Trial Of Louis XVI, King Of France.
{"newspaper_name": "Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser.", "edition": "01", "page": "p2", "byline": ""}
{"character_count": 2640, "word_count": 453, "ccnet_language_score": [0.9790999889373779], "ccnet_perplexity": [1059.0], "fasttext_language": ["en"]}
Louis Capet, otherwise Louis XVI, was
King of France in the time Of the French
In the times Of those popular |
tempests, he was first dethroned. and con-
fined to the Temple, with wife, Madame
and the Dauphin, the young
Prince, and the Princess Royale. After
he had been stripped Of Royalty, his case
was brought before the National Assembly
which propounded the three following
questions for its own decision: lst. "ls
Louis Capet guilty Of conspiracy against
the liberty of the Nation, and attempts
against the general safety Of the State?"
I'd. "Shall the judgment Of the assembly,
whatever it may be, be referred to the
sanction Of the people?" Sd. "What pun
ishment shall be inflicted upon him?" This
National Assembly was composed Of 749
members. When the first question was
put, 693 members voted in the affirmative,
without giving any explanation; 81 of the
others declared him guilty on the first
question, but declared themselves incom-
petent to pronounce sentence upon him;
the remaining % members being absent
for cause. On the second question, PSI
voted for referring the judgment of the
assembly to the people, and 423 against it;
the balance Of the assembly being absent,
refusing to vote, or voting upon conditions.
The third question, that one fatal to Louis,


was next to be voted on. 72l votes were
cast; 2S6 for detention, or Punishment,
coupled with restrictions and conditions;
for Imprisonment; 46 for death with a
reprieve till either peace, or the ratifica-
ton Of the constitution; 26 for death upon


condition that execution should be staid,


and 36l for death Internationally.


Louis was, therefore, convicted by a


majority Of one vote only. Among the


number who voted for his death was the


Duke Of Orleans, the Kings own~brother.


This vote it is said was cast by the Duke


in order to maintain his popularity with


the Jacobins. The counsel allowed the
King were, Malsherbes, Tronchet and
Deseze; the two first preparing the case


the latter making the argument in defence
Louis was called "Capet'' from the name
of his ancestors. As soon as the result o
. this voting was made known, the King
, counsel moved for an appeal to the people
the principle cause being the ex,remel.


small vote by which he was convicted


The question Of appeal was then consid
I cred by the assembly, and refused. Th
King had been confined five months an
seven days. On the 2lst Of January, 179:
he was guillotined, being thirty year
\ old. He suffered the execution with
= great deal Of fortitude; and is considere
: by impartial historians to have been a goo


lclever man, but weak and imbecile in tn


extreme.