Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1854-05-04

the moment of trial; and, instead o
heading the insurrection, he had taker
himself to the palace to offer his oath L
Nicholas. Ryleieff had gone in searcl
of Troubetzkoi, and was detained to,
long to be of service.
The Emperor now stood confronting tn,
insurgents with superior force. 1t hat
been merely a question of time; ant
they had lost. Still he was anxious t
avoid the necessity of attacking them
and sent General Miloradovich, a grey
old veteran, whose impetuous bravery
had won for him the title of the 'Mura
of Russia to expostulate with them
The old generslwas shot down by The
fierce Kakhofski, with the exclamation,
who now talks of submission% Con
stsntine foreverP was the reply which
rose from the ranks of the insurgents
Hurrah for Constantine! Hurrah fol-
ConstitoHtzia! 1.-THE Constitution =
Who is Constitouzial' asked one old
soldier of another. It's the Empress
the wife of Constantine, suppose, re-
piled his comrade. nd
Nicholas made one more attempt at
paci6cation; he sent the aged Metropoli-
tan of the Church to demonstrate with
them. The feeble voice of the old man
was drowned by the shouts and martial
music; his gray hairs even were insult
ed, and he returned trembling, though
unharmed. .-...
At length the word for attack was
given. The mutineers were pressed on
all sides by the cavalry of the Guards.
They stood firm in close ranks, and re-
pulsed every attack. 1t was now four
O'Clock, and the shades of night were
fast closing in. The Gar ordered the
cannon to be brought up and pointed at
the masses. The lighted matches were
waved about in the dusky air, while the
insurgents were ordered to disperse.-
They stood firm. A volley was fired
above their heads. The only reply was,
Constantine foreverp The cannoneers
were ordered to fire point blank. They
wavered and heSitated. Should disaf-
fection seize upon them all were LOST
The Grand Duke Michael seized match
and applied it to the piece. The hesi-
tation Of the cannoneers was gone.-
Volley after volley plowed the ranks of
the insurgents. They broke and fled
along the streets and quays. The vic
tory was won. Nicholas was Emperor
of Russia. By six o'clock all was over,
and the day was closed by solemn Te
Deum in the Imperial chapel.
In due time a military commission
was appointed to investigate the causes
of the insurrection, and to try the
leaders, who had fallen into the hands
of the Emperor. Troubetzkoi, who
had gone to the palace to swear fealty
early in the morning, was seized with
such panic Of terror as to be unable
to stir for some time. He finally re-
covered sufficiently to be able to make
his way to his own house; from which.
after nightfall, he crept away to the Aus
trian minister his brother-in-law, with
whom he hoped TO find an asylum. He
was surrendered by the minister, and
brought before Nicholas. He at first
denied all knowledge of the insurrec-
ton. Being confronted with documents
bearing his own signature, he fell upon
his knees before the Emperor, and abb
jectly begged for his life. Nicholas or
dered the trembling conspirator to seat
himself, and write to his wife from his
iictation. Il am WE'LL so ran the epis-
tie; and my life is to be spared The
hesitated at these last words.
Sign and seal it, continued the Car.
If you have courage to endure dis
honored and remorseful life, | grant it
10 you. But l promise you nothing
more;;' and he kept his word to the let
ter. The prince was sent to Siberia,
he was accompanied by his wife.
After fifteen years of exile, she yentur-
ed to petition, not for pardon, but for
permission TO change their abode to
some less dreary part of that prison
and. Her request was sternly refused.
Mercy had exhausted itself in his be-
half. M -f -... E-.4
The news of the transactions at st.
Petersburg reached the army Of the
south in few days. An attempt at in
'urrection was then made, but it was
speedily put down, and Pestel and his !
were arrested and delivered
over TO the military commission.
After six or seven months the COM
mission finished its labors. The whole
lffair had been subjected to most
borough investigation. The trials |
we're secret; and the prisoners were !
lenied the aid of counsel Otherwise
hey seem to have been conducted with |
lue caution and fairness. The punish
nents pronounced we're less numerous
md severe than might have been ex-
,ected. Thirty-seyen were condemned
0 death; but the punishment of all but
i've was committed to Punishment and
lard labor in Siberia. One hundred
nd thirty were sentenced to undergo |
'srious minor penalties.
Those sentenced to death were Ry-
eieff Pestel, Kakhofski, one OF the bro 4
hers Mourayief, and Bestoujef-Ru- {
nine. One day was granted them, af- +
or their sentence was pronounced, to !
repars todie. They all met their fate
nth firmness. Ryleieff said that he !
ad brought himself within the penalty ]