4. -rr5 T0 AaiArp Paw'tt toe john sibley.-;.: V : .U!
''-riraL. ICT. KT13 " , 'C
V'.' t' '
' I
.i:
i
,1
MISCZLLANY,-
MAINE'S REASONS roFaisitma
THE LIFE OF LOUIS CAPET ;
AS DELIVERED TO 1 TH NATIONAL
. . CONVENTION.
, crnztk msmmT, .,
hatred and abhorrence of mo-
;XVx' narchy are foffiplenlly " known,
they originate " in principles of reafon
and, coavicYion, nor, except whlj life,
can they ever be extirpaiedbttt my
CoropalEon for the wtforltoutr, whe
'er frieoior enemy, itqaaUf lively
and-fincereS''? 'w; .
I voted tjjat Louis mould ben tried,
' becaufe It -was nectffary to jtfford proofs
tb tbe Vorldof the perfidity, corrupti
on abomination ot the. monarchial fyf
tetn. -.TJje infinity of evidence that hat
'been produtfdl'jrp
glaring and heinous color. Thence it
. vefalts, that monarchy,!.viriatevet form
it rnay aSume arbitrary : orj ritherwift
6:comes neceflarily a centre,' round
which art united every fpeciet of cor
juption, and thei fwriiiSbIeff
deftrnftive of all honor .in the human
breaft,. than the trade of an eiecutionet
(ideftf uftive .of in fenCbility. "
1 1 remember. durins: my refidence m
, Snotherlcountry, that I wa exceedingly
ftrnk witha ftntencebf W AvtHiiai,
at the jacobin,lwhich correfpondi with
tar own idea. Make me June to.
day, " faid he, "and I ftallbe a robber
to-morrow,",-
NeverthelefsIate inclined to believej
thatifLovti CartT had been born in
anobfeure condition, had he lired with
in a circle of an amiable and refpecta
. Me neighborhood, at liberty to: praftife
the duties of dome Hie life, had he been
thus fituateoV J. cannot believe that he
Vould have ih'ewn himfelf deditute ' of
' focial virtues t we are, in a mffmtnir.of
unaenuiion nice uiu, naiuraiiy time
indulgent to hi Tices,6r rather to thofe
of monarchial "goremments; . we re
gard them with additional horror and
.indignation) not that they are more
heinous than thofe of hiipredeceffors,
- but becanfe out eyes are now open and
the veil of delulion is at length .With
-drawn, yet- the lamentable," degraded
ftate to which he is actually reduced, is
furely far lifs. imputable tohim,thaer
' lliiht cthflitUehf allembly, whict ol its
wn authority; without content or ad-
vice of the people reftored him to the
throne. ' ' ' '
I was in Pari atjthe time of the flight
or abdication of Louis XVI. and when
he was brought back. "Thepropofal
f reftoring to him the fupreme powe?
ftrnck me 'with amazement ; and al
though at that rime, I was not a French
citizen, yet as a citizen of the world, I
employed all the efforts that depended
on me to prevent it.
A fmall fociety," compofed only of
five perfons, two of whom are now
members of the convention, took, at
that time, the name of Republican Club,
YSneiete R enublicaine. i This fociety
- -r j J - -j
'oppofed the restoration of Louis, not fo
much on account of his own perfonal
"offences, as in order to overthrow the
'xionarchy, and to erect on its ruins the
alterations, and Cgned by Acmins
'JjsCratlst. actually Lentenant gener
al in the army of the French Republic,'
and at that time one of the five members
. -which compofed our little party 1 the
law required the (igoatuie of a citizen
at the bottom- of each printed paper. . L
The paper was indignantly torn by
Ma l.o st, and brought forth in this ve
Srootn as an article of accufatioa again t
e perfon who had figned it, the author,
'and their adherents 1 but fuch Is' the
'revolution of events, that this paper ii
now revived, aad brought forth for a
"enr oppofite purpofc (To rereind the'
'nauon of the error of that unfortunate
day, that fatal error of having then ba
"ftllhed Louis XVI. from Us bofom, and
not to plead this day In favor of Lis ex
ile, Pitfcriblf to hit death. The paper
KeDUMican avium ana an equal rrnre- 1
'fentation. - 4 . ' j ine tnirtv millions which it colt to I their object t bui
- Wl.h tM defifrtiJ I trWed oit in th I fupport a King In the eclat of Rapid of accoroplifhing
TVi;rt, r.rfa;rt ; nrnnofiHnrn. brutal luxury, ptefent ne with an eafy I alwiys Ihew itfelf
At. ...tfl,. M, method of reducing taxes, hich tcdne I ..For example,
i in queftion wai conceived in the follow.;
; ing terms : -- '; -
" Brithrtn ud fellow eitizenr.
