Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-09-14
BazaiIle.


has received at their hands IL American
journals he says he has always found his best
defenders and most impartial criticisms. lie
reviews the circumstances of his trial aud con-
vcton, and says he was made the expiatory
victim OF the faults Of the French army and na-
ton, and that the judgment against HIM is in
valid, because of the composition Ut the court,
he cot having been tried by jury of his peers.
He says:
have no longer hope that strict justice
will be promptly done NE. | had buttwo sup
ports whose authority aud impartiallty assured
me during the contest against those who allow
cd me to be inundated in order to appease
certain coterie and the public sorrow. These
were the Emperor-who is dead-aud Theirs,
who has been set aside aud replaced BY Mac
Mahon, my former comrade. 1t resulted, there
fore, that | alone had to pass through the
whole terrible complexity of events. From, the
day that the command Of the Army OF the
Rhine was imposed upon me, have drained
the bitter cup, even the dregs; but ought not
t. complain, for the Emperor lost both the
throne aud his life, and France, notwthstaud-
ing the bravery displayed by her armies, has
lost three departments. The Germans alone
have protitcd by the war. aud with hem, those
who remained at home, far from the field Of
battle, so that they might better latter the
passions of the people, aud more easily bring
about great natioual calamity | might truly
say with the ancient Rouan, Justice, thou
art but word" but prefer to await the YER
dict Of time ard history.
should DOT evcu have attempted to escape
from prison had my former comrade seen lit
to lessen the seventies of my captivity Dur
ing my trial, should have employed the same
weapons that MAcMaEon used against me. |
should have shown in my defense how MacMa-
hon had been beaten, and had evacuated Alsacc
without cudeavoring to defend the EosgeS,
without resisting the march OF The enemy, with
out utilizing the misunderstanding luy right un'
covered aEd MISUNDERSTANDING the orders
he had received not 10 repasS beyond Nancy.
| should have shown his ignorance OF the MI
lrcrlcai strength aud movement ut the eocmy,
his presumption 10 accr pting battle bllndtuldcd,
his mprudeuce in risklng tie reputation OF the
old African troops which he commanded III one
battle. could have shown clearly how, in for
getting the first duties of General in order
10 play the part Of fighting soldier, he must
be regarded as ore Of the first authors of our
disasters But | initiated The conduct Of the
| Emperor, never accusing any one and never
seeking to throw he responsibility upon others.
MacNahoD had been as unfortunate at Sedan as
i L was dl .nCiL d. iUCUu dGu DuCldl hClS III
Paris as Bourbaki ADD Cliuchaut were IN the
East. He had forgotten all this when he be-
came President aud his want of memory was
the chief incentive to my escape.
| envy MacAlahon III one thing, and that l.
the wound he received at Sedan, which per
mitted him 10 honorabIy pass over the com
mand to the General who signed the capltuIa-
ton OF Sedan, aud to cast his responsibility up
on the Emperor, who most graclously accepted
it instead OF indugng 10 rccrimuation. think
that each did his utmost to succeed. France,
accustomed to record victories, really believed
she could not be conquered. She had been
spoiled by the campaigns iu the Crimea and
Italy.
Ny excuse for engaging ip politics is that
did so in spite Of myself, and because the Re
volutioDists had done So before [ did. | had
sworn allegiance to the Emperor and to the
constitution approved by the popular vote. |
held my command from the Emperor, and
not from the iusurrectionary Government, 40
unworthy faction that took advantage of the
absence of the Emperor and army to invade
the Corps Lcgisartf. believed the Empcr
oror of Russia would come to our asslstancc-that
Victor Emmanuel might pass the Alps aud
pay the debt OF gratitude he had contracted
at Magenta and Sollerino.
As regards Mexico, the Emperor had to
choose between evacuation and war with the
United States To avoid conflict he gave the
order to return; but MaXimillan unwll
lug either to return to Austria or to abdlcate
although he well understood that NAPOLEON
could not su>tan a struggle with the Uulted
States. Maximan, 10 spite OF wise counscIs,
preferred TO seek an honorable death. That
is the truth, and that is the extent Of each
one ) responsibility.
He c Includes am far from being rich
but besides my liberty, there still remain to me
unreasonable treasures for COMPANIONS. have
au American lady who gives me the strongest
proofs Of devotion. have children | adore,
a brother, and some friends who have Remained
faithful. My position is not hopeless Ii need
should be- would follow the example OF the
conquered RichnoD1, and TAX" reIug" in labor.
As a simple soldier carried a musket. La
Dor does not dlshODor.
| do not look upon my military career as
ended enjoy health aud bodily vi gol. Some
duties remain to be lu filled, and | shall fulfill
them when the lime comes. | hope fortune
wiii grant me u last smile, as she often does to
old soldiers.
Hon ErpA IIuSToN Gen. Eppa lluntou,
the Conservative nomince IN the Eighth Dis
trict, is man of energy, ability, and popular
ity He will doubtless make good use OF the
tuc between no~ aud the day Of election IN an
active and earnest canvass, embracing every
county in his district. A. an officer OF the Con
icdcrate army be was as brave as the braVeSt,
full If zeal u the cause, and in all respects en-
titled to the high consideration with which he
was regarded As member Of the present
Congress Virginia feels that she has IN him an
able and faithful defender The representative
may be proud Of his district, and the district
may be proud of the representative. -f~h.
Wig.
PESITESTIARY FOR LIFE. In the Hastings
Court of Richmond, Thursday, mldile-agcd
man namcd John }. Phelps, not long since dis
missed from the penitentiary, Was tried on the
charge o! receiving d gold watch valued at : $50,
the property oil Daniel Mccarthy, for the steal
ing OF which Mrs Ncedham, the sister Of
Phelps. Is now awatlog her trial lie was
found guilty of receiving the watch knowlog 1t
| "a -tnl,.p and his form nf conn DpmeDt Was