The Express.
London, England, 1864-01-11 00:00:00

FRANCE.

(nom on ow

PARIS, SATURDAY Rimini°.

The Corps Legitlatif was crowded to excess
yesterday to hear M. Berryer make his first speech
after an absence of twelve years from public life.
Although he is now 76 years old his admirers
were iu no way disappointed, and found in him
all the vigour, animation, elegance, and lucidity
for which he was famous of yore. The occasion
was by no means a particularly congenial one for
oratorical display, the order of the day being the
" Supplemental Credits Bill for 1863 ;' but such
is the charm of M. Berryer's voice and style and
manner that, although he did not go out of his
way to seek for effect, and very fairly conformed
to the understanding come to that the political
questions which will arise in the debate
es the address should not be anticipated on
the discussion of this financial measure, he
captivated the attention of an audience in great
part hostile while for nearly two hours he went
through the dryest and moat complicated details of
the budget. It should be stated, what is probably
forgotten by many who blow M. Eerryer princi-
pally by his forensic triumphs, that finance is a
subject which he has especially studied, and on
which Ike delivered many masterly speeches in
former times.

The figures which M. Berryer marshalled forth
last night to lay the foundations of his argument
were mainly the same as those dwelt upon by M.
niers the other day. He took a long retrospec-
tive review of the floating debt, and in answer to
the taunt constantly insisted upon by official writers
and speakers, that great part of it was incurred by
former governments, observed that at least they
had save glorious and substantial results to show
for it, such as the enfranchisement of Greece and the
conquest of Algeria. He depicted in strong relief the
discrepancy between M. Fould's promises iu 1861
and his performances in 1863, but did not doubt
that he was profoundly afflicted at the inefficacy
of the means by which he had hoped to avoid loans
and supplemental credits. Now the two first bills
which they were called upon to vote in this new
parliament were a loan for 315 millions, and sup-
plemental credits for money illegally expended to
the extent of 93 millions. When he looked at the
augmentation of the consolidated and floating debt
during the last twelve years he was perfectly
appalled. He found that the sum total of their
loans, and other operations which were tanta-
mount to them, came to three milliards 144
millions since 1852. He severely criticised
an operation by which sixty millions had been
got from the Bank of France on the ground
that the mode of repayment indirectly guaranteed
the monopoly of that establishment for thirty years
to come. He disapproved of the permission given
to the Bank to raise its discount above the rats of 6
per cent. He thought a moat unnecessary and
humiliatingsacrifice had been made in compromising
a debt of 98 millions owing by Spain for a sum of 26
millions in ready money. Spain was a prosperous
and improving country, and perfectly well able to
pay. He considered the conversion a failure, and
that the 157 millions got by the soutte were dearly
purchased by the large addition madeto the capital
of the consolidated debt. He denied that the "uni-
fication "of the debt from which M. Fould antici-
pated so much prosperity was a desirable thing ; be
thought it was better that there should be several
stocks. But after all the plan failed, and the uniti-
eation had not been effected. Coming to the illegality
of the government with respect to these supple-
mental credits which was admitted by M. Lama-
bure's report, he demurred to the plea of necessity
which had been set up as an excuse. He contended
that the government perfectly well knew of all
these expenses in May last, and ought then to have
obtained parliamentary authority for them. The
government had then every means of knowing that
the drawbacks on sugar would require double the
sum they had stated ; they must have known that
men and money were wanted for Mexico and they
knew all about the expenses of the railway from
Vera Cruz to Soledad, with a prolongation to
Chiquihuite. He did not know what other members
might do—it was a case for every man to act ac-
cording to his individual conscience, but be, for
one, would not give them a bill oeindemnity for
acts knowingly dune in violation of the law.
He heard with dismay that the army was to
remain at least another year in Mexico. Another
year Why that represented another 150 millions
at the least. They had now got a claim of
200 millions upon Mexico, which they would never
realise, and be believed that before beginning the
war the original debt of Mexico to France was
only about four millions.

