Santa Fe weekly gazette. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1864-1869, 1865-06-03

The records Of history are full of fear
full instances when political factionists
have resortod to the extremes Of violence,
in the hope of accomplishing their ini-
quitous designs. From the day when Ju-
lius Caesar was immolated in the Roman
capitol, down to tho assassination OF
Abraham Lincoln, we find tho same evil
passions at work, tho same ambitious
schemes yoamiug for fruition, the same
heart cankering desire to consolidate tho
government Of country in the person OF
some favored individual to the exclusion
of tho legitimate incumbent, and inyari-
ably for the benefit of the cOnspirators. In
some instances, implacablo hatred Of the
occupant of tho place Of power has been
the moving cause Of tho crime committed;
although, as in the case of our late be-
loved President, the object of this inhu-
man hatred had earned for himself an I'M
perishable title to the respect and gener-
Gus consideration of mankind. With the
exceptions of the beheading Of Holofer-
mes, and tho assassination Of Marat by
that sublime fanatic, Charlotte Corday,
we cannot doteeta single ingredient Of
plausibiity in the complicated motives Of
action which, from the earliest times down
to the present melancholy occasion, have
led to the perpetration'of the most terrible
and execrated Of crimes.
Henry III, Of France was assassinatod
by one I'algues Clement, otth instiga-
tioa Of fowiambitious courtiors, who an
ticipated great personal aggrandzoment
by the elevation to tho throne Of Henry
w, who was generally supposed to bo
guilcless and inexperienced in civil affairs,
and entirely devoted to the pursuits Of
war. Having promulgated tho odict Of
/ Nantes, which established the Roman
Catholic faith throughout his kingdom,
Henry w.. was, in turn, assRssinated by II
desperate enthusiast of the Protestant
persuasion, named Rayaillac, who hoped
thereby to obtain some immuntioS forh
followers. William Ill. of England, than
whom more humane, enlightened, phi
lanthropic sovereign mover sat upon the
) English throne, nearly fell prey to a
conspiracy to assOssinato him, which was
prompted by the same evil motives, and
aiming at tho same pernicous results
the substitution of q turbulent and bigo-
ted dynasty for that which had rescued
England from all the horrors Of civil strife.
The plot was revealed by one Of tho con-
spirators, William ILL., instead of going
/ out to hunt, as was bis custom on certain
. particular days, remained at home, and
+ thereby frustrated the schomo against BIZ
/ life. ..
\ 1t would take moro space than we have
4 time to devote to the subject to onumerat(
/, the various escapes which the first Napo.
u leon had from attempts to take his lift
during the stormy period Of the Consulate
J. The reader Of history will easily cal
to mind the famous George conspiracy
plot which took its name from tho origi,
nator, George Cadnudal, Chouan chief
with whom wore associated Moreau
Pichegru and others; the affair, however
becoming known, tho leaders werO al
arrested and the plot was abandoned
Pichegru was found strangled in prison
Morosu was sentenced to exile, and Cad
oudal was publicly executed. Tho mos
remarkable instance Of preservation from
death, the result Of an uneuing and un
comfortable instinct, occurred in thisway
! Napoleon was inordinately addicted to th
4 luxury of snuff taking. On ono occasion
4 being suddenly called out of Paris, he lof
the sale faudiGco somewhat abruptly
forgetting his fayorito snuIf-box, whicI
4, was lying on tho mantelpioce. Business
a of importance detained him vt Fontaino
4 bleau for several days, and on his rotury
to tho Tuilleries, the first object that ut
II tracted his attention was the forgotten
'i snuff box, which lay precisely in tho sam
o spot where he had left it, lie took it up
4 seemed to hesitate little, and then turn
. ing to an aid-do-camp who was standing
! a few PAGES from him, requested that Off
Ger to open the box, alleging inability I,
perform tho act himself. The officer com
piled with alacrity, and upon tho lid lily
ing open, ho fell dead upon the floor. 4
subtle poison known only to the most ab
struse and experienced chemists, bad boel
introduced for the purpose OF destroying
the life Of tho Emperor, who only escaped
the snaro by the inhuman sacrifice of al
innocent person. After that memorable
occasion Napoleon was never known h
y carry a snuil-box again, but inyariabl,
used his vest pocket us depository 70
tho pulyerzed article.
The murderous attempts Of Fieschi
Albaud, Mcurior, and others, bear amp
evidence Of the truth Of tho adNgc, thO
"uncasy lies the head that wears crown
The informal machine so craGtily construc
ted by Ficschi for tho destruction of Loui
Philippe, and which in its explosion caus
ed the immediate death of Marshal Nor
tier and several others, shows how sligh
ia tue tenure Of popular regard, and t
what desperate measures fanatic politi
Clans will resort in order to promote thei
own selfish interests, or secure the asoen
dCncy Of somo particular creed.
Although Napoleon Ill. has done nor
for tho advancement of civilization an
prosperity in France than any monSrc
that ever preceded him, yet his oxpcrionc
d must have shown him that thCro is n
guarantee against those frightful cbulli
tions Of popular caprice by which tho live
of the best and wisest rulers are some
times ruthlessly sacrificed. Tho famou
0rsini conspiracy, which led to the al
tcmptto asSassinato the Emperor and En-
; press, on their way to the opera, by throw
. ing handgrCnades at tho carriage, must
fresh in the memory Of our readers. I'll
escape Of tho imperial couple was deemo
A. almost miraculous; and such was tho el
Il