The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-12-08
From Lamartine's History Of the Restoration.
A TERRIBLE AND DRAMATIC HIS.
TORY. M E.sS vs.

s8s TONY fEtAf GG
The gallant Labedoysre, the first defec.
tor to Napoleon on his return from Elba
was condemned to suffer the pain Of death
iIe had twenty-four hours to apply to .
Court Of Appeal. This time was granted
to the entreaties Of his family, TO enable
thsmto solicit the Kings pardon, rather
than from any supposed benefit to be de.
rived from the proceeding, for he had con.
fessed everything. A young orator at the
Paris bar, then already celebrated as q
political advocate, and still more celebrat.
ed since in the Tribune, Mr.. Mangum
defended this desperate cause before the
Court Of Appeal. He moved public opin.
ion; he touched the Judges, but he could
not move them. A second sentence oil
death confirmed the first. Labedoyere
still uncertain if the influence of his noble
family might not obtain from the Court
perpetual Imprisonment instead Of tomb
fortified his soul in his cell with the reso.
luton of a soldier, the resignation of a
Christian, and the prayers OF the dying;
ready for life or for death, according as the
heart, forgiving or implacable. Of the King,
should decide at this moment on his fate.
His mother and his wife besieged the por.
tails Of tho palace; but, trembling lest rea-
sons of state should prevail on the coun.
ellis Of the King, against the natural dis
position and magnanimity Of the princes
Of the royal house, they collected 100000
francs in gold, to bribe the goaler Of the
prison, for the escape Of the condemned.
This offer, which was suspected by the
Government, was received by the keeper
in the Abbaye. Nothing more than 4 des.
perate supplication remained fort moth
er and wife of the prisoner. The most
rigid orders interdicted the guards Of the
palace from granting an entrance to these
supplicants, to spare the Court from the
embarrassment of an implacable severity.
These guards, however, were less pitiless
than the courtiers; they relaxed their stern
vigilance before these two weeping ladies.
At the moment when Louis XVIII, lean.
ing upon the arms of his attendants, was
descending the grand staircase, and cross
ing the vestbule, where he was to get into
the carriage for his daily drive. the young
wife OF the condemned, only nineteen
years old, her infant in her arms, in deep
mourning, with hair disheyelled and eyes
streaming with tears of anguish, threw
herself between the prince and the steps
of the carriage, and exclaimed in voice
stifed with sobs, "Pardon! Pardon!"
The King drew back, at once moved and
disconnected; but the fear of refusing
satisfaction to his party, and Of mourning
those reproaches Of weakness with which
he was besieged even in his own palace.
prevailed over the spectacle of this sup
plicant who asked him for SO many lives
in one. He fortified himself with his i'm.
FEASIBILITY Of countenance, and bowling
with an apparent good nature which con-
trasted with his rigor TO the young wife,
Madame" said he, 81 know your senti-
ments and those Of your family for my
house; it is painful to me to refuse par
don to such faithful servants. Ifyour hus-
band had only offended me, his pardon
would bc granted beforehand; but owe
satisfaction to France, upon which he has
drawn all the evils of sedition and Of war.
My duty as King ties up my hands. Il
can do nothing more than pray for the
soul Of him whom justice has condemned,
and to offer my protection to you and the
child" After these words, the King was
borne into his carriage, and the windows
were closed. The hapless wife tainted
upon the track Of the wheels.
1t was six o'clock in the evening; at the
same moment carriage, escorted by gen.
darmes, was bearing Labedoyers to the
place Of execution, under garden wall,
on that same plane Of Grenelle, which
few days before he had contested with the
enemy. He was accompanied by priest,
who recited to him, in low voice, the
prayers in the pangs of death. On alight.
ing from the coach he perceived. amid
little group Of curious persons, attracted to
the spot by the rumor of the execution, q
faithful friend, Caesar de Nervaux. whose
visits had often consolsd him in the soli-
lude Of his prison. Tho presence Of this
witness, friend, At an hour when all else
upon earth are enemies, and the consola.
lion Of dying in the presence of one at
least, who. would shed an honest tear to
his memory. threw gleam Of saddening
10y over the countenance Of Labedoyere.
He advanced towards M. de Nervaux, and
The two companons in arms embraced each
other affectionately. They exchanged
some rapid and interrupted words in a
ow voice. Historians assert that M. de
Nervsux promised his dying friend to
avenge him. but vengeanoe, a sentiment
altogether human, existed no longer in
The soul Of Labedoysrs, which was full Of
religious hope and divine forgiveness. M.
10 Nervaux only promised his friend to
avenge him on oblivion, by the fidelity and
enderness Of his recollection. Labedoy.
IRE approaching the soldiers ordered for
lis execution, and walking from the wall