After insisting very strongly upon the IMES-
sity of reviving the operation of the sinking fund
(an opinion in which M. Emile 011ivier subsequently
said he did not agree with him) and attributing the
high price of the fonds at various periods from
1848 to the action of that fund, M. Berryer oon-
sloded'with the following peroration

Lea. ing for the manumit out of view expeditious that
may be commanded by imperious necessity, I empire the
government to preserve peace for France in all circum.
@tames where ourhonour u not coucerned, our independeoce
net menaced. In other countries it might perhaps be im-
prudent. perhaps unpatriotic, to my that Franco hex need
of peace. But Franca can say this openly—(much applause)
—and I myself my it without hesitation. I ceasot contem-
plate without dimly the catastrophe, the roil' to which our
commerce, our industrial establishments, our universally
diffsard shares and securities would be exposed by a general
war breaking out al the continent. (Approbation) When
a man hex reached my age he is without persoaal pre-
occupation, the future is cot for him ; but I shall aver
✓emain faithful to my passion for the brilliant and happy
disguise of my country. (Great applause.)

.. •
Bonin (the reporter on the last loan bill) re-
plied to M. Berrver, and while emphatically agree-
sag with him in his desire for peace, combated
omit of Lis arguments, and contended that but for
the Mexican war, which he hopedto see speedily ter-
minated, the finances of the country would not
bare been in a bad state. He thought the conver-
Moo Lad been a wise measure, and was of opinion
that the Senatus Consultum of 1861 bad really
aecompliebed some substantial reforms.
M. Emile 011irier wound up the day's debate by
stigmatising very severely the illegalities which
Lave been unblushingly committed by the govern-
ment. I call your attention to the following con-
cluding passage in his speech, in which the leading
member of the democratic opposition urgently
presses for a disarmament :
I cannot resume my mat without a few remarks on M.
larrabuie's report on the bill now before us. I have read
it attentively. and it excited in me two very different feel-
ing. The find I have already expressed ; I will now ex-
plain tbo mooed. Those who support the government and
yet think proper. to teat some of its acts with severity,
weght. io my °psalms, to be firmly resolved to prevent the
vegetition of such actg. To tell the government the truth
and condemn its acts, without doing anything to provost
the incurrence of the tame facts ia to sacrifice ma's own
oseelateocy, and to weaken the government without advan-
tage for the country. Allow me to say, gentlemen. that I
bare been struck with the manner in which you
have always performed your duties in bimodal qua-
WM. In your reports on the budget you have on all oats-
aloes told the truth. The reports of M. Schneider, of M.
Alfred Le Roux, end of our lots colleague M. Bewitch, give
a complete history of our finances. The right course is
therein faithfully lanceted, and all errors noted, but with-
set any beneficial result. You must do more if you wish
to fulfil your duty. You say that economies ere necessary ;
yea maid bee that they ate really effected if you would
ea have the country .burdeoed with fresh taxes. When
the honourable M. Berryer announced his intention to
propose important germanise, an honourable member
inquired what they ware to be. I now address the
sae question to the reporter of your committee, who
also recommends econeeues, sod asserts that the pre•
nervation of peace is the sole means of obtaining them.
Such isalso my opines ; but bow is peace to be made per-
manent': Is my °puska the only means is a diaarmanient.
Itare are two massive of creating a situation which leaves
yes without Witham, over other sallow': you may be too
weak, or too powerful. When too weak, you are despised ;
when too powerful, your iateetioes are distrusted, and all
emir to defend themselves against you. The danger of
Feriae at present coned. in being too powerful. What-
ever her sea or proposals, she is mistrusted ; no owe will
believe her to be disinterested; Ist her preys thefaet by
watering her army. Secure eamemy by peace, and pesos
by disarming ; but remember that to disarm will he clangor-
ed,/ if you do not greet liberty at the same time. (Inter.
- -

Vol.( I -That ia as old story.
X E. 01.LIVITII— I accept the istarraptiou for oiyislf and
ury friends. Whim an opposition is not bonsai and knows,
it ks, no great end in WHIM, but inertly takes *eery appro.
duty of finding fault ; but an honest opposition ban as ob-
just. and paresis it with notifies porssvaranos. We him