Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1852-11-19
Wellington Saving Napoleon's Life.

Newspaper readers have generally noticed the
anccdote told in General Muflings, lately publish
ed, memoirs that Napoleon would probably have
been shotby the allies after the battle OF aterloo,
if it hal not been for Wellington's interpoSition.
Some of them, however, give the Duke what we
| think undue praise for his conduct on that occa-
sOn. His behaviour is extolled, in fact, as magma
nimous, when it can only be regarded ms only just.
COnSiderth situation of the parties. Napoleon
was for the time being sovereign prince, mon
arch de aetO, if not de jre. AS such, he stood on
| an equality with any emperor or king who opposed
him, and was not subject to their jurisdiction for
any offence, imputed or real: 10 the laws oil war,
indeed, he was amenable, but to :hese only. If
Captured he could not be treated wotse than other
prisoners; and to shoot prisoners has been long con-
sidered, in the European code, an unJuStfable
barbarity. In fact, as a dethroned monarch, he
entitled according to the practice OF nations, 10
many TelaxntonS, in his favor of the usual treat
ment accorded 10 prisoners of war. For the allies,
TO have shot Napoleon would, therefore, have been
to act like monsters.
But it was urged by Butcher and other, who
sought the blood of Napoleon, that his death was
justifable retaliation for the murder of the
Duke d'Enghien. Yet the cases were not at all
similar. Admitting that Napoleon conceived and
perpetrated in cold blood the execution ofthe Duke
d'Enghien, knowing his victim to be innocent,
which is doubtful point in history yet, as the
supreme executive power ofFrance, he was not,
according to the laws which nations have establish
ed by common consent, amenable to any earthly
authority for his act. No King Of England, no En-
pcror Of Russia, President of the United States
is accountable to any other prince or people for an
act of mistaken justice or even for awanton piece
of bloodsed. To the nation he rules over and 10
God who rules over all, he is liable, but to no
mortal king or kaiser. Hence, the allies had no
right to punish Napoleon for the death of the
Duke d'Enghien than would a priyite man, for
neither had jurisdiction over the affair; and as 1t
would have Leon an assassination for single indi
vidual to take his life SO it would have been also
for the allies. twas very questionable, however.
If Napoleon not innocent, IN the true sense of
numbering the Duke d'Enghien. The weight of
authority certainly iavors the suppositon that the
unfortunate prince was the victim OF mistake,
having been mistaken for Pichegru and supposed
to be plotting against Napoleon's life, when i'll
truth he never probably entertained the bare idea
Be this as it may, the Duke of Wellington saw
that the allies had no right TO take the life of Napo
leon and that the deed,if perpetrated, would be
staino all who participated init. Not only hssense
of Justice, but regard for his own good name, for
babe his permitting such an atrocity. For acting
thus, he deserves the praise Of having kept to the
line of duty, in difficult aud tempting Emergency,
and of having retained his calmness of judgment
at a crisis when excitement, passion and revenge
had destroyed the equipoise of other minds. But
this was not mngnanimity. 1t would be a mistake
of terms TO apply such word to such an act. 1t
was simple justice-no more.
Great as Wellington was, indeed, he was never
magnannEous. He was always strictly impartial OF,
at least. endeavored To be 50; but he could so little
comprehend magnanimIty, that he conSIdeTed II
only another name Tor folly. He never, or but
rarely remitted punishment or torgaye an offences
but then he rarely, ever did injustice to any man,
and never wantonly. In q word he had neither
great vices, nor generous virtues: The Iron Duke,
he was called by his own counrynnen; and the epi-
tlet describes him well.-PhitGdeLphiG Bulletin.