The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-07-22
NAP0LEON'S COUP D'ETAT.
EEsprNASsE's STORY QF THE LAST
DAYS OF THE ASSEMBLY.
A scrap of History from tho MomOirs
of yicI.CasfeI-Iow tho Military
Suppressed the Assembly and
Established tho Empire.

I
the narrative OF Colonel L'Espinasse, the
chief instrument OF Louis Napoleon in the
execution Of the coup d'ttdt. EEspinasse
was present at a social retinion I'm the Lou
vre on the 20th of December, and gave an
account Of his exploits TO the admiring
Niel-CaStel. The facts are set forth with
the brutal franknesS Of q Pr1torian sure Of
his reward.
"On the 30th OF November the Minister
Of War. ~. ArnaUd, sent for me and said:
Colonel, we lind ourselves in most criti-
cal situation. The Assembly shows itself
more and mole hostile to the President. II
it j allowed 10 continue its course the con-
Spiracy II has ioStcred, the first act OF
which was the proposition OF the QuaStors
10 give control Of the military to the Presi-
dent Of the Assembly, will before long
burst upon rs. The projects OF the con-
spirators are no longer a secret. They wish
10 impriSOn the President at NincenneS
and take possession OF the Government.
Civil war StaroS lis in the face. The
army VIII DE dismcmhered. pulled apart
by factions, who, the day after their vic.
tory. will disagree. To conclude, we would
have the social Republic Reign OF
Terror worse than that OF 1793-the rum
and disgrace OF our country. The PreSi-
dent wishes TO prevent such 4 state OF AZ
fairs. and. i'm order TO do so. has deter
mined to dissolve the Assembly. to arrest
the principal leaders, and 10 appeal for the
approval Of his acts TO the whole nation. ]
have counted on you and the energy !
know YOU 10 possess for the execution OF
the measures rendered necessary by this
Salulary coup Gefdt. Am deceived?
IL replied that the President could
count upon me-"
II is scarcely likely that rough soldier
like st. Armand made such long speech
10 the Colonel. What he really said was
probably more like tins The President
j. about 10 'ccsn out those idiots OF the
Assembly. Under 4 Bonaparte the army
will receive its due. Take Il hand in it
and YOU will become Grand Cross of the
Legion and a general Of DIVISION
IL them" continued L'ESpinasse, 're-
ceivcd a card giving me admission TO all
parts Of the Palace Of the Assembly. / took
advantage OF it to rcconnoitre The position.
Having discovered its weak point and made
my arrangements accordingly, | returned
to the Minister and told him that success
was certain. The order was not long in
coming ON the night Of December 1st
was awakened by three cOmmiS>aries OF po-
lice, each bearing letter. The letters con-
Gtllltu warrants iOI lilt dIlt>l VI illt NtittS-
tors. was ordered to take possession OF
the Palace 81 the Assembly. and to deliver
a letter from the Prince to President Du-
pin.
1.-THE three commisSarieS OF police were
rather agitatcd at first in view of the gravi-
" OF the act. but the firm words | adj
dressed to them restored their courage;
besides, they saw 10y the expression Of my
face how determined | was
.At 2:30 i'm the morning my regiment
quietly marched out OF its barracks al the
'EcOlc Miltaire' Two hundred men sur
rounded the buildings OF the Legislative Pal
ace. Their orders were not to allow any one
to leave 1t. For my part, went with Il
strong detachment TO the little wicket gate,
and asked 10 speak with the officer OF the
guard and the major in command at the
palace. The two officers, surprised ut see
Ing me there at such IN hour were at once
arrested and placed in room with SEN
try ut the door. Master Of the palace, |
proceeded to the arrest OF the three Ques-
tors. Baze, General Leflo, and De Planat.
.Baze aired his eloquence before my
men. The only laughed at him.
General Letio. in full uniform, at
tempted 10 harancue the soldiers to pro-
test in the name of the rights Of the As
sembly. did not permit him to continue,
and. while treating him with all due re-
spect, gave him 10 understand that, a a
soldier i'm the discharge OF duty, | could
not allow an appeal from the orders / was
executing TO the men who accompanied
me.
II made a sign to my soldiers; they led
him away.
"The QuG>t0rs were safe. now went
10 NJ. Dupn and handed him the letter
from the Prince. Its contents explained
The necessity Of the coup F6tGt. 1t guar
antced him his liberty. but advised him to
pass the first moments quietly in his seat at
tie National Assembly. Il like that bet
ter was Dupin's answer. He remained.
Everything was going Splendidly. Day
was breaking, 50 | reunited 10 my corps
the troops destined to surround the As
sembly, and who, till then, ignored the ma
ture ofthc mission. | said to them: 'SOl-
diers, plot has been laid by several men,
Der, Of the Assembly. Its object was to
send the nephew Of the Emperor Napoleon
to Nincenne>. Would YOU rather be COM
mandcd by pekins Citizen dullerS) than by
the nephew Of the EmperOr!'
"Thc troops answered as one man,
Long live Loui, NapoIeOn!'
1.-The game seemed in our hand, but rs
there might be a rising i'm Paris or an at
tempt 10 attack the Assembly. neglected
no precautions. A considerable number
OF the employees families were lodged in
the servants quarters OF the Palace. L
had to allow them to come and go. About
six deputies proiited by this 10 assemble IN
their hall and discuss measures FOR dep0s-
ing the Prince.
"When heard Of what was going on
at once ordered u major Of the Gendarme-
RE Mobile to cXpcl this attempt at sitting
from the ball. He was greeted with cries
and grOanS. / thought AT one time that he
would be killed. Finally ne had to beat
retreat. | entered the hail at the head OF
my grenadiers. | was received with
shouts. The deputies present began to
scuille with my men,. Wishing to avoid
scandal, protited by moment OF silence
and said Gentlemen, in the name OF your
own dignity, cease your opposition TO the
execution of my orders, and do not place
me under the necessity OF making use OF
the force at my commando
"Yclls, cries. and imprecatiOns drowned
nv voice. ! could not allow such Il scene
TO continue. Some OF the most violent
seized my gendarmes by their cross-belts.
| gave the order in voice that over
powered the din, 'Gendarmes, remove
these men,
"The order was executed, but not with
out difficulty. The gendarmeS carried the
deputies out like so many parcels. Some,
completely maddcned, chung to their
benches. That made the gendarmes say,
These chaps must think good deal OF
their % francs One, wilder than the
rest, insisted on being struck. He was so
persistent that finally the gendarme, say
Ing, so that is your last word, is it?,
knocked him down. He was then carried
ont nerfecflv delighted.