The Express.
London, England, 1851-05-27 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, MAY 27, 1851

FRANCE.

PARIS, MONDAT EVEVINO.
An extraordinary sitting of the chib of the Rue
des Pyramidcs will be held this evening, in order to
take into consideration whether it is necessary, ac-
cording to the terms of the I I Ith article of the
constitution, that the motion fur the revision should
specify the sort of revision, partial or total. proposed,
and, in ease of n decision in the affirmative, which
sort of revision should be proposed by the Rue des
Pyramides.
The Coin 11l ittee on Revision has adopted the pro-
positions of MM. Moulin and Morin, and appointed
the former reporter. M. Moulin is in favour of
fixing three months as the interval before the motion
for revision, if rejected, can be brought forward again.
M. Leo de Laborde has addressed a letter to M.
Alfred Nettemeut, in which he describes the nature
of the motion which lie had intended to submit fur
the revision of the constitution, and which was re-
jected by the club of the Rue do ltivoli. The prin-
ciple set forth in his proposition is to return to the
monarchy by universal suffrage.
The Ikfrats, in a long article upon the question of
the day, says that it advocates revision as iv disavowal
and retractution of the revolution of February. It
does not regard the dynastic side of the question, but
the political side. 11%4 it wants is a good republi-
can government, a couple of chambers, and a strong
executive.

The Conseitiff iwsnel has broken silence at length
on the decided declaration of the cabinet in favour
of the law of May; but so far from abating his op-
position on that account, 1)r. Vi!ron attacks the law
with greater vigour than ever:
The law of May, according to him, has been and can only
he a deceitful illusion, a mocking mirage ; and perver.e
minds only could be sorry of its repeal. It is an in-
fernal machine for lighting up civil war all over France.
Yet the ministers adopt this law for their banner. But why
did not DI. Faucher proclaim his flag at once, when he
entered upon office, instead of seizing the occa-
sion of a casual incident of debate to announce
the vital principle of his pulley. But the day would come
wheu the ministry would rue this bravado. Before loog
thin entrpde-t. to would prove a source of embarrassment ;
and enveloped in the folds of its improvised flag, it would
lose its freedom of action in the great debates at hand.
The country would witness with calm contempt the furious
storms that would shake the Assembly, and these violent
passion• would cool down before the disdainful and re.,olute
attitude of France. Then would have been a happy moment
for the ministers to step in between contending parties with
a great conciliatory measure, the repeal of the law of May,
which, far from weakening the executive power, would
attest its confidence an the Republic, which it was called
on to defend, and in universal suffrage its only pacific force
against all parties. Universal suffrage is a benefit, because
it baffles the intrigues of parties. whose manfeuvres are
thereby laid bare. It enabled France to choose Louis
Buonaparte, while the republicans of the reille were push-
ing the interest of Cavaignac. A return to universal suffrage
will disarm rebellion, because it will call off all the chiefs of
the democratic party, who undetermined upon an appeal to
arms, unless the law of Nay be abrogated. Against rebel-
, lion the old governments had no resouree but grapeshot
to-day the pacific and powerful pressure of public opinion,
which finds its full expression in universal suffrage, is the
stronge.t arm of power. Louis Napoleon, perhaps, has not
the address of Louis Philippe in dealing with individuals;
but he has an infinitely greater grasp upon the masses, who
are always moved by his calm and simple words. Univer-
sal suffrage harmonises with his character. The lustre of
his name suits it well. The law of May is thus a double
loss. Mutilated suffrage loses its electric power, and the
President loses his authority and prestige by not thoroughly
carrying out his honest policy.
A procession of twenty members, at the opening
of the Assembly's sitting, deposed petitions for the
revision of the constitution and the abolition of the
law of May. The Assembly then proceeded to pass,
I without any debate of consequence, from the ith to
the 13th articles of the law on the national guard.
The 14th article enumerates the cases of exclusion or
exemption. M. Ilaudin moved an amendment,
sweeping away all the principal restrictions intro-
duced by this article, and obliging all national
guards without distinction to undertake the ordinary)
duty. This amendment was rejected by 923 votes I
' against 193. Then M. Hennequin, in concert with
M. Pascal Duprat and M. Napoleon Bonaparte,
moved an amendment declaring that those citizens,
for whom the ordinary service would be onerous I
should only be dispensed from serving at their own
request. The bill leaves their exclusion to the con-
Reif de recensement. M. Hennequin' in developing
his amendment, sought to bring the discussion back

Ito the ground of Saturday, by repeating the allusion
to the words of Robespierre, which had drawn ap-
plause from the Mountain. Those words contained,
according to him, nothing reprehensible, and it
should he remembered that the Robespierre of the
Constituent was a very different person from the
Robespierre of the Convention. After M. de Itianeey
had opposed the amendment, Jules Film rose to
speak in its support.
The organ of M. Guizot is shocked at the Presi-
dent having nude an application to the Roman
government in favour of Charles Bonaparte, Prince
of Canino, in order that he may be permitted to visit
Rome for a fortnight for the settlement of his family
affairs, and the removal of his wife. The President
is scolded for not treating his cousin with the same
rigour which met with the applaus
me of the parlia-
ent when he closed to the Prince of Canino the
doors of France.

To-day General Foret reviewed, in the court of the
Tuileries, the battalion of the 7th Chasseurs vbich
is destined to juin the army of occupation at Rome.
It will arrive at its destination about the Inch of
June.

The funds were rather weaker to-day. The Fives
fell 30 centimes, and closed at 90-20. The Threes
eluded at with a fall of lac.

SPAIN.

The Expowt, organ of Queen Christina, eontains a
violent attack upon Lord Palmerston, taking for its
text a letter of congratulation alleged to have been
addressed be Sir U. 11. Seymour to the Duke de
Saldanlut at Oporto. The fetter in question is said
to have been sent by the British war steamer Italia-
lss, which returned to Lisbon with an aide-de-ramp
of Saldanku. Sir U. It. Seymour is accused in this
article of playing at. Lisbon the same game as Sir
IL Bulwer at Madrid.

MADRID, MAv 21.
Fresh distnrbances have taken pluce to-day in the
University. The students unpaved the court to pro-
vide themselves with missiles against the police.
An officer with troops of the line having been sent
to reduce them to order, assured the students that
those who had been arrested yesterday shoeld be
treated with all possible respect. Upon this the
youths were pacified; still it was expected that fresh
riots would break out no the morrow; and groups of
students were seen gathering in a state of much
excitement in the principal streets.