The Press.
London, England, 1857-02-21 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

provinces, based upon provincial independence under
the suzerainty of the Porte. The Nord has
been ostracised and the Moniteur suppressed by
Anglo-Austrian authority. Is this the Whig con-
struction of the "entente cordiale"? and it may also
be asked pertinently at the present juncture who now
infringe, openly and advisedly, by word and deed,
the most ess3ntial clauses of the Treaty of Paris ?
C. A. H.

lortign anb (Colonial ]nttiligtna.

FRANCE.

OPENING OF THE LEGISLATIVE CHAMBERS.

THE EMPEROR'S SPEECH.

The French Legislative Session was opened on
Monday by the Emperor Napoleon 111.
His Majesty spoke as follows :

Messieurs les Sonateurs et Messieurs ?les Deputes,—
Last year my opening speech concluded with an invoca-
tion to Divine Providence. I prayed it to guide our efforts
in the path most conformable to the interests of humanity
and of civilisation.

That prayer seems to have been heard.
Peace has been signed, and the difficulties of detail
which obstructed the execution of the Treaty of Paris have
been fortunately surmounted.
The dispute between the King of Prussia and the
Helvetic Confederation has lost all warlike character,
and has enabled us soon to hope for a favourable solution.
The understanding re-established between the three
protecting powers of Greece henceforth renders unneces-
sary the prolongation of the sojourn of English and French
troops at the Piraeus.
If a lamentable misunderstanding has arisen on the
subject of the affairs of Naples, it must still be attributed
to that desire which equally animates the Government of
Queen Victoria and my own to act everywhere in favour of
humanity and of civilisation.
Now that the best understanding prevails between all
the great powers, we ought to endeavour seriously to regu•
late and develop the strength and the riches of the nation
at home. We ought to struggle against the evils which a
progressive society is not exempt lrcm.
Civilisation. though its object is the moral improvement
and the material welfare of the majority, advances, it must
be admitted, like an army. Its victories are not gained
without sacrifices or without victims. Those rapid means
which facilitate communications and open new roads to
commerce shift interests, and throw backwards those
countries which are still without them ; those most useful
machines which multiply manual labour at first throw men
out of work, and for a time leave many hands unoccupied ;
those mines which send throughout the world an amount
of coin hitherto unknown—that increase of public fortune
which multiplies consumption tenfold tends to cause a
fluctuation and to increase the value of everything; that
imperishable source of wealth called " credit " does
wonders, and yet the abuse of speculation involves the
ruin of many private individuals. Hence the necessity,
without stopping progress, of assisting those who cannot
keep up with its accelerated movement.
Some must be stimulated, others kept in check ; we
must feed the activity of that panting, anxious, exacting
society which in France expects everything from the
Government, and to which, h3wever, it must oppose the
limits of the possible and the calculations of common
sense.

To enlighten and to direct, that is our duty. The
country is prosperous, it must be admitted, for, despite the
war and the famine, the rate of progress has not slackened.
The produce of the indirect taxes, which is a certain sign
of the publio prosperity, exceeded in 1856 by more than
50,000,000 f. the amount, already exceptional, of 1855.
Since the restoration of the Empire its revenues have in-
creased of themselves to the amount of 210,090,000 f.,
deducting the new taxes. Nevertheless, there is much
suffering among a portion of the people, and as long as
Providence does not grant us a good harvest the millions
given by private charity and by the Government will be
but feeble palliatives.
Let us redouble our efforts to remedy evils which are
beyond human foresight.
Various departments have been afflicted this year by the
scourge of inundations.
Everything leads me to hope that science will succeed in
subduing nature. I make it a point of honour that in
France rivers, like revolutions, must return to their beds,
or that they must not ler.ve them. A cause of anxiety nc
less serious agitates the public mind. When a crisis takes
place there is no sort of false rumour or false doctrine
which ignorance or malevolence does not propagate. They
even succeeded recently in alarming public industry, as if
the Government could desire anything else than its de-
velop.i:ent and prosperity. It is therefore the duty of
good citizens to spread everywhere the wise doctrines of
political econo:ny, and especially to encourage those
doubting hearts which at the tint breath—l will not say of
ill•furtune, but at the slightest check in prosperity, sow
discouragement and increase uneasiness by their imaginary
alarms. _

Considering the many demands of the moment, I have
resolved to reduce the expenditure without interrupOig
the great works, without compromising what has already
been achieved—to diminish certain taxes without inflicting
injury to the finances of the State.
The budget of 1838 will be presented to yon balanced.
All anticipated expenses are therein stated. The produce
of the loans will suffice to pay for the war expenses.
The public service in all its branches will be provided
for without our having to appeal again to the public credit.
The budget of War and of the Navy has been reduced to
fair limits, so as to keep up the cadre, to respect the pro.

