I'
320 MrEMOIR o01

When they are to be relieved of their command; a memengwa i-.:i
is sent to notify' them to resign the command to such and sac. 41
persons; and in case they rel'ue to obey, measures are take
to compel them; they can then juldly be-treated as rebels and.; -*
sent to France.
 I have, in fact, known some generals guilty of criminally -
neglecting their duties, but who, in consideration of their char-
acter, have escaped punishment until they could be brought be-.
fore superior authority.
 Should not Gen. Leclere have informed me that various.
charges had been brought against me? Should he not have
said to me, "I gave you my word of honor and prromised you:.
the protection t the Goverrment; to-day, as yUltiave been
found guilty, I am going to send you to that goirrument to.
give an account of your conduit ? Or, Government orders
you to submit; I convey that order to you I have not been
so treated; on the other hand. mtan- lir,- b. :n employed
against me which are only usr- nagainat the pr,-atest crimi-.
nals. Doubtless, I owr this treatmni.t to, ni t oli:r; but my olor,
-my color, -has it hindered me frtim ii rrting my country
with zeal and fidelity ? Does thte Lolh.r of my skin impair my
honor and my bravery ?
 But even supposing that I was a criminal, and that Govern-
 ment had ordered my arrest, wa. it nr-.e sary to employ a hun-
 dred riflemen to arrest my wite and children in their own home,:
 without regard to th-ir sex, age, and rank; without humanity
 and without charity? Was it neco eary to burn my houses,
 and to pillag' and sack my po-> ';on;? No. My wiTf, my:.
 children, my family had no rn-pou-ibility in the matt-r; they.'
 were not accountable to the Govirnment; it was not lawful to
 arrest them.
 Gen. Letlere's authority was undi-puted; did he fear me ass.
 rival? I tan but compare him to the Roman Senate, pursuing ,
 Hannibal to the very depths of his eretat.
 SUpon the arrival of the squadron in the inlony, they took ad.-,
 vantage of my alb.nce- to tLiz, a arn of my correpi3ondencei |