The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-02-15 00:00:00

fontgn ant; Colonial intelligence.

FRANCE.

OPENING of the FRENCH CHAMBERS.

SPEECH OF THE EMPEROR.
PAM, Monday, Feb. 7.
Th. following is the Speech delivered by His Majesty
the Einpemr on the opening of the Legislative &vision
of 1859, this day, 7th February :-
- -

Aleasie,drs lei S.lmiteatrs,
Mcsatears les Depides,
France ban, as you are aware, iluring the last Az years
wen her welfare augmented, her riches increase, her
Internal dissentious die out, her induct'se restored, and
yet there arias* at interval* in the inidat of the general
calm and prosperity • vague anxiety, • hollow agitation,
which, without any well-defined cause, possesses itself
of certain winds, and shakes public confidence.
_ . .

I deplore these periodical .discouragements without
being utonished at them. In a society chattered like ours
by so many revolutions time alone can confirm convic-
tions, give renewed vigour to character, and create a
political faith.
The anxiety which has just been produced, without
the appearance of imminent dangers, may justly Mlse
surprise, for it gives evidence at the same time of too
much distrust and of too much alarm. A doubt seems I
to have arisen, on the one hand, of the moderation of ,
which I have given so many proofs, and on the other of I
the power of France. Happily, the great maw of the
people is far from sharing such imprcsaions as these.
To-der it is my duty again to explain to you afresh
whisk it seems to have foregutten.
What has been constantly my policy? To re-assure
Enrol», and to restore to France her real rank, to
imment strictly our alliance with England and arrange
with the Continental Powers of Europe the degree of
my friendship, according to the similiarity of our views.
and to the nature of their proceeding* as regards
France.
It wu thus that on the eve of my third election I
made at Bordeaux the declaration, ' L'Empire ere /a
;milt wishing thereby to prove that if the heir of Em-
peror Napoleon re-uoended the throne lie would not re.
new an era of conquests, but would inaugurate a system
of poem) which could not be disturbed, except for the
defence of great national interests.
As to the ranee ef Fr." and England, I have em-
ployed all m persoiersuce to rinsolidate it, and I have
found on t other side of the Channel • forte-
oao reciprocity of sentimenta on the part of
the Queen of Great Britain, u well u on
the part of statesmen of all opinions. To attain the
same end, so useful to the peace of the world, I have
on every occasion trampled under foot the irritating re.
meiabrances of the past, the attacks of calumny, and
even the national prejudices of any country.
This alliance has borne its fruits; not only have we
acquired together a lasting glory in the East, but again
at the estremity id the world we have juat thrown open
an imuiense empire to the progress of civilization and of
the Christian religion. . . . .

Since the oonclusion of peace, my relations with the
Emperor of Russia have assumed the character of the
most frank cordiality, because we have been in accord
on all points under dispute.
I have elually to congratulate myself on my relations
with Prussia, which have never ceased to be animated
by mutual goodwill.
The Cabinet of Vienna and mine, on the contrary, I
say it with regret, have often found themselves at varj.
anoe on questions of principle and a great spirit of con-
ciliation was required to succeed in solving theui. Thus,
for instance, the re-organization of the Danubian Prin-
cipalities mini.' only be effected after numerous difficul-
ties, which have hindered the full satisfaction of their
most legitimate desires, and if I were asked what inte-
rest France has in those distant countries which the
Danube waters, I should reply that the interest of
Prance is everywhere where there is a just and civilizing
cause to promote.
In this state of things, there is nothing extraordinary
that France should draw closer to Piedmont, which had
been so devoted during the war, so faithful to our policy
during peace. The happy union of iny well-beloved
cousin Prince Napoleon with the daughter of King
Victor Emmanuel is not one of those unusual events for
which one must seek some hidden reason, but the
natural coneequence of the community of interests of
the two countries, and of the friendship of the two
Sovereigns.
For some time past the state of Italy and her abnor-
mal position, where order cannot be maintained except
by foreign troops, has justly disquieted diplomacy.
This is, however, not a sufficient motive for believing in
war. Let 40111 C invoke it with all their hearts, without
legitimate reasons ; let others in their exaggerated fears
amuse themselves by showing to France the dangers of
a new audition ; I shall remain firm (inlbruttfaUe) in
the path of right and justice, ommil of the national houour ;
and my Government will not allow itself either to drift
or to fear, because iny policy will never be provoking
nor pusillanimous. Away then, with these false
these unjust suspicions, these interested apprehensions,
Peaoe, I hope will not be disturbed.
Resume, then, calmly the usual course of your
Labours. I have explained to you frankly the state of
our foreign relations, and this explanation corresponds
with everything which I have endeavoured to make
known during the last two months.
_ At
..home as well as abroad you will, I natter myself,

_
find that iny policy has never ceased for one 11111 l eat to
be the same —firm, but conciliatory. Therefore. I
reckon with confidence upon your assent. as well an
npon the support of the nation which has intrusted her
fate to me. She knows thlt my actions will never be
guided by personal interest or petty ambit' .
Ile who ascends the steps of a throne supported by the
voice and feeling of the people rises up to the discharge
of the weiglitit,t of all responsibilities, far above that
infamous region where vulgar interests are debated ; and
the first motives of his actions, as his last judges, are—
his conscience, and posterity !

The "religions" marriage of M. Rothschild, jun.,
with the daughter of M. .liisiinch, Judge of the Imperial
Court, took iilace on Wciiiii•silay, tkt the synagogue in
the Rue Nutrellaino de Nizaroth, Paris. The aignatnre
of the contract took place on the previous day at the
Hotel Rothschild, in presence of a number of distill.
guished personages. The synagogue was fitted up in a
very superb manner for the occasion. The Grand
Rabbi gave the nuptial benediction, and delivered an
appropriate ad•lreas. Among the penumages present
were the Minister of State and 3liline. Fouhl, the
Minister of the Interior and Wine. I.lelangle, the
1/elessert faultily, M. Ingres, 31. Hslevy, M. Meyerbeer,
M. Jules Janin, eta, and the principal representatives
of the Courte of Europe in Paris.