177

motions so gloriously earned, and to maintain a allitar
force worthy of the greatness of the country.
It is with this idea that the annual contingent has been
fixed at 100,000 men. This figure is 20,000 above the
ordinary calls in time of peace. But, according to the
system I have adopted, and to which I attach great impor-
tance, about two-thirds of these conscripts will remain
two years under arms, and will afterwards form a
reserve which will furnish to the country on the
first appearance of danger an army of 900,000
disciplined soldiers. The reduction in the effec-
tive strength will allow an improvement of the pay of
the lower grades and of the rank and file,—a step which
the dearness of provisions renders indispensable. Fur
the same reason the budget allows a sum of 5,000,000 f. to
commence an increase in the smallest salaries of the
lesser civil officials, who, in the midst of hard privations,
have given a good example of honesty and devotion. We
have not forgotten either the appropriation for a trans-
atlantic line of steamers, the establishment of which has
been so long required. Despite this increase of outlay,
shall propose to you to abolish, from the Ist of January,
1 858, the new war tax (diebne de guerre). This abolition
is a sacrifice of 93,000,000 f., but in compensation and
conformably to the wish expressed at various times by the
Legislative Corps, I shall take into consideration the im-
position of a new tax on moveable property.
An idea entirely philanthropical had induced the Go-
vernment to transfer the convict establishments to Guiana.
Unhappily, the yellow fever, unknown in those parts for
fifty years, has arrested the progress of colonisation. A
plan is under consideration for the transfer of those estab-
lishments to Africa, or elsewhere. Algeria, which in skil-
ful hands sees its produce and commerce make daily
progress, is deserving of our particular attention. The
decree of decentralisation recently passed will favour the
efforts of the Administration, and I shad neglect nothing
to bring before you, according to circumstances, the
measures best suited for the development of the colony.
I call your attention to a bill the object of which is to
fertilise the " Landes" of Gascony. The progress of agri-
culture ought to be one of the objects of our constant care.
for upon its improvement or its neglect depends the pro-
sperity or the decline of empires.
Another project of law, due to the suggestion of the
Marshal Minister of War, will be presented to ycu ; it is a
complete military penal code, which unites in one body, by
placing them in harmony with our institutions, the scat-
tered and sometimes contradictory laws passed since 1790.
You will, I am sure, be happy to attach your name to a
work of this importance.
Messieurs les Deputes,—As this session is the last of
your legislature, allow me to express to you my thanks for
the devoted and active support which you have lent me
since 1ec.52. You have proclaimed the Empire. You have
associated yourselves to all the measures which have re-
established order and prosperity in the country. You
energetically supported me during the war; you shared
my sorrows during the epidemic and the famine ; you
shared my joy when Heaven granted me a glorious peace
and a well beloved son ; your loyal co-operation has
allowed me to introduce into France a rigime founded on
the popular wishes and interests. It was a difficult task
to fulfil, and for which real patriotism was required ; to
accustom the country to new institutions, to replace the
licence of the tribune and the exciting contests which
brought about the tall or the rise of Ministries by a free yet
calm and serious discussion, was a signal service rendered
to the country, and even to liberty, for liberty has not more
formidable enemies than the outbursts of passion and the
violence of language. Strong in the support of the great
bodies of the State, and in the devotion of the army,
strong especially in the support of that people which
knows that every instant of my life is devoted to it and
to its interests, I foresee for our country a future full
of hope.
France, without infringing on the rights of any one, has
resumed in the world the rank which was her due, and
may with safety give herself up to everything great which
the genius of peace can produce.
May God never cease to protect her, and soon may it
be said of our epoch what a statesman—an illustrious and
national historian—has written of the Consulate,—" Satiss
faction reigned everywhere, and whoever did not nourish
in his heart the bad passions of party felt happy in the
public welfare !"
At the conclusion of the Imperial Speech the
usual ceremonies were observed, and the Emperor
and Empress shortly retired.
The Imperial Speech has been most favourably
regarded in Paris.
Count Kisselef has returned to Paris from Nice.

The question of the union of the Principa'ities is
still discussed in the Constitutionnel anii the Debate,
both of which papers support the proposal.
AUSTRIA AND ITALY.

Great administrative changes are about to be
initiated tcr the benefit of the Austro-Lombardo
provinces. The following ere said to be the principal
features of the proposed t plan of administration :
His Imperial Highness, the Archduke Ferdinand
Max, to be the alter ego of his Majesty, and as such
to receive his instructions directly from him. One
of the Aulic Councillors of the Home Department,
who is to have the management of matters connected
with the organisation of the Lombardo-Venetian
kingdom, to be attached to the Governor-General.
Judicial matters to be under the more immediate
direction of the Supreme Court of Justice for Loin-
hardy and Venice, which, as a matter of course, is
responsible to the Minister of Justice for its actions.
The Governor-General will have to do all in his
power to maintain the unity of the empire, but he

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178

will be at liberty to take into consideration any
wishes of the people that are not antagonistic to it.
Hia Imperial Highness may, should he deem it
advisable, give employment to per.ons who, though
disloyal during the revolution, have since behaved
well.

The violence of the tone of the articles in the
official journals of Milan and Turin continues un-
abated, and calls for the interference of the Western
rowers. Count Buol, it is even said, has addressed
an extremely sharp note to the Court of Turin upon
the abuse against Austria permitted in the Turin
journals.
A quarrel, between an Austrian officer and a M.
Bianchi, at Mantua, had resulted in the death of the
latter, who was attacked and overpowed by several
Austrian officers. The event had caused a great
E on sation.