The Express.
London, England, 1863-12-26 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

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PAWS, FILTDAT

Although the amendment to the loan bill pro-
posed by K Thiers and his friends was not, and
never wan expected to be carried, it cannot be said
that it was made in vain. It has exercised an in-
fluence the extent of which is impossible to be
calculated, in the precise way that a parliamentary
opposition should do, namely, by reminding the
executive of its responsibility, forcing the advisers
of the crown to consult among themselves, re-
consider their opinions, and make promises of
amendment, which, if not absolutely binding,
cannot be broken without difficulty ►nd
discredit. The government commissary, M.
Vuitry, spoke so fair, and asserted so
frequently and so emphatically that he
almost agreed with K Thiers, that several of the
deputies who had signed the amendment voted
against it. M. Thiers himself went out of the
house when the division came on, and did not vote
at all. M. Berryer also abstained. All this
accounts for the small minority-14—in which list,
however, there is the name of one deputy who was
elected as a government candidate, the Duke de
Marmier. As K Vuitry explained the thing the
only difference between him and M. Thiers resolves
itself into a question whether the amount of Trea-
sury bills which the government is to be
authorised to issue shall be settled now or
two months hence. The government quite
admits the principleof a reduction of the maximum,
only it asps that if a limit ware fixed at the present
moment, K Fould would be prejudicially fettered
in placing his loan. It is to be noticed that the
government commissary dwelt upon technical
financial considerations only, and said not one word
' to countenance the idea of the dissident opposition
members, MM. Havin and Guiroult, that the loan
was in any way connected with the furtherance
of a war for Poland. In my opinion, the
war party in France is now in a hopeless
minority. The Senate, the Corps Legislatif,
and the most influential men of the opposition,
have pronounced against war, and the government,
whatever its real intentions may be, professes at
least, and that moat emphatically, to go with the
stream.

M. Emile 011ivier, in answer to a few words
from his brother deputy for Paris, M. Gudroult,
who raised his voice for war, stated the views of
the majority of the liberal opposition very clearly.
He said :

M. Garailt refuses his support to the amendment ea
the ground that it is • means of limiting the action of
government in a question which excites the deepest interest
is the country—the Polish question, • means of forcing the
government to maintain peace, when our hon. collaegue
wants war. If it were true that the amendment were
to lead to the consequences alluded to, I should the
more eagerly vote for its adoption. For, however
ardent my sympathy for Poland, there is something more
ardent still, my love and duty towards my country. (Ap-
probation.) I say it without hesitation, and shall sot fail
to state my motives when the moment shall have arrived,
lam resolutely for peace. (Approbation.) This Goon
may be unpopular, but I shall not hesitate to do my duty.
However, I do not believe I have any merit for braving
unpopularity, because I think I am at present expressing
the true sentiments of French democracy. Yes, lam
convinced that in the masa of the nation, which is
generous but intelligent, which loves others, but which
above all lover its own country—(►pplause)—tbs necessity
of the opinion I here express is admitted. (True.) I
may add that in point of fact the question does not stand
as the hon. M. Guiroult has said. The members who have
signed the amendment have pronounced neither for peace
nor war. The government commissioner has just explained,
with perfect lucidity, that no new expense could be incurred
without a vote of the chamber, and that the government,
even with the latitude of issuing 300 millions of treasury
bonds, would not have any greater latitude for entering
upon • war. We must not, therefore, while in-
voking a sentiment supposed to be popular, pro-
pagate financial errors, and, in the name of liberty, in-
troduce theses contrary to our maxima, to the principles of
the constitution. and of true liberty. Ina word, whether
in point of fact or in point of form, the amendment has sot
the meaning M. Guiroult attributes to it. I shall vote for
it, and vote for it the more willingly as it has a pacific sig-
nification. I am certainly not one of those who want peace
at any price, neither am I one of those, on the other hand,
who want war at any price—(approbatioo)—especially when
war exposes my country, and causes its internal liberties to
be postponed. (Approbation.)