The Express.
London, England, 1862-02-18 00:00:00

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

ADDRESS OF THE SENATE TO THE

EMPEROR.

(IRON OUR OWN 001

PARIS. MONDAY Bynum.
The Senate met this afternoon, and the following
draft of an address to the Emperor was read by the
President, M. Troplong
Sire,—The session opens under auspices generally favour.
able, which call for our congratulations. The words pro-
nounced from the throne contain precious guerantees for
peace with foreign nations, for the stability of our institu-
tions, and for economy in the public expenditure.

After the memorable reform accomplished only a few
day. ago under the intinenco of your initiative, the task
of the legidatnre of 1862 is clearly traced out ; it is called
upon to oomplste the scnatus ronstaturn of December 28,
by consequential laws, mod to show that the constitution of
1852 is second to none other in the powerol securing to the
country a control over the budget, and justice in taxation.
In other times, taxes incompatible with the principles of
property, equality, and civil liberty, ydeped income tax,
or progressive tax, have raised their heads amidst the storms
of liberty.

Such errors aro nolonger to be feared ; they aro foreign
to the spirit of your government, the character of our in-
stitutions, and the interests of the public fortune.
Nevertheless, And in spite of thetas satiafsctory symptoms,
circumstances over which France has no control have
checked the hitherto onward march of her indostrisl and
commercial movement.

The civil war which divided America has reacted upon
our market' and manufactures, and a portion of the workbag
clans is afflicted by sufferings the end of which is not yet.
Your government, sire, ban shown anxiety about this state
of things, and the Senate cannot be indifferent on the sub.
jest. The Senate agrees with your Majesty that the friendly
relations of France with the United States dictated to the
French cabinet a policy of neutrality in regard to the sub.
feet-matter of this lamentable different,. ; and it also thinks
that the struggle is likely to be of shorter duration if it
shall not be complicated by foreign interference.
But, at the sane time, the Senate has noticed your active
vigilance in the internal measures taken to prevent our
working man from suffering too great injury by the want of
employment. From communications made by the minis-
ters without portfolios, we learn that wherever necessity
requires profitable public works have been undertaken, and
that a very large expenditure, devoted it priori to the gene-
ral interest, will at the same time afford succour to those
who are in distress'. And, moreover, private charity, ever
so ingenious in its efforts, will, in its own way, second the
administration. There is, therefore, every reason to hope
that this crisis will be got over with the least possible ill,
and, at all e►ents, with orstrage and resignation. Mors than
one augury of this has already bees given us by the good
feeling of the population. The deficient harvest
found the people confident in the Emperor ; instead of those
complaints which are usually made in trying times, the
people has raised its voice ill 6140811t11 of gratitude to the
prince who watches over them.
This is a very sweet consolation to your Majesty's heart.
You, the chief of a dynasty emanating from the suffrage of
the nation, are strong in and by the affection of the people,
and that affection, far from being weakened by trials,
derives new strength from them.
It is to this natio•al sentiment that we appeal to lighten
your Majesty's regret at the necessity under which you are
laid to propose those financial changes, which must in many
instances lead to an increase of taxation.

On the one hand, your Majesty hopes that such of theme
augmentations as affect the most numerous clown will only
be temporary. Expenses destined to complete our pest
lines of communication have no permanent character, and
the taxes required to meet them can only bo called for so
long as may be justified by the public interest.
On the other hand, the augmentation of revenue which

must infallibly remit from ibis expenditure will facilitate
the Emperor's intention to put an end to these sacrifloce,
which will be convected into amelioration.

The Emperor will thus be enabled to throw down a
happy defiance to that old opinion, too often justified
before this time, that when once a to is imposed in France,
it can never be got rid of. And the people will see no
cause to repent of having paid its tribute to those immense
enterprises which honour France and benefit all dames.
Then are other expenses annually going on, which,
though lees vest, attract attention In the most remote
localities. After having spent in two yens more than
13 millions for edifices devoted to public worship; after
having, in 1839, raised the dotation of vicinal roads to
nearly 89 millions, the administration does not yet think
its task finished; it calculates what yet remains to be
done, and is preparing for the coming exercise to pat forth
all the more activity in ooesequence of the industrial and
commensal crone, which calls for more employment of
labour.
We =not too much encourage the government in this
coarse. It will be seconded by the enlightened co-opera-
tions of the otxuseils.generaL For these assemblies never
at any time used the double authority conferred upon them
with more intelligence than now ; and the Senate is happy
to take this opportunity to compliment that institution—
one of the bent of our administrative regime.
While maintaining the vital parts of the old municipali-
ties, the councils;-general here banished their narrow.
minded routine. They have inspired themselves with those
large views of the oentralising spirit which have contributed
in Frames to so many grand and durable creations. It is in
part owing to their waistline.° that the provinces have
shown homogeneity, and that from the chief town to the
extremities of every department progress has gone on with
order and regularity.
In the midst of so many things which follow that path, it
is desirable that Algeria should participate with equal
vigour in the general impetus. Without doubt prosperity
is far from being stationary, and every year increases the
ansount of it. Roads are opened ; ports are improved ; •
rainy will soon be in operation ; drainage is being effected,
and internal security is complete.
Ooloeisation, however, is of slow growth ; aepitel is re-
luctant to show Smelt ; end private enterprises do not nom-

