The Express.
London, England, 1852-01-16 00:00:00

all the more credit compete for a seat as they cannot
be taxed with mercenary motives, the functions of
duty being now gratuitous. Meanwhile, it is to be
feared that fresh lists of proscription will decrease
still further the number of eligible candidates. You
will perceive that the Ist article of the constitution
recognises, confirms, and guarantees the great
principles proclaimed in 1789. Yet no par-
ticular mention is made of the press, right'
of meeting, individual liberty, or in fact of
any of those great principles which are vaguely
recognised in the lump. It needs no further
proof that this ostentatious homage is a mere decep-
tion, than to note the restrictions as well as omis-
sions touching fundamental rights. Thus it is
particularly noted that the usual clause of inviolability
of the persons of legislators is omitted, a clear proof
that it is in contemplation to use refractory depu-
ties and senator with as little ceremony as was adopted
towards the representatives who met at the mayory
of the tenth arrondissement. On the other hand, so

little regard is paid to the freedom of the
press, that no report is allowed to be published of the
debates of the chamber of deputies; but only minutes
of the sitting drawn up for the Moniteur by the
board of assembly. Nor is this all; but the board
itself is nominated by the President of the Republic;
so that the right of the Chamber of Deputies to
appoint their president and vice-presidents, which
existed under Louis-Philippe, and was, in lact, the
practical test of parliamentary independence, has
been abolished by the new constitution. It is need-
less to add that the most emphatic means of express-
ing their political sentiments has thus been taken
from the people's chamber. If the total silence of
the constitution on the liberty of the press is an
omission which astounds even those who gave the
government credit for the most daring encroachments;
the insertion of the oath demanded from all funs
tionaries has produced still greater discon-
tent. I hear that the government reckons, by the
application of this screw to the official conscience, to
eject an immense mass of emidnip,s who are still too
hottest to imitate the example of perjure. Thus
places would bo provided for the famished herd of
sycophants who besiege the Tuileries. You will per-
ceive that, although for the moment the President
retains his present title, he is invested with all the
attributes of royalty.: Indeed, by assuming the
power of making treaties of peace he makes himself
more absolute than the Emperor, under whom
such treaties were submitted to the Senate for
approval. Justice is to be administered in his
name; that is, all writs, warrants, judgments, and
judicial decrees are to be headed "In the name of
Louis Napoleon," instead of as now, " In the name
of the French people," according to the maxim
"The king is the fountain of justice." An article of
more importance, and in Det one of the most des-
potic provisions of the whole charter, is the l:lth,
which annihilates the ministry as a deliberative body.
When it is said that there is no "solidarity " be-
tween the ministers, and that each is only responsi-
ble for what concerns himself, it is meant that the
ministers are no longer to hold cabinet councils, or to
take resolutions in common. Each is to be, in other
phrases, a head clerk of his department, and not a
minister at ail in the real sense of that word. huts,
if the minister of the interior wants to know what
the minister of war is about he will be told to mind
his own business. The ministers will possibly meet
one another in salons, but they will no more deli-
berate in common, or hold more intimate communion
than a clerk of the foreign office with one of the
ministry of public works or any other department.
By thus lowering the character of the highest
functions in the state Louis Napoleon renders it im-
possible for any eminent and independent per-
sonage to become his minister. Thus lie tends to in-
crease the isolation in which he stands from all that
is high-minded and intelligent, and to surround him-
self more and more with narrow-minded partisans.
This is the more to be regretted, as half the violence
of the President's latter acts is traceable, in a great
measure, to his separation front the sound part of the
nation, which drives him to a reckless display of
force to cow the recusants into adhesion.