The Express.
London, England, 1851-05-20 00:00:00

FRANCE.

MoNDAy EVISNITIO.
There took place yesterday at Leinardelay's a ge-
neral meeting of the representatives of the Left, tbr
the purpose of coining to a resolution regarding tho
revision of the constitution. The chair was taken by
General Leydet, as president doge. The following
resolution was adopted unanimously :
The members of the republican and democratic opposition
met in general assembly. In presence of the law of 31st
May, which supprsviam more than three millions of electors,
and substitutes restricted suffrage for universal suffrage ; in
• presence of the acts which have struck the rights and tho
liberties of the people; considering that all the plans of re-
vision which are produced under actual circumstances :dm
evidently not at the amelioration of the constitution, but at
the subversion of the republic—arc unanimously of opinion
that every project of revision ought to be Oct wade.
The meeting then adjourned.
This meeting of the Left yesterday at Lemardelay's
did not number more than 12.5, the moderate re-
publicans having abstained. For this reason neither
the Ecenenirnt nor any other newspaper of their
party has mentioned the number of representatives
which attended, as this was not enough to prevent
the revision of the constitution--tt circumstance
which robs their resolution of its chief importance.
It is of importance to understand clearly the nature
of the resolution adopted by the legitinust party on
Saturday night. The motion carried in the Itue de
Itivoli was, that the Assembly should be ins ited
to express a wish for the total revision of
the constitution ; total revision admitting, according
to the legitimists, the restoration of the traditional
monarchy. The question as to the date of the meet-
ing of the new Constituent, as you will see from the
report which I sent yesterday, has been reserved.
The rejection of Alfred Netternent's motion for fixing
the date of the assembly of revision for May merely
implied that the time had not arrived for settling that
question, which it is agreed to defer until the third
reading of the bill for proceeding to the revision.
In the meantime the legitimists have determined to
organise, allover France, avast petitionary mot ement;
and, in order that there may be no ambiguity about
the drift of the signers, the petitioners are directed to
pray the Legislative Assembly not only to take into
discussion the total revision, but to express the wish
that the future Constituent may proclaim the return
of France to the traditional principle of the heredi-
i tary monarchy. Thus there will be no danger
of confounding the legitimist petitions with
I those of the thmapartist or Orleunist parties.
This vote has once for all settled the long agitated
question whether any fraction of the legitimists
would espouse the prolongation of the I'resident's
powers. The whole party has taken a formal en-
gagement to work might and main together for the
restoration of the legitimate monarchy in 1852. This
is equivalent to a declaration of war against the pre-
! sent executive power, which is resolved not to abdi-
cate until forced by some irresistible expression of
the national will. The Orlennists are greatly cha-
grined by this uncompromising resolution of the le-
gitimists, as they regard it Dot only as a dangerous
provocation to .Louis Napoleon, but as a premature
propaganda for the elder monarchy, which tends to
drive the Orleans country party, for self-preservation,
to the banner of the President.

The Conatitutionnel contains a long article by M.
Granier do Cassagnac against the law of May ; but
ho admits the Assembly could not abrogate the law
without abdicating, and therefore must prolong tho
President's power in order to meet the war declared
by the socialists. in ease tho law be maintained.
I tindershxd that M. Thiers has so little hesita-
tion in expressing himself publicly in favour of the
rep.nblie, that in answering a cleputatigiitshiah,
Waded on him the other day from a woßat &We •
-Al\
Aj.
•
"1:1 j

4;

I