ill
itmonm.
id
I
t have swottt .upon the Altai" of God, eternal hostility to every form df Tyranny over the Mind of M an." Yhoinhs Jfcfletnon
1"
M
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BV II. WEBB,
Velunic VII.
BliOOMSBURG, COLUMBIA COUNTY, PA. SATURDAY APRIL, 29, 1843 , timber I
.OFFICE. OF THE DEMOCRAT
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.-... f. j ii.. . ..Ji. 'j?
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LETTERS addressed on business, must
be post paid.
From a late Foreign Journal.
nmnnir nn irnunnti
Towards the latter part of April in the
year 1815, an unusual bustle was observed
in an 'old castle situated on the banks of the
Cebron, Within a few leagues of Parthenay.
The proprietor of' this mansion was an
elderly lady; named Marguerite de
whose husband was b headed in 1704, .for.
his loySlity and devotion to the unfortunate
Louis. After-the' death' ot her husband,
Marguerite left the abode of Jfer ancestors
with"her infant' son, to seek shelter iii a
foreign Undjbut before she'could accomplish
her purpose, she was overtaken by a party
of republicans, who, rinding that she was
the widow of a royalist, sent. her to .Nantes
where she was "s'epaiated frorri her child
and imprisoned. To add to her sufferings,
she was informed, after she had been a.few
.days in prison, that her son had.along with
enunrnl mnrn rn V si lot r ll ! Illrpn . hpe h drOWned
..,..., ...w.w .v; . 1
in the Loire, by the orders -of Carrier, ,
man who was chosen, on account of his
stern and ainrelcntitig 'crueltf.HdVpilOlown
thojroyalialfi! inllie neighborhood, of Nantes.
After, sjximonths .confinement, Marguerite
afTecJediher escape out of prison,; and fled
to. England, (Where she remained uptil the
emigrants were recalled bythe first consul,
She then relumed to her native country,,
carryjng along with her, her niece, who
was at that time only six year? old, and,
took possession one more of her ancestral
dwelling on the banks of the Cebron, where
i. ,- t . ! 1 . II
me uvcu in a very rnurcu iuauucr,uiiiii nc
ristoration of the Bourbons, 1814, when
tlje castle of Marguerite was thronged with
the faithful subjects of Louis XVIII, who.
in the exhuberance vf their loyalily, made
v it t i r : 4 1.
' v.- t3 J '
. n n nini riiinr : n in u ivi 111 inn, nun
the shouts of Vive It Roil
After this mark of respeel to her right
ful sovereign, Marguerite relapsed into her
quiet mode of life. She was, however,
not allnwml In remain Inno in leiiremsm.
The folluwinr vear. the news of Napoleon a
arrival in i-aris. aiu ui mo oenariuie oi hid
I) 1 .1 1 1. . VAH.)..n. tk fl i ,t
armcin tliR hniiB nl makinir a stanu aeainsi
' - J a
trie usurper. Their Head quariers was nxcu
si Hie dwe line ol Marguerite, wnicn cir-
rnminnpn nrrstinnRii iiir uiihiiu Huuncu ui
. i r
iii iiie iiurumencB i ciii ui uui no ihivi
A suopg body of Napoleoa'9 follower?
IVai at Ihie limn Rlaiinnfifl at I'aniieiia Y
Knmm D;M.lrnn 'I lift hnIfirV
IT. .1 ... r 1. n T niri w: tnn hn
i r. 1- l.t.r. A i
to wnU rnmnn nil him to flit (iOWD PUt
ie nnnlinitAft tn heal lite charge 13 COO IV 33
wV,,t.VH ----- -B I
- . . .1 II
nsifirr in irnniin him nriiiv.ua aan u u law
'ml'.' N
pas wounuedi and salu.lq,ntm t
Go, chU'J,and have your wounds looked
In.' . -
'Yes, sire,'' said the unaaunieu oo,
... ... lt.
