Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1865-01-25

F. I was struck with the conduct of
Napoleon in one of his wars in which Aus
terlitz was fought, as I heard my daughter
reading it the other evening in the Life
of Napoleon. DO you remember its
p. l: remember Aqsterlitz, OF course,
but do not know the particular conduct
to which you allude, but I am sure, that
Napoleon never did any thing unbecom-
ing the greatest chieftan the world ever =.
saw, or that l would not do. We are
alike What was the incident to which
you allude?
F. France and England were at war:
Napoleon was crowned Emperor, and
wrote thus to the king OF England:
"S1RE, Ny BROTHER:
Called to the throne by Providence, by
the suf'rages of the Senate, Of the people,
and Of the army, my first desire is peace.
France and England, abusing their pros
perity, may contend for ages: But 90
their respective governments fulfill their
most sacred duties, in causing SO much
blood to be vainly shed, without the slight
est hope of advantage, or prospect of ces-
sation! LIDO not conceive that it. can be
deemed dishonorable in me to make the
first advance I believe it has been suth-
GENTLY proved to the world, that l dread
none of tile chances OF war, which indeed
offer nothing that 1 can fear. Though
peace is the wish of my heart, yet, war
has never been adverse to My glory. l
cor ure your majesty, then, not to refuse
the happiness of giving peace to the world I'D
GENTLY extensive for our two nations, and
reason might assist us to discover the
means of conciliating all, if both parties
were animated 1y spirit Of reoooels ,
ment. NAPOLEON.
2. I never would have written that let.
ter. It was cowardly. .
+. Napoleon coward!
=. Well, what came OF it!
f. England elected it.
P. No wonder. How did the war end
L. England called to her aid Russia,
Austria and Sweden; they raised 5Oo,-
600 men. Ulm surrendered to Napoleon,
and he fought and gained the mighty bat
tie of Austeglitz. And then, the historian
says: ''The Emperor Francis, seeing that
all was lost, sent Prince John to Napoleon,
to implore an armistice."
"Napoleon received the Prince courte-
ously. lie assured him that most earnest
ly he desired peace, and that it would al
ford him satisfaction to have an interview
with the Emperor OF Austria the next
day"
"Thc mkt morning the Emperor Fran
cis, accompanied by small escort of
guards, repaired, in a carriage drawn by
six horses, to the place appointed for the
interview. Napoleon, with great courtesy,
greeted the Emperor Of Austria, as he
alighted from his carriage. The two mon
archs conversed together for two hours. "
"Uaving obtained for himself better
terms than he had any right to expect, the
Austrian monarch next interceded for his
ally Alexander"
"The Russian army, replied Napoleon,
is surrounded. Notaman can escape me.
If, however, your majesty will promise,
that Alexander shall at once return to
Russia, will stop the advance Of my col
umns. Francis pledged his word, and
Napoleon immediately dispatched Sayary
to the headquarters Of the Gar"
"When the Emperor Francis had with
drawn, Napoleon walked for a moment te
and fro before the fire. y = = = And
was overheard to say, have actcd. very
unwisely; l could have have followed NJ
my victory, and taken the whole Of the
Russian and Austrian armies. They are
both entirely in my power. But-let i
be. 1t will, at least, cause some less tear
to be shcd!"
"Savary went to Alexander, and tolt
him what had passed between Napoleon
and Francis"
"What guarantee does your master re
quire? replied Alexander"
He asks only your word of honor"
Il give it with pleasure, rejoined Alex
ander."
" Hostilities Immediately ceased"
| call your attention to these points:
l. Napoleon had just been crowned EN-
peror. lie made haste to offer peace.
2. He wrote directly to the king--no
in any shy or roundabout way.
8. He wrote in the most respectful an,
) urgent terms. ~
4. lie that made the first offer of peace
gained the victory in war.
5. Francis, when obliged to sue 70
peace; got better terms than he expected
6. Napoleon forebore the glory of
complete triumph, because cit woul
cause some less tears to be she'd"
And now, Mr.. President, as peace ha
been obtained by us in two wars with Eng
land, and by France, and by Austria, an
by Russia, with Such men in the field a
Washington, Napoleon, Francis and Alex
ander, is not the way | propose entitled I
at least trial2
P. All! bat we have no such people
deal with as THOSE you mention. TIL
Yankees are the meanest people in til
world, and we can expect no courtesy a
their hands.
+. will not be driven to the uSgrs
cious task of DEFENDING the enemies af m