The Express.
London, England, 1851-08-26 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY

resolutions of the councils in their annual meeting%
upos-great controverted questions, have been looked
forward to with interest as one of the legitimate
channels for the expression of public opinion.
lint the law which had slept has been re-
' viral by the present government under circumstances
whibh must inevitably weaken the moral effect of
any declarations now to be made by the councils on
so manifestly a general political auhjeet as the revi-
sion of the constitution. The council of arrondiese-

ment of Limoges had recorded their desire "that the
constitution might for the future receive its entire
execution, and that the laws contrary to the consti-
tntion, more especially those relating to the right of
prablic meeting and to the liberty of the press, might
Ile repealed or modified." The decree of the Presi-
dent of the Republic declaring the above resolution
nsill and void professes toproceed upon threegronnds.
Pleat, that the resolution is illegal; secondly, that
it is insulting to the great powers of the state; and,
thirdly, that it is an attack upon the rights of the
National Assembly. Had this decree been based
upon the two latter reasons only, and had those two
reasons been a sufficient legal foundation for it, the
propriety of the decree would be incontestable. Be-
cause, although it is the opinion of large numbers of
persons that unconstitutional laws have been passed
by the Assembly, it is impossible that the Assembly
should recognise any other interpreter of the consti-
tution than itself. But, in point of fact, those two
reasons are mere surplusage, and the true effective
basis of the decree is the first reason, namely, that'
the resolution is illegal. In order to show its
illegality, the decree refers to the above-
mentioned law of June, 1833, and the il-
legality there specified, as a ground for an-
nulling a deliberation, is not the treating of any
question in a censurable manner, but it is the enter-
taining of a question beyond the attributes of the I
council. This enforcement of a law which had nearly
become obsolete, has attracted public attention to the
true nature of its provisions. There can be little
doubt that such of the councils-general us may not
be desirous of sharing in the revision movement at
the present time will excuse themselves from discus
sing the subject, on the ground of impotency. It is
not to be expected that any of them will vote affirma-
tively for the maintenance of the constitution; first,
because the opinion that the constitution is really
defective is very general, even among those who
think it inopportune to moot the question of revision
at present; and, secondly, because the influence of
the prefects in the councils is very great.
M. Marie, the eminent advocate, who was a mem-
ber of the provisional government, has published a
pamphlet addressed to the councils-generul, insisting
strongly both on the illegality and the impolicy of
their occupying themselves with the question.
The absence of M. Magne. the Minister of Public
Works, from Paris is occasioned by something more
than the desire for a holiday. lie has gone to
examine with his own eyes the immense net-work of
railways in Germany, by the aid of which, at no
distant time, a direct line will be open from Trieste
to Ostend. This prospect occasions no little uneasi-
ness in France. It is a subject for frequent lamenta-
tion among the French, that, while they lose time in
framing and discussing reports, English capital is
completing a rival line. The feeling is so strong on
the subject that in spite of all financial difficulties
some strenuous measures for finishing the line to
Marseilles will probably be taken before long.
The government steamer Ariel has captured fifteen
English fishing sloops accused of transgressing the
rules of the oyster fishery off Cape La Hague. The
sloops were brought into Dieppe the day before
,yesterday.
The examination of witnesses at the Lyons trial
is over, and the speeches begin to-day. It is thought
that judgment will be pronounced about Thursday
next. It is reported in Paris this evening tlmt the
secretary of M. Creinieux has been arrested at Lyons.
The funds again fell slightly to-day. The Five
per Cents. fell 15e., chasing at 9.3.30; and the Three
per Cents., lie., clueing at 07.1