Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1852-04-03
PIAQUEMINE, PARISH OF IBERVIILE, APRIL g. 1862.

from bark at the point of day, marched against
the garrison, failed completely, was taken pris-
oner, transported to Paris, and condemned to
perpetual Imprisonment in the dungeons at Ham,
What a reverse Yet he did not complain. II
was his destiny to which he was obedient.
To probe France with the sword of Napo-
leon, with the hope of finding within all those
wishes and longings for return of Bonapar-
tism and the regime of the Empire, was his
ruling passion: Writing to a friend from Ham,
he says: Sin the meantime do not desire to
leave this place, for here am in my place; with
the name that BEAR it is necessary that |
should be in the shade Of the dungeon or in
the light ofpower." This light from the depth
of his dungeon gives an insi ght into his whole
character. An irresistible impulse always pos
sessed his mind, that his name was destined to
rule France, and that his presence only was ne
cessary as spark to determine the explosion
Of the talent Bonapartism.
| piece Of good fortune enabled him to es-
cape the "shade," after languishing in it for six
menths. Profting by moment when great
| number of workmen happened to be employed
about the prison, he found means of Disgusting
himself as an "ouvrier,' and putting plank
on his back, he passed the guard without being
recognized. Once more he landed in England.
The sudden revolution of l84S rendered his
return to his native land safe. By caprice of
new RepubIique. The "light Of power" shone
upon and around him, opening to his ardent
gaze q long prospective Of glory. Three years
that national sovereignty, under the restrc-
tons imposed by legislative representations,
and resting on a basis forbidding all hope of
legitimacy, was not capable Of administering
to the cravings of his soul. He cut the Cor
dian knot by substituting the sovereignty of
force for the sovereignty Of right, and that in
less than two months after he had in his mes
sage renewed in the most formal manner his
oath to the Constitution, aad condemned the
very idea of ursurpation. The coup d'elat of
the I'd of December has exhibited new phase
in this strange character, when manifest desti-
NY seems now about to be accomplished.
The Alpha and Omega of all his aspirations
appear as if on the point Of realization. The |
future alone can fully reveal the man, and re-
solve the problem whether France is capable |
of resigEing herself quietly to the delusons of |
absolute power, or whether she is destined to |
be subjected to repetition of those scenes of |
violence and disorder, that have so often con.
Vulsed her to the very centre, and rendered her
almost bye-word among the nations of the
earth. At her head is a man of inflexble will,
mpassabe to the most delicate sensations of
the soul, Incapable of any mere poetical trans.
ports or sentimentalism He comprehends nei-
sher art, neither poetry; he has passion nei-
her for rhyme, neither for harmony; he is nei.
Lher impressed by nature nor the noble crea-
tures of genius. His heart is the vassal of his
head. He calculates all things, even his en-
5huslasm. His emotions, impressions, intelli-
5ence, are all measured as with compass, and
weighed with balance. The maxim of Ma.
,hiavel, that observer of the human heart, at is
better to do evil than to do nothing" is one
hat he has often repeated, and seems to have
produced deep impression on him. His heart,
severely tried by adversely, is iron, about to
undergo the fiery ordeal of prosperity, and the
world can judge for itself, and approve or con-
lemn the sentiment by which he is inspired.