pete to the requisite extent with those of the state.
Doubtkas, if the government of Algeria were aided by
more stability in the institution', it would extract from
. .

the system of decentmlisation which it has boon charged to
inaugurate results lees expected sad more numerous.
_ .

Them amaiderationa have struck us, sod we have com.
muoicatei them to your mioister-comminelouers. We have

had the satisfaction of learning from their lips that
a project of constitution for Algeria is being prepared
by order of your Majesty, and that it will be pre-
sented at no distant period. The Senate can but applaud
that design of your government, always animated with
such n lively solicitude for our important colony.
We could wish, also, that the state of our finances might
permit your government to add to the benefits of the
law which is being prepared on literary property
greater encouragement for letters and for fine arts, which,
side by side with the flight truly taken by material
interests, cherish the study of the beautiful and the taste
for intellectual enjoyments. Letters and arts associate
themselves spontaneously with glorious reigns—ell great
things unite. . . . . .

Ia hke manner the members of the educational bodies,
although now tre►ted more liberally than in past times,
deserve the designs of amelioration which engage your
Minister of Public Instruction. The establishment of free-
dom in instruction has but animated their zeal, and the
progress of studies owes to their devotion results worthy
of attention.

Lady, we wish it were poesible to secure for the minis-
trant of religiou, towards whom the hand of your Majesty
yea extended at the commencement of your reign, a treat-
went more in accordance with the duties of their functions.

Whilst abundant private liberality seeks out religious
°aggregations, the parochial clergy remain in their poverty,
under the weight of their labour and of their duties towards
the world. As the Emperor has mid, the church
should render to Cesar the things which are °wears.
But it would be desirable, and the Emperor would experience
gratification thereat, that the faculties of the State might
one day permit him to pant to the worthy priests on whom
repose. more especially the care of souls, whet their mo-
desty does not dare to ask, but what is claimed by their
wants and their dignity. (Movement of approbation.)
Sire, with respect to foreign cabinets, your relations aro
friendly and confident ; among us everything breathes pesos,
everything tends to undertakings at once useful and pro-
ductive, which war oould not but compromise.
This it Is that must have struck the august guests whose
visits have attested their cordiality ; this it is that appears
from all the internal movements in which our activity is dia-
-1
played. France and her chief only require to be nem
ckeely to be judged in their loyal love of concord.
Thu we have only difeculties pending with distant

barbarism, which rebel against the law of ustous. ()Le
land and sea forces have caused China and the extreme AA
to repent.

Mexico, in its turn, will ere long experience the castigation
deserved by its unworthy proceedings. May the expedition
concerted with Spainand England bs energetically i•nale,uted
by the common accord of the three powers, and pr.a.ure
full satisfaction to justice, our countrymen, and nur '-
tined interests.

Noarer home, in that land of Italy delivered by our arms
from the foreign yoke, continues to reign a painful comiezt,
which divides men's min& and disturbs their ounecietiors.

The diplomatic documents communicated on the subject
to the great bodies of the state have proved how legitimate
and seasonable wee the confidence the senate ban plteral in
your Majesty.

Your government, while making allowances for interna-
tional requirements, bas not hat eight of the tuteresta ut
catholicism; and your Majesty has practised with eq.tal
loyalty and prudence the policy openly proclaimed by yen,
end which, in the address of IStil, received from tl,e Sea.-te
so full an adhesion.

