The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-10-18
For the National Era.
Sketch of the Political History of Europe,
THE CAPITULATI0N OF PARIS, IN 1914,
THE PRESENT TIME
BY A FRIEND OF LIBERTY.
CHAPTER XXI

BY A FRIEND OF LIBERTY.
CHAPTER XXI
During a few hours of the night between the
23d and Oath of February, there was deceitful
tranquility throughout the greatest part of
Paris but in the heart of the old city, in the
vicinity of st. Martins square, body of revo-
lutionists were busily engaged in tearing up the
pavement of the streets, and raising a great
number of barricades. At daybreak, ominous
reports of discharged firearms were heard at
intervals, rousing even the inhabitants of the
Tuileries from their sleep. The proclamation
announcing the change of Ministers, which,
under the darkness of the night, had been af-
fixed to the walls of some of the houses and
other objects in the disafected districts, was
not signed and had therefore no other effect
than to awaken the suspicion that it was in
tended to serve as mere trick for suppressing
the compulsory measures against the Govern
ment. Hence the revolutionary party, instead
of desisting from any further violence as NJ.
Theirs had expected, became still more excited
to act with vigor.
But Marshal Bugeaud, who during the night
had been informed of his being appointed COM
mander.in-chief ofthe National Guard of Paris,
and of the troops present in that city, immedi-
ately fastened to issue such directions as he
deemed necessary, in order to suppress the in
surrectionary movement. Two columns, con-
sisting of $500 men each, and provided with
artillery, were formed, under the respective
command of Generals Bedeau and Sebastian,
in order to scour the bouleyards and the streets
in their vicinity, as well as those nearer to the
Seine, and then to meet at the Hotel de Vile,
of which they were to take possession, as a
point dappui of the highest importance The
reserve, consisting of about 5000 men, and
stationed in the neighborhood of the Tuil-
cries, was intrusted to the command of Gen..
Lamoriciere, between whom and the Marshal
there had for some time been some estrange-
ment, on account of disputes relative to the
manner of conducting the war in Africa, but
which both these equally generous as heroic
men readily now forgot in order to cooperate
for the maintenance of order.
The troops under the command of Generals
Bedeau and Sebastian, removed the barricades,
and, dispensing the crowds which they met with,
and which hailed them with cries of " ViUe
PArmee!" Vioe Ic Reformed" penetrated,
without experiencing any resistance, almost to
the neighborhood of the Hotel de Vile.
The Marshal was meanwhile collecting other
troops, in order to direct attacks against the
more strongly fortified positions of the iusur-
gents, but was prevented from executing this
design by the orders of the King, enjOining
him to desist from any aggressive measures,
and to recall the columns advancing towards
the Hotel de Vile. He obeyed, but with evil
dent expressions of displeasure.
The recall of these troops had very fatal
effect, because the soldiers considered them
selves Inundated and dishonored in being
obliged to return, as if they had been defeated !;
and their very return appeared, in the eyes of
the people, as a sign of either dissatisfaction or
defeat on the part of the troops. From that
moment. the cause of the King was, in fact, lost
beyond redemption.
Early in the morning of the 24th, NJ. Theirs,
still very hopeful, as it would appear, fastened
to the Tuileries, in order to arrange definitely
with the King relative 10 the formation of the
new Cabinet.
Soon after him, several members of the con-
stitutional opposition, who, while friends of the
principles OF freedom, were nevertheless anx-
ious to preserve the monarchical form of gov
eminent, together with several Generals, who
were ready to spill their blood in defence of the
King, arrived at the royal palace. Among the
former, the principal were, M. Dovergier Hau-
ranne, M. Crimineux, and M. Remusat; and
among the latter, the most distinguished were
the celebrated Marshal Gerard and Gen. La
moriciere.
On the arrival of NJ Theirs at the Tuleries
the King was still asleep, not at all apprehen-
sive of the dangers which were hourly increas-
ing. These were, however, much greater than
any of those assembled in the palace imagined
the revolutionary torrent progressing with
rapidity far beyond all anticipation.
The students and youth of the schools, form
ing long columns, chanting the Marseillatse and
Des Girondins, issued from their headquarters,
and, fraternizing with the people, spread the
revolutionary flames all over Paris.
few minutes after M. Theirs had been ad-
mitted to the Kings apartment, the names of
the persons of the new Ministers were an
nounced to those present i'll the palace, and
measures taken to make the ministerial list
publicly known.
Among the new Ministers, the most notice
able were NJ. Theirs himself, M. Odillon Barrot
and General Lamoriciere. The formation of
this Cabinet, two days or even twenty -four hours
earlier, would unquestionsbly have saved the
throne of Louis Philippe, and satisfied the
people. but the hlngs proTacteo oDStlnacy,
the unfortunate accident at the hotel of the
Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the dscour-
agement of the troops, by keeping them so
long in inactivity, and by contradictory orders
and change of commanders, together with the
increase of audacity and number of the adver-
saries of the Crown, had 80 much changed the
situation of affairs, as to render the appoint
ment of this Cabinet an altogether futile at
tempt to stem the revolutionary current.
About ten o'clock in the morning, a great
multitude, partially armed, began to crowd
round the troops stationed at the sides of the
Louvre, upon La Place de Palats Royale, and
La Place de la Concorde. The soldiers re-
manned calm and immovable in the face Of the
violent clamors and even isolated attacks of the
revolutionists. 1t was evident that they were
ready to defend the King. Still, their counte-
nances showed mental sorrow and bodily fa
tigue-being both averse to shed the blood of
the people, and exhausted, by being kept on
duty for more than forty hours.
There was but a comparatively very small
number of the National Guard present; and
even those seemed rather inclined to give way
to the pressure of the multitude, as they in
fact later did, than to oppose any vigorous re-
sistance. Still it was chiefly upon the fidelity
and attachment of these civic soldiers Louis
Philippe relied for safety, deeming their own
interests as much interviewer with his own, as