The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-06-06
An Historical Trial.

An Historical Trial.
In the year 1856 the British Government
sent feet, under Admiral Byng, to relieve the
Island of Minorca, then threatened by power
full French expedition. When Byng arrived at
Port Mahon he found the British flag still fly
ing over the castle of st. Philip. The next
day the French Admiral bore down with his
whole force. Admiral West, the second in
command, dispersed the vessels opposed to him,
but Byng kept aloof, and the next day he re-
treated, sailing to Gibraltar and leaving Minor
ca to its fate. For this act he was tried by
court martial and acquitted of cowardice or
treachery, but condemned by the twelfth arti-
Gle of war for not having done all in his power
to relieve ST. Philip and defeat the French
fleet. He was shot on the quarterback of the
"Monarque" and never, since his tragic death,
did another British Admiral initiate his pusil-
animous conduct.
At the beginning of the French Revolution,
Marshal Luckner and Generals Custine and
Hochhard lost their heads on the scafold in
punishment of bunders or ineffciency, and the
lesson was not lost upon the Generals who sue
ceeded them.
1t seems in the light of recent events that
similar example is needed and is likely to be
made in the case of Marshal Bazaine When
Louis Napoleon made his great Coup d. Etat
in 1851, he removed from command all the
Generals who were hostile to him, and many OF
those whom he promoted to their places had no
other claim than their subserviency. Bazaine
was different in one respect. He possesses very
considerable military ability, but he is entirely
destitute of moral rectitude Commodore Maui
ry knew him we'll in Mexico, in Maximilian's
time, and believed him to be utterly unprinci-
pied. So much so that on hearing of Bazaine's
- c,1, ho inro
predicted that disaster would result to France
if Bazaine's interest came in conflict with his
duty.
Every one remembers Bazaine's strange in
action in Nletz-his stratagem to get rid OF
Bourbaki, whose integrity he feared; his secret
negotiations with Bismarck, and his consulta-
ton with the Empress after the Empire had
been abolished by the only constituted author
tiles of his country. He has been denounced
in the most bitter terms, and numerous officers
of every rank who served under him at Metz
| including his own nephew-have charged him
with treason to his country. 1t is true that the
military vanity of the French has often in
duced them to attribute to treason the defeats
that were due to their own blunders; but in
this case there seems to be no doubt that Ba-
zaine, in his opposition to the Republic sacri-
feed the interest of his country to that OF
dynasty under which he expected to play the
| first part. He did not sell his army and his
fortress for Prussian gold; but his desire and
expectations were to make terms with Bis
| marck. and to be allowed to march out from
Metz with his army to overthrow the Republic
and establish Regency under the nominal
government of the Empress, but in which he
would have been the power behind the throne.
| His personal ambition blinded him. He de-
ceived his officers and his garrison-he refused
to cut his way out of Metz-he refused to CO.
operate with MacMahon, and finally he sur
rendered his command under the most disgrace
| full circumstances.
These accusations might be supposed to be
the voice of popular prejudice alone. But the
Marshal has condemned himself before hand.
Confident of impunity after 80 many months
since his surrender, he has published a book in
which he clearly admits having abandoned his
role of commander-in-chief of an army of one
hundred and seventy-ive thousand men, the
last hope of his country, to engage in political
negotiations which, under the circumstances,
were clearly reasonable. Never was more
fragrant case in so high rank. If so many
poor privates have suffered the ine1orable pen.
atty of military law for comparatively venial
offences, the welfare of France and the future
| efficiency of her armies require that solemn
example be made of the Marshal who could
thus betray his duty and his country. The
last dispatches inform us that Bazaine has been
placed under arrest His residence is sur
rounded by sentinels to prevent all communi-
cation with him, and he is guarded at sight by
a Colonel. He will speedily appear before
Court Martial, and his trial will be one of in
tense interest.
Another French General is also to appear
before Court Martial at his own request. 1t
is General DeWimpfen, who was forced by his
rank to sign the capitulatien of Sedan. One
hour before the surrender, he wrote to the EN-
peror Napoleon in these words: "Sire, l have
decided to force the lines in front of Generals
Lebrun and Ducrot, rather than be taken pris-
oncr in the fortress of Sedan. Let your Maj
esty come and place yourself in the midst of
the troops They will make it point of honor
to force passage for you"
The only reply to this manly appeal was the
order issued by Napoleon himself to raise the
white flag; and in letter dated from Chisel-
hurst not more than week ago, the ex-Em-
peror avows that he alone is responsible for the
capitulation which will brand him forever in
French history as "the man of Sedan. W.
npington Journal.
- This story is going the rounds again: An
] A-Loncoa iudoa had his law Office close to