Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-09-09

Napoleon III has just put the finishing
touch to his military and diplomatic glory by
voluntarily granting an amnesty or free par
don. to all those Frenchmen who are now
IN prison or exile, for political
offences. These unfortunate persons amount
to many thousands, for among them will be
found hundreds who were expatriated by
General Cavaignac during bis dictatorship,
in July, 1850. But the amnesty does not ex-
tend to those guilty of criminal as well as
political offences, and as the notorious Ledru
Rollin was concerned in an attempt on the
life of the Emperor, he will be the exception
that proves he rule. Many of the most emf /
nent men in France were seized by order of
Louis Napoleon. at the time of the coup d etat,
on the I'd of December. 1851. and sent TO
prison and afterwards into exile. Among
them were his most formidable rivals, Cen
erals Cbangarnier and Cayaignac, the latter
being at the moment on the point of marry
ing Mademoiselle Oder, the daughter of the
wealthy Partisan banker. Cavaignac was al
most Immediately set at liberty, but Chang
arnier was sent TO the frontiers. whence he
made his way to Brussels. where be has since
resided. The next most distinguished prison.
ers were Generals Lamoriciere and Bedeau,
who had greatly distinguished themselves in
Algeria. To them Napoleon behaved with
great liberaIity, and offered them commits
sions in The Crimean army. but which were
refused by them. Lamorciere offered his
service during the Italian war. but the EN-
peror .'declinej them with thanks.' SO that the
two are now even with each other.
Among the eminent civilians and members
of the press who were deported, were THEIRS
Emile de Girardin, Edgar Quinet, Pascal Du-
pratt De R+musat, and jules de Lasteyrie.
OF the Chamber of Deputies, the most cele
brated exiles were Duyergier d. Hauranne,
Laydet Creton, Baze, Chambelle.k Anthony
Thouret, Persigny and Victor Chauffeur.
Messieurs Duiraisse. Greppo, Mot Mathe and
Richardet were under orders tor deportation
but were saved by female influence, which
sometime weighs with the Emperor, and mod
lies his high and stern resolves. 1t will be
remembered that during the presidency of
Louis Napolean, an attempt was made by the
Princess Mathilde and the Princess Demidoff
to revive the saloons of Madame Roland and
Madame Tallien, which had had so much in
fuence during the revolution of 1889 and the
first republic: but when the second empire
was established by the election of Louis Ma
poleon, the Princess Maihilde took up her
abode in the Elysee Bourbon palace, while
the Princess Demidoff. being no better than
a restless inhiguante and Russian spy, was
peremptorily ordered out of France Their
republican saloons was closed and the voter
les of gayety sought it in those of the tempo
rary head of French society, the Princess
Mathilde, and soon afterwards in those of the
lovely Eugene de Montijo, the Empress of
the French. The prescriptions did not all
terminate with the coup d etat, for on the 9th
of January, 1852, sixty-sx members of s'the
mound'' were banished, and on the Sd OF Feb
ruary Of the same year the Emperor issued
decree for the formation of tribunals COM
posed of civilians and military men, mixed
in definite proportion, for the trial and pun
ishment of all persons, in the different depart
ments Of France, who had opposed the coup
d 'etdt. or in other words, voted against the
election of Lous Napoleon.
These tribunals convicted several thous-
ands of greater or less degree of criminali-
ty, and about three thousand were deported
to Algeria and French Guiana. The re-
mainder suffer, various terms of imprlson-
ment. Strange to say, the Emperor allowed
three of his most openly avowCd enemies to
remain unmolesled. These were Victor HUI
90, the Count de Montalembert and jules
Favre. The first of these, however, pub
lished series of sarcastic brochures against
him. which would assuredly have consigned
their author to the prison of Ham or the
gallcys at Toulon, if he had not fed in time,
and taken refuge in jersey, where, under the
protection of England, he poured forth all
his venom against Napoleon the Little"
The trial of Montalembert is fresh in the men,
ory OF every one; the Emperor acted wisely
in dealing very leniently with him. jules
Favre is a m, mber of the Corps Legisiotf. and
still speaks with his accustomed bOldness,
still makes his voice heard, insisting that the
Parliament of his country shall be reality.
and not "a sham.
The Emperor has done this courageous act
Not only has he annexed no
conditions to the amnesty bnt he has dispatch
ed steamers to Algeria and Guiana,to inform
the unhappy exiles of the termination OF their
We presume he will also provide
them with the means of returning to France.
the amnesty will be in many hum
dreds of cases worse tnan a mockcry. But
there is one thing be cannot do, and that Is
blot ont the years'of MYSTERY entailed on the
families of these political victims by their
exile; nor can he recall to life the dear ones
who have departed during their absence.
Whether these men on their return will have
the magnanimity 10 consider the present
gracious act OF his majesty an atonemeut for
his past tyranny may well be doubted. He
runs the risk of this, contrary to the advice
of his council. especially of Monsieur Fouid.
Next to abstaining from cruel act is the
making amends for it and the eXiles will per-
haps see enough in the present prosperity
and power of France to reconcile them with
her Emperor. They will find that she now
occupies position among the nations which
she has not held since the time when the star
Of the first Napoleon was in its zenith, fifty
years ago; and they must admit that II the
coup d'etat, which drove them forth, had not
come from Louis Napoleon, some such blow
would have been struck by them against him;
SO that it may justly be said that he acted
in self defence, if not for the good of his
cOuntry.-Phik. North Anle1 ican.