The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-23
THE LAST DAY OF THE EMPIRE.

nC FrOcinlme0.
From CoIignont's Messenger.
The catalogue of disasters which have be-
como known since our last publioa lion is
almost incredible. We shall endeavor to give
an account of them in the order of their be-
coming known. The Legislative Body met on
Saturday, M. Schneider in the chair. Con-
siderable agitation prevailed, and the news
of the war was spoken of as altogether disas-
trous The tribunes were Gro wded, and evil
IDENTIFY some important incident was expected.
At $3.50 General de Palikao, Minister of War,
entered, aud, after a short pause, addressed
the Chamber in the following terms:-
Gentlemen:-I have already said that
would in every circumstance always tell you
the truth, however sad it might be for u.s. l
now come to-day to fulfil my promise. My
first news is that Marshal Bazaine, after a
vigorous sortie and a combat of eight hours,
being overwhelmed by numbers, was forced
to fall back under Metz, so that his junction
with MaclIahon is for the present prevented.
On the other hand, the intelligence which we
have received from Marshal MacMahon shows
that at first he overthrow the Prussian army,
but on the following day, after a combat of
several hours duration, he was obliged to
retire on Sedan and Mezieres; some of our
soldiers were even forced on the Belgian ter
ritory. As to the rumor of Mac Mahon being
wounded cannot say anything, in the absence
of official documents, and the assertion may
prove untrue. Homage is unanimously paid
to the heroism of the French soldiers. The
situation is grave, and we have decided to
call out the whole living forces of the nation.
Already, in the provision of adverse circum-
stances, our grand anxiety was to organize the
men who had already served, but, unfortu-
nately, they were not in sufficient numbers;
we therefore rapidly prepared the Garde Mo-
bile, who, to the number of 200, 900 men, will
cooperate in the defense of the capital. The
other military forces are being actively got
ready, and we will fight with tirmness until
the enemy be driven from the soil. cloud
marks of assent
The honorable Minister left the tribune in
the midst of general agitation. When some-
thing like calm was restored M. Haent lens
proposed that the House should resolve itself
into secret committee. cloud opposition
on the Left.) General de Palikao saw no
reason for any such course. M. Jules Favre
declared that every member present must de-
sire to aid in taking all possible steps for the
defense of the country, and the first point
of importance was to make the situation
exactly known. Nothing could be more
heroic than Marshal Bazaine's conduct, but
he could not act properly because he was
trammelled. (No, no. Was it not true that
the Ministers at present received the orders
of the Emperor. General de Palikao replied,
''No." Nj. Jules Favre then observed that
in that case the Government ceased de fdcto
to exist (Dissent.) He would now propose
to place all authority in the hands of Gene
raj Trochu. General de Palikao protested
against such proceeding, and as no one
seconded the motion the incident terminated.
nj. Argence presented a bill to call into
active service all citizens, married OF not,
from twenty to thirty-fve years of age; and,
in addition, all former officers, ub-officers,
and privates to the age of sixty. Urgency
was declared, and report was ordered with
out delay. The proceedings then terminated
at about o'clock.
At 10 at night proclamation was issued ia
the people. 1t has already been published.
THE EFFECT PRODUCED
by this proclamation is more easily to be ina.
gined than described. Up to 3 clock in the
morning small groups might be seen collected
in the more deserted streets engaged in
serious conversation, whilst on the boulevards
and in the environs of the Legislative Body
the affiuence of anxious inquirers was i'm
mense. AS midnight sitting of the Depu-
ties had been previously arranged, vast crowds
assembled near the Place de la Concorde to
learn the result of their deliberation. Some
disorders followed in the general desire to
know the result of the sitting, and several
arrests were made. The building was guarded
by strong detachments of the line, National
Guards, Garde de Paris, and the Municipal
Guards. The Legislative Body on Saturday
evening was convoked by M. Schneider, the
President, to assemble at midnight. The
sitting did not, however, commence until q
little after l o'clock in the morning. The
public tribunes were crowded, as no cards OF
entrance had been required. On the seats
appropriated to the Ministers were to be seen
Count de Palikao, Admiral Rigault de Genou.
lily, and NM. Chevreau, Busson- -Billault,
Clement Duvernois, and Brame.
The President rose in the midst of the
deepest silence and said:-Gentlemen, ad-
verse intelligence was announced to me in
the course of the evening, and had conse-
quently duty to perform towards the Cham.
ber and towards the nation-namely, to at
once convoke the Assembly, in which course
have conformed to :the wishes of a grea
number of Deputies belonging to all shades
of opinion. The only responsibility that
would not have accepted is that resulting
from any delay in calling you together.
Count de Palikao Minister of War-Gen
tlemen:-I have the painful mission to an
nounce to you what my words of this morn
ing might have foreshadowed, but what still
hoped was only doubtful news; but unfortu
nately, however, it is now official. The army
after heroic efforts, was driven into Sedar
and surrounded by such superior force tina
resistance was impossible. The troops capi
tulated, and the Emperor was made prisoner
Such is the sad intelligence have to Civ
you. In the face of such grave events, W,
Ministers cannot possibly enter at the pre-
sent moment on discussion relative to tn
serious consequences which must ensue. We
therefore, demand the postponement of tn,
debate until tomorrow. You will easily un
derstand that we have not eeen able to con
fer together, as I had to leave my bed O.
the announcement of a meeting of the Cham
Aor 40