1
hher w,e have gained the victory,'
Napoleon desired one of his attendant!
f .00 10 MB iaa anu psu
mm fr, h drummar boy wm sent tol'of their youns commnniw, -uu ...y.. -
a military school in Paris, and teniained
there until he was sixteen years old. He
was' then made an officer. At seventeen, fie
fought in Spain.and two years aftor,at Smo
lensk and Moskwnl
The following year ho entered the young
imperial guard, and distinguished himself
by his courage and activity, .at Lutzen,
Dresden, Moiitmurail, and Brienne. On
:he abdication of the emperor, he was de
prived of his rank, and he retired to a small
village not far from Ihe castle of Marguerite
In his rambles through the neighborhood,
he. often met that lady and her niece.Ciaire,
and being struck witii ihe beauty of the
latter, was desirous of becoming' acquainted
with them:, but they hearing that he was
aitached to the usurpersshunned all inter
course with him.
When Napoleon returned from Elba,
Pieire was appointed to the command of
the troops stationed at , Partheney. Hear
ing that the royalists had assembled in
arms in great numbers at the castle ot
Marguerite, he went and dislodged them;
and took, the greater part of them prison
ers. Marguerite and Claire fled in, dis
guise to Parthenay but on their arrival in
that own, tliey were discoveied and thrown
unto prison. , About a week after the attack
on, the castlp, Pjcrreireturnedi to Parthenay;
and in looking over the list of .unfortunate,
beings" whom the authorites had condemned
lo be' executed, he found the names of Mar
guerite and Claire. TJie day appointed for
their execution as the 23d of June.
Early in the morning, on the iiy of ex
ecution, a brutal and excited mob wag wai
tintliear the prison "JO wlluesa tho dring;
agonies of thosn who were about lo suffer.1
Pieire had tried to prevail on the authori
ties to spare the lives of the ladies, but
finding-thai hi; efforts were unsuccessful,
he; determined lo save tlicm at the hazard
of his, life. Having procured a couple, of
dresses like those worn by the wives of the
peasantry, lie went to liie prison, accompa
nied by a small parly of soldiers, whorri he
left at the prison door to prevent the mob
fiom following him. When he entered the
cell where the ladies were confined, they
staried back as if an 'adder' had approached
them. Pierre addressed them respectfully,
and told them that instead of coming to
harm them, he had come to save them.
I'imu presses,' said he; 'lake these
clothes anddisgufre yourselves, and I will
conduct you to a secret passage, which
leads to the forest. It js your only hope
now. I have tried every other means to
save.
And what 'lecompense do you expect
for this service?' demanded Margucriler
My recompense,' replied-. Pierre, will
consist in the satistaclion 1 shall reel in
knowing thai I have contributed to your
safety.'
But,' said Marguerite, 'have you tho 1
of the responsibility you incur, of the rigor
of military law, and of the fury of the peo
ple?'
'Madam, replied Pierre,- 1 placo the
dulv I owe to the Emperor before thai
which 1 owe to the people, but I think my
honor more sacred than the oath thnt binds
me to Napoleon. A soldier of the empire
does not wai with women, he dies rather
than allows their blood to slain his uni
form.' Yuung man,' interrupted Margueiite,
'We cannot accept the aid proffered lo us by
a soldier of the usurper. We would , deem
ourselves dishonored by it. We appreciate
your conduct, but it must not be. Leave
us to die.'
1 entreat you madam to accept my offer,
before it is too late.'
He was interrupted by the loud execra
tions of the mob, who had beaten back the
soldiers that he had stationed at the door of
the prison, and were preparing to glut their
vengeancp in the blood of Ihe royalists.
Pierre raihed out of tho cell, and exhorted
the ealdierii not lo allow their misguided
countrymen ty perpHralo so foul in act of
cruelty as thai which they were bent on,
.The soldiers placed themselves oy ma side
1 1 1 e II
" , u
the narrowness of ihe passage leading to the
cell of the ladies, which only permitted the
approach of a few of their assailants ai a
Umej they kept them at bay for two hours,
at the end of which time they wero relieved
by a strong detaenment of troops who soon
dispersed the mob.
