The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-12-04 00:00:00

OPENING OF THE FRENCH
CHAMBERS.

The Chambers wereopened on Monday, by the Ern.
lwror Napoleon in pen•on, who delivcrwl the following
Speech from the Throne:—
. .

Messieurs fee Senateurs,
n Messieurs lee Depute+,
It is not easy to establiah In France the regular and peace-
ful exerelse of liberty. Some months back society seemed to be
menaced by subset aim passion., and liberty to hove been
eompromired by steno>, committed by the public journals
Alld at joule medium. Every one woe askingls iw Cur th,
119verninent would prsh its policy of bog suffering ; but al-
ready the good sense of the pnblic reacts against cnipable
exaggerations. Impotent attacks hove only haft the
effect of showing the solidity of the edifice founded by
mliversal suffrage : nevertheless the uncertainty and dis-
quietude w filch exist In the minds of the poop' e can tot I sat, and
the sitnatlon requires more than ever frankness and deelsion.
We must speak without any circumlocution and declare
loudly what is the will of the country. France desires
liberty: but liberty oinked with order. For order I will
answer. Aid me, geutlemen, to save liberty ; and to attain
Ibis object let us keep at an equal distance from reaction and
revolutionary theories. Between those who pretend to pre-
serve everything sirdhont change, and those who aspire to
overthrow everything, there is a glorious ground to take up.
When I proposed the Menatua-Cuatiltnin of tot September
as the 'ogled sequence of previous reforms sal of the decla-
ration made In my name by the Minister of State on the 2Sth
of June, I meant resolutely to Inaugurate a slew era of con-
ned In seconding me In this path you have
'• a oe renegades to the prat, to disarm power,
the emoire
Nhich the Mini=ters ail! aulcoit for your
.11 bear a sincerely liberal character. If you
the following improvements will be realised,
will be 'elected from among the municipal

dltttoo

prgO...

been unwillb;l
or overthrow

ii;ell7l-1
approbation e
adopt them,
Th• mayors

councils, exceptii•g in special eases, for which provision will
be made by the proposed enactment. At Lyons, as well as In
the suburban communes of ratio, the formation of the•e
eouneili will be committed to universal suffrage In l'Aris
its If. where the interest. of the city are linked with those of
the whole et France, the municipal council will be elected
by the Legi-hdive Body, which is already luveced with the
right of settling the extraordinary budget of the capital.
Caetorial councils will Ma instituted pramipally with the
object of unitieg the communal power, and of directieg
its employment. Fresh prerogatives will lw granted to
tho general councils, even the colonies will participate in
this niovernent of decentralla ition and, lastly, a bill &erg-
big the circle in whmh universal suffrage works will de-
termine.the public functions compatiole with a seat iu the
Chamber. Ti these adinisitstrative and political reforms
will be added legislative measures of more immediate interest
for the people—vi , the more rapid dtvelopineet of gratui-
tous primary instruction; the decreasing of legal expenses:
the removal of the demniechne war tax, which weighs heavily
upon the taxpayers ; regietration in matters of succession ;
the affording greater facility of access to the savings batiks,
and the placing them within the reach of the inhabi-
tants of rural districts through the all of treasury
agents, a more humane regulation of int alit labour in maim-
facton ie., and an increase of the salaries of subordinate
• officiate Other important questions, no ealitilou of which is
as yet ready, are being c,insidered. The agricultural inquiry
is concluded, and useful propositions will emanate from it
so soon as the superior commission shall have given in its
report Another hquiry has been commeneed in refine.,
to the octrois. A CIIEtOIIIII llllwilt be ambulated t, you, re-
producing those general tariffs to which no setioue exc•p.
don has been taken As regards those tariffs which have
evoked loud complaints from entain branches of Industry
the lioveriiment Will not bring forward any scheme until it
bas surrounded itself with the enlightenment of all the
sources of information calculated to assist your deliberations.
rho sta.ement of the situation of the Empire peasants
satisfactory results. Commerce In not at a standstill, and
the inairect reveteies, whose natural increase is a aim if
prosperity and confidence, have produced Ilp to the present
time 30,000,000 franca more than last year. The current
bum gels show notable surpluses, auil the budget for 1071 will
allow of wile undertaking to effect an Improvement in several
branches of the public service and to make suitab'e grants
/or public works. but it is net enough to propom retinas
to introduce savings in the finances, and to administer
affairs luau effective meaner. It is also necessary that, by
a clear and firm af It. ude, the public bodies, in accordance
with the Gomm ment, should show that the more we widen
the paths of Morey the more we are determined to preserve
the interests of society and tho principles of the Constitution
intact and superior to all acts of violeece. It is the duty
and within the power of a Government, which is the legiti-
mate expression of the natiousal will, to cause that will to
be respected, for it hoe right and might upon its aide.
rrOM battle affairs, if I gaze beyond our frontier, I con-
gratulate myself en seeing foreign Power. maintaining with
us friendly relations. Sovereigns and nation,' desire peace,
and they are eneaged ii. advamillt civhisation. Whatever
reproaches may be made aga nst mr century, we have cor-
es nly many reasons to I e pr,ud of it. The New World
suppresses slavery ; Ruggeri liberates her serfs ; England
does justice to Ircland ; the littoral ceutartes of the Medi-
terranean seem to be once some calling to mind their ancient
salendour; aria from the assembled C allelic b ste-ps at
Rome we need only expect a work of wisdom and concilia-
tion.
" The progress of science brings rations toxether. While
America Pries the Pacific with the Atlantic Ocean by a rat'-
rood 1,00 leagues in let gth, and in all parts catitalsts and
Mtellects agree to unlza, by ante c coniniunleatien, the
most distant countries of the globe, Fral..o and Italy
are about to clasp hands through the tunnel of the Alps,
and the waters of the Mediterranean and the Roth
Sea mingle already by arrays of the Sues Canal All
Eorm e was represented in E apt at the luaugnratlai of this
gigantic enterm hue ; and if the Einproa is not here t ?-lay at
the opening of the thamber it is becmse I have been desirous
that, by her presence in a country where our arms were once
renders 0 Mesta Our, she might testily to the sympathy of
Femme towards a work due to the perseverance and genius of
a Frenchman.
"You are about to resume the extraordinary seasion in-
terrupted by toe presentation of the Senates Consultum.
After the verification of the elections the ordinary session
will immediately commence. The great bodies of the State,
closely united, will come to an understanding to apply faith-
fully the latest modification made in the Constitution.
"The more direct perticipation of the country in its own
affairs will constitute for the Empire a source of strength,
and the Reprateutative Asaemblies will have henceforth a
large share of responsibility. Let them use it for the benefit
of the greatness and prosperity of the nation. May tae
various gawks of opinion disappesr whirs required
by Pre general intere4 ; and let the Chamaers prove,
equa!•y by their enlightenment and their patriotism, th•t
F.utice, without awash fallina into deplorable excesses, is
capable of supporting these tree hualtutions which are the
honour of civilised countries,"

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