
On the 4h of April, 1915, received the following
letter -" The Chamberlain duty has the honor to
INFORM M Benjamin Constant, that His Majesty the
Emperor has ordered him 10 invite M Constant to re-
pair Immediately TO the Tuilleries
had no wish to approach Bonaparte ] did not
believe that the man, who had so long exercised the
most absolute authority, could be suddenly CONVEX
ted to ideas of liberty habits of despotism are not so
easily eradicaed But felt desire to Judge for N.Y.
self how much we might hope for him how far ex-
perence had operated him. Therefore went to the
lulleries ! found Bonaparte alone. He first began
the conversation OF which here give only an analy-
SIS he did not seek TO deceive me 10 his views,
nor as 10 the state of things He did not represent
himself as taught by the lessons of adversely. He did
not claim the merit of returning 10 love of liberty,
through inclination. He coolly examined with an
mpartlaIity too much akin to Indifference and for his
own sake. what possible, and what was prefera-
BILE. He spoke as follows:-
! 1.-The nation has for 10 years been undisur-
bed by political agitation, and for year past it has
been without war, This double repose has created
Tor the country desire for movement 1t wants, or
thinks it wants, Senate and Assembly. 1t has not
always desired them. 1t threw itself at my feet when
| reached the head of affairs. You must remember
that, for you opposed me- Where your fulcrum
where your strength Nowhere took myself less
authority than offered to Now all is changed.
A weak government nimical to the national interests,
has given to the people habit of defending ITSELF and
of trying 10 hoodwnk the authorities. The for
constitutions, debates and harangues appears to have
returned But do not deceive yourself it is the min
orily that wishes for them. The country, or if you
prefer it, the populace wishes only for You have
not seen how that popu!ace rushed after my steps,
threw itself from the mountains, called me, sought oI
me- saluted me On my journey from Cannes 10 the cap
tal, did not conquer, only guided am net only
has been the Emperor OF the soldiers but of the SAID
peasants-o the pebe!ans, OF France. Therefore, not
withstanding The past, the people back to
There sympathy between Iii so with the priv
LEGGED classes The nobility served me and crowded ca
gerly into my ed or--
solicited every place that be had had the Mont
morencys, til Noaies the Beauveaus The Mortemarts
i But there was never any sympathy. The steed cur
vetted and well trained, but felt him FESTIVE un
der With the multitude it otherwise. The
{ popular thrilled to mine. | sprang from the
ranks Of the peope, and my voice works upon them
Look at the recruits, those sons OF the peasantry;
never 1attered them, | treated them roughly. They
> did not surround me the less for that they did no
the less cry VIye la EmpeJeur 1t because If
me and in them the same nature existed They regard
ed me their support, their defender against Il
nobility. | have bnt to make sign rather sim
ply to turn my eyes away, and The arstocracY will he
murdered in Il the provinces They have played thei
part with such wisdom Tor the last six months but
: will have 10 Jacquere. If there be gover
consu,ionalIy, il is another AFFAIR." wished for III
empire Of the world and to it to myself bound
: less power necessary. To govern France alone
perhaps constitution may be better | did wish TO
: the empire of the world, and who would not hav
wished for it, in my place! The world asked t
j rule it Kings and subjects alike FASTENED 10 pu
themselves under my sceptre. | seldom found any re
sisiance in France, but did sometimes meet with
> from obscure aud unarmed Frenchmen-never from
those Kings proud al no longer having ma
of the people for their equal. See then what can
) done give me your IDEAS Public discus
sion, free election responsible ministers, the liberty
the press- will have them ALL The liberty Of TIL
y press above ALTO st1e it now absurd thu
~ head am convinced. | am the of the people
and if the people really wish for liberty. owe it
~ them | have acknowledged ther supremacy, an;
listen to their wishes, nay their caprices
IN | never wished to Cypress them for my pleasure.
{" had great plans, but destiny has disposed of the
- ! am no longer conqueror; can no longer be one
" I know what is, and What is not possible. have bu
one mission efl-o raise up France and give her tn
J. government that suits her. do not hate liberty.
\ thrust her aside, when she stopped PATH but III
derStood her, and educated in her ideas. My wor
! of fifteen years has been destroyed and cannot be
~ commencpd for that twenty years more and two mi
- lions of men would have TO be sacrificed Besides,
~ now wish for peace, and shall only obtain it by mo-
" victories. | viii give false hopes have allow,
it to be said that there negotiations foot; b
theirs none-l foresee violent struggled lor
war To support it. the nation must support me b
ID her reward she will, believe ask for liberty. 81
of shall have it. The situation is novel; only ask
tt be informed to her wants. | am growing DID,
AT forty-dve is no longer what one was at thir
d. The repose OF a constitutional King may suit me-
10 will even more certainly suit my son.