Pierre received three severe -wounds in
ihe affray; and when the mob Was, beaten
off, he lay weltering in his blood, unable
to move. His wounds were bound up, and
he was carried to an hospital. In half an
hour, after, the news of Napoleon s defeat
at Wateiloo anived; the ladies were imme
diately released, and borne in triumph to
the castle; The followers of Napoleon,
who had in any way distinguished them
selves, during the hundred days, were then
hunted from place lo place like wild beasts
Pierre was immediately marked out; and
although his wounds were not yet healed,
he was seat to prison, and was soon afiei
sentenced to death. Marguerite and Claiie.
hearing what had befallen their gallant de
fender, went directly to the place where he
was .confuted. When they arrived they
found him quite delirous, from & high fever
-which had been brought on by neglect of
his wounds, and the sorrow he felt for the
fate of his master. He kissed from lime to
time, a star of the Legion of Honor, which
Napoleon himself had given him it the wa.ls
of Dresden, and spoko in raptures of the
Emperor and the grand army; as he related
in glowing language, their astonishing ex
ploits. The ladies, finding that the fever
did not abate, left the prison; the next day
they returned, and found him fast asleep,
vrrappeil up In Ilia war cluak; ilic fcrcr. h.rf
left him, anil he was ns" pale as ' death, s
When he awoke he was surprised to find
two ladies by his side, he bowed politely
lo them, and when his eyes met those of
Claire; he coloured slightly. Marguerite
iuquired kindly after his, health and spoke
to him of his, release.
'There is no hope for me,' said lie, gloo
mily.
'You are not sure of that,! said Margue
rite. Do you think we have foieotten the
man who so generously defended us, even
at tho risk of his own lifet The king has
granted me' the power to save the life of any
of those who are now in prison undersell
tence of death. I need not tell you for
whose sake I have solicited this favor. You
have only to put your name at the bottom of
this petition, and you will be free.'
My life,' replied Pierre, 'is now but
blank lo me. If I were lo accept your offer
my place ought to be by the side of my ben
efacloi,on ihe desolate island to which they
have exiled him. Yet there is one condition
oi, which I could .accept my life, but it
would be idle to think of it you may be
lie vo me mad I, a soldier, of birth so ob
scurj that I do not know even who or what
my parents were. No, lady, I cannot ac
cept your offer unless you accompany ii
with a gift still more precious the hand of
your niece.'
Marguerite turned tfido to conceal the
disdain she fell at this proposal; and Claire
fell on her knees, and besought het to save
the life of the young soldier. At this mo
ment an officer presented himsell, and told
the prisoner that the hour of his execution
had arrived.
Madam, said Piene, as he was about to
follow the officer, ' I hope, you will pardon
my ambition, and accept this silver cross.
It is a strange present from a soldier: but I
should like to place it in the hands of soino
one whom I esteem, for il belonged to my
mother; it was found on me when I was
quite a child by an old soldier, who saved
me from being drowned in the Loire.'
Marguerite took the cross, and after look
ing at it attentively, she said. 'Have you
no remembrance of your motherl'
'No; madam;' replied Pierre; I was sep
arated frpm her at loo early an age tore,
member her.
Marguerite approached him, and looked
earnestly into his face. When she with
drew her gaze, she was seized with a fit of
trembling which for a few moments depriv-
.,1 f l,r nnmr of uiteran-n. i
After
- 77 t ; .v " -
she had recovered a lilllei she look off
Pierre's cravat, and having discovered a
large red mark on his neck, she exclaimed:.
' Oh Heaven, 'tis my own son I' She ilcn
fell on his neck, and wept aloud, The offi'
cer again reminded Pierre thai he was
wailing for him. This intimation, drew a
loud 'shriek fiom Marguerite. She how
ever, soon recovered her self possession,
and displayed to Ihe officer the order of the
king. As soon as he had read it,lio return
ed it to the lady and retired declaring that
he had never in his life obeyed tho order of
his sovereign with greater pleasure than he
did on that occasion.
A few months after this the friends and
retainers of Marguerite wcio assembled to
celebrate the nuptials of Pierre and Claire,
and the old castle again became the scene
of festivity and rejoicing.
