Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-01-23
THE ANTI-SLAVERY BUGLE.

preferred death to that act which the authorities
Vi Dourges had imposed, under the name of n pen
ance, upon q man Of ancient and honorable race,
ana one who had long stood high in the favor of a
crowned head.
AT the dawn of day, on the 5th of June, 1856,
an agitation began on the market place of Bourges,
whlch announced that something, as unusual as it
was important, was about to take place, Out Of
oil the houses, streets and alleys streamed men
ana women of all ages, who assembled round a
circle marked out with posts in the middle of the
MARKET place, the entrance to which was strongly
guarded by well armed soldiers. Although the
morning twilight did not afford a clear spot, still
there was u general idea of what was to follow ;
and those who stoud nearest could discern a lightly
erected stage, the sight of which left no doubt as
to its object. 1t was u scaffold which awaited its
victim.
The expectation and interest depicted on the
couhtenances OF the constantly increasing mass,
was very decidedly different from that which was
usually observed on like occasions. This difference
had It's rise in the circumstance that the present
occasion was not one Of n common execution, but,
as was already known to the inhabitants OF Dour-
ges, an example Of the administration OF justice
hitherto altogether without precedent. Besides
this, the unusual time Of day, as we'll as the place
contributed much to lend ~solemnity to the whole {:
Tor o gallows had never before been known to be
erected within the precincts OF the dwelling houses
of the citizens of Bourges: and added to this, the
sword OF justice was now to be seen in the hand
OF a man who, although he had not been particu'
larly beloved by the people, had at least always
been looked up to by them with respect.
AS at length, during the continuation of that rus
ting and confused noise which is inseparable even
by q silent multitude. the daylight increased by
degrees, aud announced the approaching rising OF
the sun IN the east, 4 deep and awful stiffness sud
denly prevailed. Through a passage formed by
the crowd, a picket of soldiers approached the Ia
tai ring; surrounded by these soldiers was a mis-
cradle cart, in which sat the executioner, and by
his side a haggard looking man. who was evidently
about to suffer the death of q malefactor. Al o
little distance from the cart, followed a clergyman,
accompanied BY a man who was perfectly pale, but
whose anxious countenance show cd also thorough
determination of purpose. Arrived at the place
OF execution the minister Of justice demanded OF
him, who vas no other than the Marquis de
Giac, whether are you willing, unde. your
own handwriting and signature, to give your
sell up to the royal mercy, and thus escape the
sentence of death which hangs over you? }"
NO. answered the marquis, in q firm voice. .
"Then,' continued the officer Of justice you will
have to perform the penance imposed on you, and
90 the part OF executiOner to the delinquent who
has been adjudged to suffer death at the hands oil
the headsman."
Saying this. he made n sign to the executoner,
who drew from under his cloak q sword, which he
presented to the Marquis de Giac.
An indescribable expression of anxiety was de-
plcted on every countenance. After q short pause,
The marquis, pale as death, sliced the sword with n
firm grasp, bared bis right arm. and A
Shrek Of horror burst from the crowd-he had cut
off his right hand by a desperate stroke Of the
weapon which he. held in his left.
Returning the sword to the executioner, and
turning to the Judicial authorities, whilst the blood
streamed from bis arm, he said:
Go tell the constable, gentlemen, that the Mar.
quis do Giac has no hand with which to perform
the duty of executioner-"
lie could say NJ more. but fell fainting from loss
of blood. Before the expiration of an hour the mar
quis received the pardon of the constable who ad.
mired courage still more than he hated political
crime.