The Shasta courier., 1863-06-13
olling. The disease was SO

progress that 1t was generally
sl,.s Jsed that he had been poisoned. # SO,
it Vas one of those crimes which only tks
day of judgement can reveal.
As lie lay upon his dying bed, perfectly
rational, yet seldom uttering word, and de-
pressed beyond the power of language todes-
cribe, he took the hand of his stricken
companion, endeavoring to speak some words
of tenderness, and to implore forgiveness for
the past 1t was too late. His tongue fal.
tered, his eyes became fixed, gentle tremor
passed over his frame. and the Emperor was
dead 1t was the lst of December, 1925.
The departed monarch left three brothers
Constantine, Nicholas and Michael Con-
stantine, the elder was man of no nobility
of soul lover of pleasure, living for self
alone. Alexander was by nature man of
lofty spirit. He despised the character of
Constantine, and could not bear the thought
of leaving eighty millions of people to his ar
bitary sway When mere boy, Constantine
married German Princess but fifteen years
cf age. For four years they lived life of
misery, and then separated. The tickle and
profigate Constantine became enamored of
the beautiful daughter ofa Polish noble, and
sought permission of his brother, the Enipe-
ror, to be divorced, that he might marry his
new love. The Emperor, whose will was
law, gave consent to this unprincipled ar
rangement, or. condition that Constantine
would resign all right to the throne. Thus
the dsstinies of eighty millions. of peopleweTe
bartered, fortunately in this case, to their ad.
vantage The contemplate prince married
the Polish beauty, and signed the following
act of remuneration of all claims to the throne :
:" Conscious that do not possess the genius,
the talents or the strength necessary to fit
me for the dignity of a sovereign, | entreat
your imperial majesty to transfer that right
to him to whom it belongs after me, and thus
assure forever the stability of the Empire"
Another document was at the same time
prepared, declaring Nicholas to be heir to
the throne. Immediately upon the announce
ment of the death OF Alexander, the Senate
met. and in view of these documents, declar
ed Nicholas to be the lawful sogereign. Still
Nicholas refused to accept the crown until he
should receive from Constantine himself an
acknowledge of his re ignation. As
Constantine at that time was absent, three
weeks elapsed before his remuneration was re-
ceived. Immediately upon receiving this an
nouncement, Nicholas ascended the throne,
dating his accession from the day of Alexan-
der's death. The new monarch was then
twenty mine years of age.
The conspiracy against Alexander, to which
we have alluded, was organized by party
opnosed to the unlimited despotism of the
COVE -pment, and in favor ct constitutional
MONARCHY. Many of the highest mobiles of
the realm and of the leading officers in thelr
army were engaged in the plot. 1t was their
design to kill or imprison the members of the
royal family. Their plans were thoroughly
matured. Immediately upon the accession
of Nicholas. armies sprang into existence in
opposition to his reign. The first outbreak
was in the streets of St. Petersburg. The
energy of Nicholas was SO conspicuously de-
veloped. that nearly all further opposition to
his government was effectually prevented
The conflict beneath the walls of the palace
was dreadful 1t was not an unarmed rab-
bile Nicholas was called to meet but marshal
led troops, with banners and music, AID led
by veteran generals. The emperor placed
himself at the head of his guard, and for a
few hours the storm of battle swept the streets
Of ST. Petersburg with fearful severity: Mich
olas avoided no personal peril. Being e1-
ceedingly reluctant to fire upon his own sub
jects, he hoped at first to be able tolput down