The sorrow of Pierre for the fate of his
master became less poignant after this event
though he always spoke of him in terms
of admiration and respect: and the hostility
of Marguerite and Claire lo the usurper
gradually diminished as they listened to Ihe
surprising adventures of Pieire who always
dwelt largely on the bright parts of the
Emperor's character, and softened as much
as poss ible the darker ones'.
POIilTICAX.
REMARKS OF MR. SPEALER
WRIGHT
On the Veto of the Canal Commissioner
Bill, made in the house 0 Representatives,
April 4th, 1842. .
sa'id Sir,! was neveT rriore. forcibly strick"
er. with the truth of any gentleman's re
marks, than with those of the gentleman
from, the county, (Mr. Roumfurl made
ves'.eiday on the resolution of impeach
ment against William Overfish!, one of
the Cmal Commissioners, for an attempt
to bribe a member of this House. Fiom
the attention paid that gentlemen, I fancy,
sir, all feel alike the force of that speech.
The penlleman from the county said, what
is too well .known by this House and the
whole community, that if the finger of in
quiry is pointed towards corruption if a
man has courage enough to expose the mis
feasance of any of the heads of this govern
ment he is assailed with a malignity of
feeling disgraceful in a legislative hall.
To this stale of facts, you sir, nor, I,
have been indifferent observers. Why, sir,
should a difference of opinion on a measure
of Slate policy, he made the signal for in
discriminate and hot blooded attack? Aye,
sir, why should il be? Must the frieaila of
the Executive make his sinking cause
theirs make his malevolent views a part of
their creed and conscience?
When this bill was under consideration
before, it happened to be my view, and I
so then expressed il, that tho only safe
depository of power was with ilia people;
and because I advocated the doctrine of
taking from the Evecutivc a portion of his
patronage and giving it to tho people, it
was made in this hall the signal of personal
attack! Because I shall dare to advocate
the same doctrine now, I presume Ihe
same result is to follow! Why is this, sill
Is thero something so sacred about a veto,
thai to touch 'the thing' is treason? Must
freemen bow the neck of subserviency to
executive will and conceal and cover up
from tho public eye.what may be concealed
under an executive veto? If so, we are
slaves, and unworthy to occupy these seats!
Sir, I shall vole, for Ihe bill, and against the
veto; and did I vote otherwise,! should
consider my solf the especial object of Ihe
public censure. Ihe exective dennucia
tions have no terrors to me. The iwn
first years of my legislative career always
found me battling with the Executivc(in his
measures, i Jien, sir, my course met his
approbation, whether those measures wero
tight or wrongt now, for adhering to my
own opinions of what is right, 1 suppose
the minions of power will aim their shafts
at my head. Lei them do it, I thank tGod
there ia another tribunal to which I shall
make my appeal, ind which itlo convsss
my motive? and thai ia the people the
great tribunal of public opinion!
On Ihe 1,1th day of February I occupied
the floor on the final passage of this oil) ;
and then; sir I submitted this question to
the constituency I have the honor to re.
present. 1 hey have most nobly responded
and numerous public meetings of the Dt)
mocracy of Luzerno have expressed but
one ooinion in reference to the merits of
this bill, and the oourse of thtirrepresenla
live; There) sir, il has. bcefi as tlie' vorfe '
of buione.msm 'These lestimonials dfiny '
constituents' approbation,' is lo the amatitir -of
pride anif "plelisuijei And -if" (herb bS
oije man in the coupiy ol Luzfrneof "Wjr.o-'
ming one Jtonest,uj)r)gli'l man flu lia
condeiuhedt I have-yet to hear Ui$ vn;ci ' .
Not onlv in lhat county has flic merits ol'-
the bill been canvascd, but from ojie etiil
of this' Commonwealth to the oilier, l.'ifok
at the public meetings in Columbia, A He
gheny, jMnialai and throughout the Stall;;
on this subject. It is b matter of suprfso
to me, indeed, thai the Uovernbr of this
State, knowing, as he did, the public senti
ment in reference to this bill, .should- have
so far disregarded the public will, as To dis
approve it. But, sir; 1 must confess in all
frankness; thai 1 would hardly bo stiprised
at any mcasuie that executive might con
demn or recommend.
