Democratic banner. (Bowling Green, Pike County, Mo.) 1845-1852, 1851-01-06
"UN1rED We SrAND-DIvIDED We FALL"


draw from your service" 40 iae.
"How," exclaimed Napoleon sadly
twill you, Eugene, my adopted son, leave
me?" slas7.*-
ssYes, sire," Eugene firmly replied. the
son of her shoi no longer Empress, can
not remain, Viceroy. Twill follow my moth
or into her retreat. She must now find coa-
ISOLATION In hers children.n -. 4sS .a{
Napoleon wss nat vithnut feelings
Tears filed his eyes: In d moarnfal voice,
tremulous with emotion, he rsplied,t is
Eugene, yo2 know the siesa 'aecessity
which compels this me ssure. And will you
forsake me? Who then, should have q
son, the object of my desires, and preserv-
el OF my interests-who would watch over
the child when am absent? If ! die, who
will prove to him father? Who will bring
him up? Who is to make man Of him?
Eugene was deeply affe ected aud, taking
NaPoIeon's arm, they retired. and convsrs-
ed long time together. The noble Joseph
inc, ever sacrificed her own feelings topro-
mote the happiness of others, urged her
son to remain the friend Of Napoleon.
"The Emperor" said she, "is your BEN
more than father, to whom
you are indebted for every thing, and to
whom, therefore, you owe boundless obe-
dience."
The fatal day for the consummstion Of
the divorce at length arrived. l, was the
fifteenth day Of December, eighteen hun
dred and nine. Napoleon had assembled
all the kings, princes and princesses, who
were members Of the imperial family, and
also the most illastrious officers Of the en-
pire, in the grand saloon of the Tuileries.
Every individual present was oppressed
with the melancholy grandeur Of the occa-
sion. Napoleon thus addressed them:
The political interests Of my monarchy,
the wishes Of my people, which have con-
stsnily guided my actinns, require that |
should transmit to an heir inheriting my
love for the people, the thrYne on which
Providence has placed ire. For many
yesrs have lost all hopes Of having chill
dren BY my beloved spouse, the Empress
Josephine. II 10 this consideration which
induces me to sacrifice tile sweetest sffec-
tons Of my heart, to consult only the good
of my subjects, and desire the dissolution
Of our marriage. Arrived at the age of 40
years, | may indulge reasonable hope of
living long enough to rear, in the spirit Of
my own thoughts and disposition, the chill
dren with which it may please Providence
TO bless me. God knows what such de-
Termination has cost Ey heart; but there is
no sacrifice which is above my couIsge
when it IS proved to be the interest Of
France. Far from having any cause Of
complaint, / have nothing 10 say, but in
praise Of the attachment and tenderness Of
my beloved wife. She has embelished IF
teen years of my life, and the remembrance
of them will be forever eDgrsven on my
heart. She was crowned BY my hand
She shall retain always the rank and title
of Empress. Above all, let her never doubt
my feelings, or regard me but as her best
and dearest friend"
Josephine, her eyes filled with tears, with
a taltering voice, replied:
81 respond to all the sentiments of the
Emperor, in consenting to the dissolution
Of marriage which henct forth is sn obsts-
Gle to the happiness of France, by depriv-
ing 1t Of the blessing of being one day gov
erned by the descendants Of that great man,
evidently raised up by Providence to efface
the e'i lis Of terrible revolution, and to re-
store the altar, the throne, and social order
But his marriage will, in no respect change
the sentiments of my heart. The Emperor
will ever find in me his best friend. know
what this act, commanded oy policy and
exhalted interests, has cost his heart [; but
we both glory in the sacrifice We make for
the good Of our country. I feel elevated
in giving the greatest proof Of attachment
and devotion that was ever given upon
EARTH"
Such were the sentiments which were
expressed in public. But in private, Jo-
sephins surrendered herself to the unre-
strained dominion Of her anguish. Nolan
guage can depict the intensity of her woe.
For six months sine wept so necessarily that
her eyes we're nearly blinded with grief
Upon the ensuing day the Council were q.
gain assembled in the grand saloon, to wit
ness the legal eonsumms stisn of ths divorce.
The Emperor entered the room dressed in
the imposing robes of state, but psllid, care
worn and vretched. Low tones Of voice,
harmonizing with the mournful scene. filled
the room. Napoleon, apart by himself,