The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1896-04-25
soNApAaTe's OPPORTUNITY.
How He Took Advantage Of the over
throw Of the Constitution


How He Took Advantage Of the over
throw Of the Constitution
All night long, from the 10 70 II
Brumaire, committee Of the Ancients
was in session. infinitely perfecting their
plans. Next morning at the faithful
majority, having been summoned ac-
cording to form, convened AZ the conn
cil. for the doubtful members had Ell
Their not been summoned at all or had
received notice Of later hour. As soon
ns a quorum was present, Comet. well
known bntt for the wits, rose and de-
nounced the terrible conspiracy which
was menacing them. Regnier then
moved that, according TO articles 1902.
1903 and 1914 Of TIE constitution, both
branches Of the legislature should meet
next day at noon, and not before. in the
palace Of ST. Cloud; that General Bona
parte should be intrusted with the exc
cution Of their decree, and that TO that
end he be appointed commander Of the
Paris garrison, of their own special
guard and Of the National guard; that
he therefore appear and take the oath,
and that these resolutions be duly COM
municated to the directory. to the five
hundred, aud also to the public by
printed PROCLAMATION The motion was
carried unanimously.
During these proceedings all the gen
erals present in Paris except Jourdan
and Augereau, who had not been invit-
ed, but including the stanch republican
Lefebre, commander Of the garrison. had
gathered in and before Bonaparte's
house They had been requested to come
in uniform in order to arrange for re-
view. II was noticed that Bernadotte,
though present. was not in uniform. He
had so far yielded 10 the Establishments
of his brother-in- law as 70 come, hut de-
clared that he would obey only what
was at that moment the chief authority
in the state Lefebre was in uniform,
but having met ON the way bodies of
troops moving without his orders. and
not being initiated, he was naturally
startled. But Bonaparte knew his man
'Would you, supporter Of the re-
public, leave it 10 perish in the hands
Of these lawyers?" was his greeting.
"See. here is the sword carried at the
Pyramids. ! give it to you as a mark of
my esteem and confidence.
LET Us throw the lawyers into the
river" came the expected answer.
A few moments later arrived the au-
thoritative summons from the Ancients.
Bonaparte stepped out on the porch and
read their proceedings aloud. BY unit
ed impulse the officers fourished their
swords in response IL was but an in
slant before they were mounted. and
with Bonaparte in front the cavalcade,
headed by n>an either already famous or
destined to become so-Macdonald, Sc
rurier, Murat, Lannes, Andreossy, Ber-
thier and Lefebre-proceeded to the
council chamber 1t needed but hasty
glance, as they passed through the city,
10 see that preconcerted orders had al
ready been carefully executed The
troops were all under arms and az their
stations in commanding places through
out the town. Arrived at the Tuileries,
the general and his glittering escort en-
tered the chamber.
"Citizen delegates, he said, 1.-THE re
public was falling. You understood the
situation; your course has saved it, Wee
TO them who cause disorder or disturb
ance With the help Of General Lefebre,
Of General Berthicr and my other breth-
rem in arms will arrest them Let nc
man look for precedents in the past.
Nothing in history is comparable to the
end Of the eighteenth century. nothing
to the present moment. Your wisdom
passed this motion; our arms will exc.
cute it. We desire a republic founded in
true liberty, in civil liberty, in popular
representation. We are going TO have it.
swear it in my own name and in that
Of my brethren in arms - 1--WE sweal
it, was the antiphonal response of tbs
assembled generals. Some one indis
creetly suggested that Bonaparte haC
sworn. but not the oath Of allegiance L
the constitution required by their pre-
vious action. but the president hurled,
declared all further proceedings ont O
order, the assembly having adjourne,
by its own act. Professor W. NJ
Sloane's Life of Napoleon" in Century