These expressions of tho people, sir,
the people who have no favors 10 ask of the)
Executive, and no threats or menaces of his
can intimidate, arc worthy of iheni. They
are unboughl tributes;- they are the open
and undisguised manifestations af approval
of the men who sent us here, and whom we
represcnti
But aii allow trie to turn the allentioH of
the house (0 the veto accompaning this bill
A documenl certainly of no ordinary char
acter made up ol apologies ol reasons, why
the bill should no't become the hw of the
land, and first of all as to the constitutional
objections raised. Is it worth the lime of
the House to examine the objections? Did
these objections arise front the mind of a
man acquainted with constitutional law, and
having some faint glimerings of jurispru
dence, it might be worth some rtfiecWnl
but crude and undigested as the reasons are
which operated on ihe Executive head and
ihe Executive mind, it would seem hardly
worth the time of this body to seriously
consider them. But it may be exp ected,and
le(-me examine llio subJecUjta elancconlv
nxtnrrnrOTTgotlHtp jhwUClail r The Esecu
.live.contends in substance ihat the Legisla
turc can olily elect such officers as are de
fined by tho Constitution and this bntl
has not the power 10 create an office, aiiir-k,
elect a person to fill if Now sir, I musv
confess I have lung been in darkness, if this
be the law of the landl You sir, as a good
lawyer (Mr Sharswood was in the chair)
know this to be ihe rule laid down by on
stitulional lawyers. Thai the Legislature
is sovereign and supreme in all cases, except
where restrained by the letter of the Con
stitution differing in this respect very ma
terially Iroin the powers ol Congress under
the Constitution of the United Stales.
Congress acts undei delegated powers from
the States, and can only legislate where
power is conferred on the federal govern
ment. Not so with the powers of the Slate
legislature. If Ihe Executive can put his
finger on an article 111 our Oonstitutian.tliat
names or refers to the word Canal Com
missioner, I iiave yet o see it. It is uucon
stitulional loo because the election must
have the Executive sanction 1 His excel
lency had no hesitation in sppiuving the
State 1'rinter bill and yet sir lhat bill made
no provision that the two houses in conven
tion fihuuld ask his approval of the man,
whom ihey might choose to elect. How
(lid il happen that this ohjectiui: did not
occur to his constitutional mind, when he
had thai bill before him? Noihtng is heard
of a constitutional doubtno indeed,
How long is It since We abolished llio
office of ihe Secretary of the Land office?
Does any sane man dritihl but that tin- legis
lalure could reestablish lhat .office,and dec
a man to fill ill Certainly not, 1 roucr-do
air, that when ihe Constitution confers the
appointing power on the Governor naritjng
the office, ihu legulatttre cannot ads'ime ilia
power by law to appoint. If thallustriimeiit
gave him the power to appoint the Canal
Commissioners, it would be widely defi
cient; but il does not, and lo contend for
this principle he assumes that usurpation he
charges on the Legislature. Sir, I cannot
talk on this subject without feeling shamo
fur the Executive in attempting to usurp
powers that he has not, and which probably
is well for the country he has riot. We
sir, are to ho told 'that each Houso shall
choose its Speaker' and here our authority
ends I A wise conclusion truly. But
look at this language. I read from iho ijir-'
sage. "I never can sanction t law vinch'
takes away not ony the righU of the Exhl
live, but of the p?op'e, and gives, power lo
Ihe Legislature not contemplated hy- i-the''
Constitution, and which in my judgment
would bo an USURPATION OF POW-'
EK by the LfgUlatlire piegnant witu en!.
However indisposed I may be to retain Bli
the power.of Ihe Executive, it is my sworn
duly to protect the rights of tho peopla
from legislative encroarhmprilv.aud I intend
to do it.' And again from th ejroe et dio
piper. 'The great misapprehension st'oine
lo be this, il appears lo be taken for frratit-
I sd, thai the two Houses of the Legislature,