Part 24 (2/2)
”9 for death, with respite.
”2 for death, after a peace.
”2 for chains.
”319 for confinement.
”366 for death.
”CITIZENS,
”The punishment p.r.o.nounced against Louis is DEATH.”
THE APPEAL OF LOUIS XVI.
”I OWE it to my honour, I owe it to my family, not to subscribe to an ”accusation which I have not merited. I declare therefore, that I ”bring an appeal to the nation at large from the judgment pa.s.sed ”against me; and I give to my defenders all necessary powers, in ”order that this present appeal may be inserted in the Journals of ”the Convention.”
Refused!
_The_ ADDRESS _of Mons_. DE SEZE, _one of the defenders of the King_, _to the Convention_.
”THE ratification by the French people, which Louis demands, ”is the exercise of a natural and sacred right which belongs to ”every person accused; it is the right of every man, and ”consequently of Louis. If we did not prefer this claim in his ”defence, it was because it was not in our power to foresee that the ”National Convention would resolve upon judging him; or, if it did ”judge him, that it would condemn him. We now learn, that the fatal ”decree, which condemns Louis to death, has been carried by a ”majority of five votes only. Permit me, Citizens, to represent to ”you, in the name of humanity, in the name of that sacred principle ”which calls for every mitigation in favour of the accused, that this ”circ.u.mstance, so very extraordinary, may well engage you ”voluntarily to accede to the proposed ratification. I demand it in ”the name of justice, in the name of our country, in the name of ”humanity. Exercise your own high powers; but do not astonish France ”by the exhibition of a judgment that must appear terrible, when the ”surprising minority comes to be considered.
”Citizens, permit me to adjure you once more in the name of ”Louis XVI. and to conclude with suggesting to you, whether, whilst ”you are contending for the security of the nation, and its real ”interest, you will not tremble, when you reflect, that the safety of ”the republic, the Security of the French empire, and the happiness ”of 25 millions of people, may possibly depend upon five votes.”
FOURTH APPEL NOMINAL.
THE object of this fourth appeal was to know whether the execution of Louis might be deferred; 310 were for respite, and 380 against it. Thus, by a majority of 70 votes, it was decreed, that the sentence against Louis XVI. should be executed without delay.
THE EXECUTION OF LOUIS XVI.
21st JANUARY, 1793.
THE minister of justice and the heads of the administrative corps, having proceeded to the Temple on Sunday the 20th of January, about four in the evening, notified to Louis the warrant for his execution. ”I demand,” said the King, ”a respite of three days to ”prepare myself for appearing before G.o.d. To a.s.sist me in this work, ”I desire to have Mr. Edgeworth, (an Irish clergyman) with whom I may ”freely communicate. I desire that he may be secured from all ”uneasiness, or apprehension, on account of this charitable office ”which he shall perform for me. I desire to be relieved from that ”perpetual watch which the council-general has set over me for some ”days. I demand in this interval the privilege of seeing my family ”when I shall desire it, and without witnesses. I could also wish, ”that the Convention would, as speedily as may be, set about ”determining the fate of my family, and permit them to see each other ”freely and commodiously, when they shall think proper.
”I recommend to the liberality of the nation all those persons who ”have been attached to me. Among my pensioners there are many aged ”men, women, and children, who have no other means of subsistence.”
Of all there requisitions Louis obtained only that of seeing his family without witnesses. It was the first time since his imprisonment. The interview lasted two hours. It is impossible to express the horror of the moment, when he was obliged to tear himself away from them. On his return to his apartment, the King pa.s.sed a almost the whole of the night in prayer. He then laid down and slept a few hours, and early in the morning betook himself again to prayer.
The 21st of January, at half past eight o'clock, Santerre, the commandant-general, came to signify to Louis the order for his going to execution. Having requested three minutes to speak with his confessor, he then turned to Santerre, and told him that he was ready to follow him.
The King crossed the first court of the Temple on foot; he then entered the coach of Pethion, the mayor of Paris, with his Confessor and two Gendarmes. His route lay along, the Boulevards, which were lined with above two hundred thousand men in arms. All the way Louis was deeply engaged in reading the prayers appointed for persons at the point of death.
Being, arrived at the _Place de Louis XV._ which was the place of execution, about ten o'clock in the morning, he alighted from the carriage with calmness, took off his clothes himself, remaining in his white under-waistcoat, untied his cravat, and opened the collar of his s.h.i.+rt; he then threw himself upon his knees to receive the last benediction of his Confessor, got up immediately after, and ascended the scaffold alone. At that moment his Confessor cried out to him, ”Son of St. Louis, you are going up to Heaven!” [Footnote; Other accounts state, that it was when the King had just prepared himself for the stroke of the fatal instrument, that Mons. Edgeworth, his confessor, called out (in the imperative) with a loud voice, ”Enfant de Saint Louis, montez au Ciel.” ”Son of St. Louis, mount up ”to Heaven.”]
Far from opposing those who came to cut off his hair, and bind his hands, ” Do with me,” said he, ”what you will, it is the last ”sacrifice.” He then made a motion with his hand to obtain ”silence.--”I die perfectly innocent of all the pretended crimes laid ”to my charge--I forgive all those who have had any hand in my ”misfortunes, and I pray that my blood may be of use in restoring ”happiness to France--and you, unhappy people!” ......
At these words, the unfeeling Santerre gave orders that the drums should beat, crying out to the King, ”that he had not brought him ”there to declaim, but to die.” At that instant his head was severed from his body! ......
The corpse was immediately conveyed to the Magdalene burying-ground, and thrown into a pit twelve feet deep, into which a considerable quant.i.ty of quicklime was cast.
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