The ferene tranquility, ; the-mutual
1 confidence which prevailed among os,
during the timeof the late king's efcape, J
the indifference with which we beheld 1
him return, are unequivocal proofithat i
the abfence ot a king's more, defirable r
uwunn pmencei ana inauiieunoion
ly a political fuperfluity, but a (grievous
burthen prelling hard on the whole na
tion.' " -- - - ,
Letas notbeimpofed oftbyfopbifms
all that concern! this man is reduced to
four points.
He has abdicated the throne m having
fled from his poll. Abdication and de
fertion ire hot
length of abfehcibutby the fingleaftof
mem,"." in we preienc inuancc, iae k
is every things and the time nothings
" 1 ne nauon can never eive oacs hi
Confidence in-a man, who falfe to his
trnd. perjured to his oath, confpircs a
candleftine flight, obtains a fraudulent
pad port, conceals a king ot trance un
der the difguife of a valet,-dtxccls his I
coane towarus ironucr toicicu wiui
traitors and ' deferters. knd evidently
:r.: -J. .! .J :.u
mediutes a rutiirn mtoour country with
a force capable ofimpofing his own def-
pouc uws. ... ... .
Yhether ought his flight to be conrv
dered as his own aft, or the aft of thofe
who fled with him.-p-Wa it a fpontane
bus refolution of his own, or was it in
fpired into him by others i The ahe r.
nauve is immaterial, whether tool or
native is immaterial." ' Whether fool or
nypocnie, imot or traitor, nena. proveq
4 f m - ' . 1
himfclf unequally unworthy of the vaft
important funftions that had been dele I
gated to him: "t: I
In every fenTe that the queftioh Can
be c6nfidered the reciprocal obligation
which fubfifted between us is iiilwlved.
He 'holds : no longer authority. tWe
owe him no longer obedience. We fee
inhim.now no more than anindiu'erent
perfon 1 we can regard him ' only as
Louts Capet. . ,
The hillory of France prefents LtUe
eliethan along feries ofpnbUcc-uamity,
wnicn taces 1 v lource iroiq uie vices or
t 1 1 . r r - - -t J1 . r
her kings t Wt have been the wretch
ed victims tharhayeteerceaied to
fuffer either for them or by them. The
catalogue of thtir oppredioni was com
plete; but to completl lh fam eriheF
crimes, treafon yetwatjwanting. Now,
the only vacancy is ulled. up, the dread
ful lift is full : .The fvtUra is cxhauded :
There are no remaining errors for them
to' commit, their reign is confequently
at an end. " ;
What kind of office mull that be in
a government, which requires neither
experience or ability to execute ? that
may be abandoned to the defperate
chance ot birth, that may be filled with
an idiot, amaaman, a tyrant, witn e
qual effecras by the good, the virtuous
and the wife. . An ohtce of this nature,
is a mere non-entity t it is a place of
fsew.cotofufe." Let France then, ar
tived at the age of reafon, no longer be
deluded by the found ot words,and let
her deliberately examine, if a king how.
ever infigniiicant and contemptible in
himfelf, may not at the fame time be
extremely dangerous." " . ;
uon would at once reieaie the people,
ana nop ine progrcis ot political cor
rnpUon. The grandeur ot nationscon
Gits not, es Kugt pretend, in the fplen-
dor of thrones, but in a confpicuout
; fenfe of their own dignity, and in jail
wauuu u. -vuui duduuhi louici aiiu
crimes, which under the fanftion of roy;
alty,havc hitherto defolated Europe.
