North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-10-11
NAPOLEON BEFORE THE CONVENTION,

: The executive power, instead OF peihg Piaceo
the hands of one king, or Presl1e1s, was a.s m,
to Eve Chiefs who were to De -
Legislative power was committed 70 TWO poules' q
in tba limited States. The first corresponding
tho limited States Senate, was to be calico III
To,,ac;J IF 4ncients 1t was to consist OF wv
bundred and fifty members, each of whom was Y
he at least forty wears of age, and marrieu ma
or widower. An unmarried man was . no: oo;,
sdered worthy of a post of such responsibility IL
a. sor,;ca of the State The second body wa
called the Council of FTUe Hundred, from thu
number of members of whom 1t was 10 De com
nosed It corresponds with our House OF Repre
sentatives. and each of its members was to be a
least thirty years OF age.
The constitution was far superior to any othel
which had vet been formed. 1t was framed by
the moderate republicans, who wished to establish
a republican government protecting France on the
one hand from the royalists, who would re-estab
1ish the Bourbons upon the throne, and on the 9TH
er hand from the misrule of the violent Jacoolns
who wished to perpetuate the reign OF terror 1he
constitution was sent down to the primary assem-
blies of the people, for their adoption rejection
Il was accepted promptly in all the rural districts,
and was adopted by reclamation in the army.
The city Of Paris was divided into ninety-slx
sections or wards in each of which, as IN our clne
the inhabitants of that particular ward assembled
at the polls. When the constitution was rendered
to these several sections of Paris forty Eight OF
them voted in its favor, while fortysix rejected It,
The royalists and the Jacobins, the two extremes,
united in the opposition, each party hoping that by
the overthrow of the Convention, their views might
obtain precedence. The Convention declared that
the majority of the nation had everywhere pro-
nounced in favor of the constitution, and they
prepared to carry their provisions into effect The
opposing sections now thoroughly aroused, began
to arm, resolved upon violent resistance. Inc
Partisan mob, ever ready for an outbreak, joined
&I,o,- fI0 IpaHQ
and all Paris seemed to be rousing to attack the
Convention. The National Guard, body of sol
diers corresponding with the American militia,
though far better differed, equipped, and drilled,
Joined promptly the insurgents. The lnsurrectlon
gun was fred, the tocsin tolled, and the gloomy,
threatening masses, marshalled under the leaders,
swarmed through the streets. The Convention
was in the utmost state of trepdaton, for in those
DAYS of anarchy, blood flowed like water, and life
had no sacredness. 1t was not a mob of few
hundred struggling men and boys who were to sur
round their hall with hootings and to break their
windows but formidable army of forty thousand
men, in battle array, with artillery and musketry
headed by veteran generals, who had fought the
battles of the old monarchy, with cleaning ban
ners and trumpet tones were marching down from
all quarters of the city, upon the Tuilleries. To
meet this foe, the Convention had at its command
but five thousand regular troops; and it was uncer
tain but that they in the moment of peril, might
fraternize with the insurgents General Menou was
appointed by the Convention to quell the insurrec
ton. He marched to meet the enemy. Napoleon,
intensely interested in the passing scenes, followed
the solid columns of Menou. But the general,
mild and inefficient man, with no nerve to meet
such a crisis, was alarmed in view of the numbers
and the influence of his antagonists, and retired be-
fore them. Shouts of victory resounded from the
National Guards through all the streets of Paris.
They were greatly emboldened by this triumph,
and felt confident that the regular troops would not
dare to fire upon the citizens. The shades of night
were now settling down over the agtated city. Ma
poleon having witnessed the unsuccessful mission
OF Menou, ran through the streets to the Tuillees
and ascending the gallery where the Convention was
sitting, viewed with marble brow and a heart ap-
parently unagitated, the scene of confusion there
1t was eleven o'clock at night and the doom of the
Convention seemed sealed. In the utmost alarm
MenOu was dismissed, and the unlimited command
of the troops ntrusted to Barras. The office was
full of peril Successful resistance seemed impos-
sible, and unsuccessful was certain DEATH Barras
hestated, when suddenly he recollected Napoleon,
whom he had known at Toulon, and whose militia
ry science and energy, and reckless disregard of his
own life, and of the lives of all Others he we'll re-
membered. He Immediately exclaimed l know
the man who can defend us, if any one can. It is
ayoung Corsican officer, Napoleon Bonaparte whose
military abilities l witnessed at Toulen. He is
man VINO Will not stand upon CEREMONY Napoleon
was in the gallery at the time and it is not impos-
sibe that the eye Of Barras CHANGING to light up
on him, caused the suggestion.
He was Immediately introduced to the Conven-
ton. They expected to see a man of gigantic |
frame and soldierly bearing brusque and mperious.
To their surprise there appeared before them
small, slender, palefaced, smooth-cheeked young
man, apparently about eighteen years of age The
President said, Are you willing to undertake the
defence of the Convention 2 Yes was the calm.
laconic reply. After moments hesitation, the
president continued, Are you aware of the mag
nitude of the undertakings Napoleon fixed that
eagle glance upon him, which few could meet and
not quail before it. and replied, Perfectly; and
am in the habit of accomplishing that which un-
dertake.' There something in the tone and |
manner of this extraordinary man. which secured |
for him Immediately the confidence of all the men,
bers of the House. His spirit 80 calm and imper
turbable, IN the midst of scene so exciting i'm
pressed them with a conviction that they were in
the presence of one of no common powers After
the exchange of few words Napoleon said One |
condition is Indispensable Unjust have the unlim-
tied command entirely untrammeled by any orders
from the Convention 1t was no time for debate
and there was unhesitating acquescence in the de-
mand
The promptness, energy, and unfailino resources |
OF Napoleon were now most conspicuousy displayed
AT Sablons about five miles from Paris there was |
powerful park of artillery, consisting of fifty heavy
guns. Napoleon instantly dispatched Murat. with |
a party OF dragons to take these guns. and BRING
them TO the Tulleries. They were seized by the
mounIeo troops, but a few moments before a party
OF nIanCry arrived from the sections for tho sa,no