Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-04-06

ne Execution of OrH1nI ana tHefFA.
PARIS, March Is, 1858.
If your readers feel any excessive curiosity
touching the execution of Orsini and Pierri
they can do no better than read the long arti-
Gle contained in the Times of Monday last
Not one single detail of the whole sad and
solemn sceue is omitted, from the waking OF
the prisoners to the moment when their heads
fell beneath the knife of the guillotine. l
am, however, enabled to rectify one or two
points which have been enormously stated by
the great London journal, whose statements,
in all save the points allude to, are absolute
ly exact. The Times AYERS that when Orsini
died he cried 4" Vi0e PItajie - and "ViUe la
RepW6tiqueP This is not the case. On the
scatfod OIsini said In a loud voice, s'Adieu
mes GnaiS, and then adding with enthusi-
asm, "Vioe FHatie!' he of his own accord
lay down, and gave up his head to the knife.
The words " VtUe Ia Repu5i que were utter
ed, but they were so by the crowd. This is
fact not allowed to be mentioned. but an eye
witness of the whole described the thing to
me in these words: "Nhen the blow was
heard of the fall of the knife land it was so to
the very extremity of the surrounding streets)
then, the words "Vioe Ia Rep,tblique - were
uttered by between ninety and hundrd
thousand voices but uttered as it were in
SlSahtlC "uispeTs tndG ron through the vast
crowd like a magnetic vibration. The troops
heard the murmurs, as did every one else, but
their orders were to avoid seeming to repress
1t violently, therefore all they did was to whip
their horses, rattle their arms, and make the
utmost noise possible.
Now another more important point missta-
ted by the Times. is that touching Orsinis
taking the communion. Orsin confessed him
self devoutly, and ovsr and over said to the
priest who attended him IL am a sincere
Christian and Catholic - but when the ques-
ton ca ue: "Do you repent of what you have
done f'-without the assurance of which re-
pentance, no absolution can be given-when
that question came, the answer was invariably
the same-mild, gently, but firmly given
"No. l cannot repent of what | have done"
Consequently, Orsini could not receive abso-
ton, and, unabsolvsd, no Catholic can par
take of the communion. But probably the
prison authorities have been told by the gov
eminent to state that Orsini had received the
communion, that mere fact implying that he
had slgnihed his repentance of his deed OF the
l4th of January.
The sensation produced has been something
indescribable. l have lived here half my
lie, and lived through many a so-called his
torical event, but l never saw anything come
execution of Orsini. His crime seemed to be
obliterated from every memory, and the i'm.
preston only left of his dapntless courage md
his devotion to his country's cause.
As told you the difficulty of either exc.
cutting or pardoning hum was so immense,
that IN the end, privy council was called,
the day after the Court Of Cessation had re-
fused to quash the senten ce, there being no
legal reason for doing so.--and the question
OF the possibility of Communication of pun
ishment was lengthily discussed the Empe
TOR trying by every means to avoid the exc
cution. The day before Thursday the Pre-
fet de Police, Nj. Pietri, came to General Els
pinasse, the Minister Of the Interior. and
said; Nov, you know my reasoning is a
purely selfish one. l am not a political man.
L am simply anxious to preserve the Empe-
ror's lite, and it is my duty to declare that, if
the head of Orsini falls, can no longer un-
dertake 10 answer for the Emperor's safety"
General Espinasse waxed wroth. and said
that, as for him, he should do everything in
the world TO ensure the execution but. at
last, impressed by NJ. Pietris energetic ex-
pressions, he ended by saying: 'Weu, you
had best see the Emperor and talk over the
matter with him." NJ. Pietri did so. and bv
the Emperor's desire, was-out of all usage
present at the Cabinet Council of Friday.
There, to all the persons assembled, he re-
peated what he has said all along g be.
seech the Council to thing well over what it
Is about to do it is not political question,
and l know nothing of politics, but the Ques-
ton is: How shall the Emperor life be best
preserveds As Prefet de Police, | can, for
my part, only declare that should Orsini be
executed, l can no longer regard myself as
capable OF protecting the Emperor's exist
ence, and shall therefore beg to offer nv re-
signaton."
The majority of the Council, however, be-
ing Frenchmen instead of Corscans. and
never having in their lives been the sworn
associates of Carbonari, could not be brought
to see the danger of the execution, and held
the danger of the impression that would be
made by the Communication of punishment far
greater OF the two, as at once revealing the
intensity OF the alarm felt by HIS Imperial
Majesty.
A curious anecdote for which l can voueh,
is the tollawing: One of the magistrates.
highest placed on the bench, and who was
foremost in conducting the prosecution
against the prisoners. lyon will easily see
why cannot give his name publicity had.
both personally and by letter, held commune
cation with Orsini since The trial. and, Orsini
having written to thank him for various good
offices the magistrate l speak of paid him a
last visit at the prison Of La Roquette Upon
this occasion, he addressed Orsini thus :.
have no right to ask you what am about to
ask, and you have every right to refuse me
an answer. Consequently, if my question
be indlscreet, remain silent. What is YOUR
belief with regard to further attempts upon
the Emperor's life will these continue p
Orsini looked him full in the face, and an +.
swered him slowly and very gravey /" 1 can
have no reasons for not answering you, and
for not speaking the perfect truth it is i'm :
possible he should escape-he is lost" IN est
| perdu.