As to the perfon al fafety of Mr Leu
iiCapet.it is fo much the mere confirm
ed, as France will not (loop to degrade
herfelf by a fpirit of revenge againft a
wreteh who has diflionored himulf. In
defending a iuft and elonous caufe it is
not pofljble to degrade it, and the ttni
verCal trarquility which prevails, is no
undeniable proof,, that a free people
know how to rtfpeft themfelves' . . ,
- Hating thus expUiatdthe ptincjle
.-!-." . .... '
"" ' ' i ' i
and the exertions of the republicani at
that fatal period when Louis was rein
ftated irt full poflcfllon of the executive
Swer, which, by , flight bad been
'pended, I return to the fabiea, , and
to the depbrable fituation in which the
toan is now aftuallv involved. . .
' What was neglefled at the time of
which I have been fpeaking, has bees
unce Droujrht about by the force of ne-
ceffity I the wilfal tt'eacfeerous defeSsof
theformerconftitutionhavebeenbrought
to light, the continual alarm ot reafon
and confpiracj roufed the nauon and
producdeventually afecondrevolution.
Tlie people liave beat down royalty,
never. neverlrifeauVt tW.-ve
brought Louis Cp o- the barj and
dembnarated in the face of the . whole
falfehood, coimp'ion, and rooted de- 1
pravity, the inevitable effefts of monar i
chial governmenui. .There ' remains 1
then only one quedion to be eonfidered; I
wtii ia w uc uuuc wjw uii uiau ( . ,
Formrfelf, I ferfoullyconfeist .:that
hen I reflect on the unaccountable folly
that uftored the executive power to 4
J 1 J t !.L
his hand, all covered as he was with
perjury and treafon, I am far nldretea cipitate them into anew abys Hf calsi
dy t? condemn theconftituent affembly i mity and difgrace, it is na difficult to
than the unfortunate, prifoner Low is
Camt. ..... : -rrrfr.
But abftraQed from every other con-
Cderatioq, there it one circumftance in
bis life which ought to cover, or atleaft
10 paufaic a greater numoeroi nis irani
greirion and this very circumftance af
fords the French Nation, bleffed occa-
Hon of extricating iifclf from the yoke
ofJCingtfwithout defiling itfelf, in the
impurities of their blood
It ito France alone, I know that the
United Slates aS-4rherkat owe that fup
port which enabled them, to (hake off
the uijjuft and tyrannical yokelof "Jtri-
The ardor id ze which ihe dif-
played to provide both men and money
were the natural comeqoences of a thirlt
for liberty. But as the nation at that
time retrained by the (hackles of her
own government, could only. act ny
means of a monarchical organ,', this
orean whatever in other refnelts ihe4efthc People, that now; in their turn.
objefr might becertainly performed a
, , B
good a greatactyon.- Let then , thefe
United States be the fafeguard and a-
jTyftem of Louis Camj. .There, here?
alter, far removed from themiunes and
crimes of Royalty, he may learn, from
the conftant afpect of publie profperit
that the true fyftem of government con
Jifts, not in Kings, but in fair equal and
honorable representation.
I In reiatroi " this circumftance, and
1 in fubmittine this propofition, I conft
J dermyfelf as a citizen of both countries.
I fubn.it it as a citizen of AmtrUa, who
feels the debt of gratitude which he owes
to every Frenchman. , I fubmtt it alio
as a man, who although the enemy of
Kings, cannot forget that they are let
ject to human frailties. '
I fupport my proportion as a citizen
of die French Republick, becaufe it a p
I pears to, me the bed, the mod politic
1 mevuure, that can be adopted.
I : . As far as my experience in publick
I life extends, I have erer obfcrved, that
I the great mafs of the people are invaria.
I bly iuft, both in their intentions and in
: the true method
that effect, does not
in the firtt inftance.
the EneliOi nation had
I groaned under thedefpoufm of the Stu
I arts, tlence LbarUt the brit loit his
I life t yet Charlet the feeond was relore
J ed to all the plenutode of power, which
I his father had loft. . '
. Forty years had not expired, when
l Luc same xamiir nrove 10 rc-cuauuia
J their ancient oppreflioos 1 for the nation
I then banifked from its territories the
whole race. The remedy wu effeflutl.
