The Express.
London, England, 1848-10-09 00:00:00

FRANCE.

PARIS, BASVIDAY, 61 P.N.
The magnificent oration of de Lamartine, de-
livered yesterday in the Assembly, has received to-
duy, as well from the press as from the public, un-
mixed homage ; indeed, it has been responded to
with a burst of enthusiastic edmiratioo, which will
in some degree compensate to the illustrious orator
and poet for the coldness and apparent ingratitude
with which he has been recently treated.
The election of the conncils-general throughout
France has just commenced. The presidents, vice-
presidents, and other super:or officers of these depart-
mental bodies, have always heen regarded as the
surest indices for the expression of the prevailing sen-
timents on political subjects in the various depart-
ments. Of these elections we have received up to this
afternoon the results of only five or six. Ono only,
the department of the north, has returned a presi-
dent, known to be a republican, and this return was ex-
tremely doubtful ; it was only effected by the third
ballot. Be opponent was M. de Hapland, a well
known legitimut, who loot the election only by a small
majority. la the Pas de Calais, an ex-deputy, a conser-
vative, II elected president. The same has taken place
at Ancilkaannd in the Seine Inferieure. But the
most tof the facts to-day reported is the
result the election for the council-general for the
department of the Bure. There it was considered
that the claims of IN. Dupont de Mare. the
Nestor of the Assembly, sad the object of oni-
veal respect, would be predominant, and that
he would have been returned almost unanimously.
Nevertheless the Dike de Broglie, ex-minister of
Louis Philippe, has been returned. Two legitimists
have also bees rearmed as vice-presidents at Angers
and Arras.

The Oeiiunittee of legislation has confirmed to-day
the judgment passed yesterday by the committee
of finance. upon the proposition of MM.
Taro and Proadhon, relative to the esta-
blishment of a sort of paper circulation called
the " fonder." One committee only,
that of agriculture and commerce, approved
the proposition; the other committee, however, in re-
jetting this project, did not intend to condemn in
principle the institution of a mortgage beak. The
proposition of MM. Tura and Prondhon was re-
jected, because it required that the paper should have
a forted circulation.. The Committees of Finance
and Legislation have, on the other hind, approved a
proposition of M. olowski for the organisation of a
mortgage system similar to that of Germany and
Poland. _ _

This tins has many chances of imam in
the Assembly. M. Proudhon is occupied actively
with his project for a bank of the people, of which
the shareers shall be operatives, with a capital of
bar millions. A meeting for this purpose is to take
place to-morrow.
The speech of M. de Lamed's, yesterday, was the
virtual aselosion of the debate on the presidimey.
The universal feeling after itheonidasion was, fiat the
4oestion was practically settled. The debate WM is.
mined to-day amidst a feeling of meallbst 'solitude
and hepatica°e on the part efabs Assembly. On the
amendment of M. Orevy,
but
there should
be no president of the but merely a
seemed of ministers, the Assembly :fled, and the
result was—for the amendment 158 ; against it, 843.
The Amembly then discussed the amendment proposed
by M. Flooon, in favour of the nomioation of the
President by the Assembly. After some discesnies
the Asoembly voted almost unanimously the adoption
of the 41st article of the constitution, to the following
effect : The French people delegates the executive
power to a citizen, who shall receive the title of Pre-
sident of the Republic." The 42d article, referring to
the age of the President was postponed,
and the debate was taken on the 43rd
article, which declares that " the President
shall be named by direct and universal suffrage, by
ballot. and by an absolute majority." 'lO this M.
Leblond proposeu an amendment, requiring that the
election of President be made by the Assembly.
The following is the result of the important vote on
this amendment:—Voters present, 813; foe the
amendment, 211; against it, 802.
SUNDAY, 11 A.M.
The vote of last night, which I was enabled to send
you in a very late despatch was one of vad im-
portance. It was given upon an amend-
ment of M. Lebloode, and before which several
other amendments, including those of MM. Floeon
and Orevy, were withdrawn, on the understanding
that the whole question should be decided on that of
M. Leblonde. By the vote which the chamber
gave it rejected the principle that the President
of the republic shall be elected by the Assembly ;
it still remains to put to the vote the original
article of the constitution which gives to the P
at large the election of the President, bute=
the vote of last evening, this is a mere form, the elec-
tion of the president by universal suffrage is virtually
settled. The chief of the government and the ministry
moved helms and earth to oppose this vote ; they
were left, however, in a minority of 211 against 802,
a moat signal defeat, and one which must, wider any
other cireumrances than the exceptional state which
I now prevails, have been followed by the immediate
retirement of the government.
There are still nearly 80 articles out of 120 to be

decided before the constitution shall be definitively
voted. The poetpcsoment tinnier% of the redden-
tial election mail that shall have best accompludied,
would in the present state Of thing. be a vir-
tual annulment altogedwr of the vote of last.
night. It I. evident that in the present
temper of the country the provisional state cannot
with safety be much. longer prolonged. It is there-
for* probable that the Assembly will hasten through
the remaining articles of the constitution, and that
the PrestdenUal election will then take place. It is
generally supposed that the constitution may be
voted before the close of the present mouth.