The Stuart family foak into. oUcurity
confounded itfelf with the . multitape,
and ts at length extinct. .1 ,
1 . The French cation, more enlighten
mA FtmLimJ arai nt thai llmt Ka
carried her meafutes pf govemmeat tb
Jk grtsttt length. , Frame it rot faysfl-
ed with cipounz the jril of the mo
harch, Ike hae pteetnud into the, vice
a?d horrors of the monarchy. r h Lai
3 tip'.'. ' .!;;--nu-s:-j;73
fliewn them dear as day light, and fore-
vercruflied that internal fyftem .- And
he, whoever he may be, that fbould e-
ver dare to reclaim thofe rights, would
be regated not as a pretender, but pu-
flifiicd as a traitor. - - .
H Twd brothers of Luii CaiThavt'
bahHhed themfelves from the country i
but thej are obliged to comply w,ith the
fpitif and tdquette of the courts where
they refide. They can advasceno pre-
tenfions on their own account, fo long
as Lovis Ihall live. v l
: .Tht"hiftory ot monarchy, in France,
was afy ftem jpregnant witfcerinies and
auterjrmncciiin ; ties, e
ven thofe by which brothers are united.
We know how often they have atfaffinat-
ed each other, to pave away to Power.
as tnoie nopes which the emigrants
had repofed in Lovis XVI. are fled t '
the lad which remains refts upon iis
death, and their fituation inclines them
to defire this catoftrophe, that they may
vuLc giu iiui; iuuiw a' 1 more active
.chief,M4tr7jone further effort under
fortune of ike ei-devant Monfieur-and
MW '
" That fuch an enterprite would pre
- TL J.
forefce but yet it might be attended
with mutal lofs, and it is our duty as
legiflatWs," not to fpiU a drop of blood,
when our purpofc may be effcftuallv
accompuihed without it.
It hai already been propofed to abo
li(h the punifliment of death j and it is
with infinite fatisfaftion, that 1 recolleft
the humane and excellent oration pto
nounced by ' RbatKTsriskat, ' on vhat
fubjed tn the Conftitnent Afembly.
This caufe muft find its advocates in e
very corner, where enlightened politici
ans, and lovers of humanity exift t and
it ought, above ftD,to find them ial" thil "
AJfemitjT - - ;r .. v ;
Monarchial eovernments have train-
e'd the human race, and inured it to the
fangninary arts and refinements of pa
nlfliment J and it is exactly the fame
punifliment, which has fo long fliocked '
the fight, and tormented the patience
jr .
mcjr r!ic in rcTengc onintir oppreiw
ers. But it becomes us to be ttrifllr-
on our' guard againft die abomination
and perverfityof Monarchial esampiea t
As France hit been the firit of Europe
an nations to abolifh Royalty, let her
alfobe the firft to abrliih the-punifh
ment of dcath,: and to find out a1 mil
der and more effectaal fub(litnte. . '
' In the particular cafe now under con.
fideration, I fubmit the following pro
pofitions t id. That the National
Convention Hull pronounce fentence of
baniihroent on Louis and his family. '
id. That Lovis Caut (hall be detain
ed in the prifon until the end of the
war 1 and at that epoch for the fentence
of banilhment to be executed.
. LONDON.
mom a mimitiiia. tarn.
InvtQlve an'mji Mr. PaJ a I.
WHILE the ttatgiitJIaytnaJitr hat
been fl.igtnati(d as a rebel in our courts
of juflice by jan honeft jury of his coun
trymen ; while he is burnt in effigy in
confequence of a general indignation a
rnoug the people, arifing from his vile
attempts to overturn their happy and
glorious ConUitution while he is In a
fort of exile even from America, where
he is fuppofed to hate been of fome fer
vice, and caa only find a refuge among
the bloody ufurperi fcf France, Mr. Foz
would have Great-Britain crouch for
an alliance with an Aflembly of which
this deteRable Outlaw is st member,
and who would be the firft to advife a
contempt uou. rejection of a negociatioa
fo bafe and degrading.
M. EGA LITE.
" The French, la giving the command
of their fleet to PHILIP EGALITK,
feem to'have' Uken the mofl certain
method dfdeflroyine tlieir marine.
; His.oaval condua otf VJhrt wiU be
long retocmbered. When the Engiiih
and French fleeU met. this berO
took
himfelf '- bcW decks, and enqaired
which was theplaci ot the moufecerity.