You will persist, sire, in your work of protection and can.
ciliation, as we will persevere in our confidence awl renvic•
time. No doubt you feel the regret we deeply experience,
still to meet on the one hand with impulsiveness and nu.
moderate pretensions, on the other with resistance awl
immobility. But your counsels are those of wisdom, and
we must not weary here to repeat in its name that the
greatest undertakings cannot be founded without cslmness
and moderation, and that the justest causes are claina4.4
by extreme refusals, inconsistent with the good management
of human anise.

Sire, your Majesty, who so nobly falai the part of mall•
&tor abroad, has a right to invoke at home the conciliation
of minds. Let the clamours of parties be silant,
then, before the confidence of the nation ; let the policy
of legitimate interests remain victorious over what
still remains of the policy of passions. The first,
which is yours, leads the country from progress to pro-
gress. The second, which has but too much reigned in
past time, could not but weaken and retard us.
It is not the latter which the Senate will ever take as its
guide ; and we will never forget that if liberty is never real
but with independence, it is lasting only when accompanied
with moderation. (Very good, vary good !)
At the Bourse the Reute was very heavy, and
fell 15c., but several of the railways ruse consider-
ably,

THE MEXICAN EXPEDITION.

VERA CRUZ, J. 9.

The squadron under Commodore Dunlop arrived
here with the royal marine force of 700:men, representing
the English contingent in the affair, on the; th of January,
and two days afterwards the French squadron, under Ad-
miral Jurien de la amine, arrived with 2,500 men. We
found on our arrival that the Spaniards, to the amount of
6,000 men, had forestalled us, and, after giving the people of
Vera Cruz 36 hours' notice to vacate the place, had disem•
barked and established a military government in the town.
The fan step of the Spanish general was to insist on being
named president of the town council, which the town
council resisted, and retired from the place, together with
about 7,000 Mexican inhabitants. Before leaving they dis-
mantled Fort San Juan d'Ulloa, leaving only about eight
guns, andivrithdrew all the hones and stock from the place,
and have proceeded with the guns to occupy the panes on
the road to Mexico. They have also driven off all supplies
from the neighbourhood, and indict a penalty on anyone
found supplying the place, so that there is now, so to speak,
no market. The step taken by the Spaniards of disem-
barking before the arrival of the other forces is now owned
by themselves to ben been a false step. The whole cotto-
ns hew been roused, and great opposition is expected on the
march to Mexico. _ _ .

Yesterday, the Bth, General Prim arrived, and, seeing how
matters stood, made a speech to try and disarm the suspicion
of the people by saying be was come on a peaceful mission
to establish order, but with no hostile intentiosa, kr Re
is said, at the same time, to have written to the Captain-
General at Havannah for strong reinforcements, as all up-
pear to agree that the present force is inadequate, seeing the
new turn affairs have taken. Admiral Jurien de la Gravirre
intends accompanying the French force to Mexico.
The English contingent, 700 men, has been sent out with-
out cramp equipage of any kind, or guns for the artillery,
although the commanding officer solicited ft repeatedly
before leaving England. The refusal was with a view to
their not being employed actively, and not taking any part
in the forward movement. Their enviable position appear.
to be to occupy the meet pestilential place in the world,
without any hope of participating in the operations in the
field, and, at the same time, to hear remarks of no very
!lettering character on the degrading position in which they
are placed—the scavengers, as they are termed by the other
two powers. This has produced great dissatisfaction among
them.

The English have not yet landed, ee the Spaniards who
command in the town have only offered them the Convent
of St. Domingo for occupation, which on inspection wee
found to contain coffins with human remain. in a state of

decomposition; and adjoining the convent is • yard of
loathsome character, which baffles description. In one
corner is • deposit of human excrement about five yards
square and leveed feet thick, perfectly open and uncovered,
upon which a cloud of flies have settled, which, on ap.
preaching the horrible compost, rise in such a
dense =as that you can scarce see through them.
It has been wisely determined by the Commodore
not to land the foxes until • more suitable place
Is provided, as • fortnight in inch a charnel•house would
lay them all up with dysentery. The day after to-morro.
• meonnoissime Is to be made in the direction of the ral•

way station, 15 miles on the road to Jalapa. The object of
this move is to secure the railway from being broken up,
and Soda place to encamp the Spanish troops. Several
conferences have already taken place between the admirals
and the generals and Sir Charles Wyke, who is also here
from Mexico. Altogether, this expedition is considered
here to have been too hastily formed, without having had
proper information as to the turn things might take. Tho
Mexicans are in possession of the country a short distance
outside the town, where it would be dangerous to go with•
out proper escort. Their new general is a man who has
not hitherto mixed himself up in public affairs, living
quietly on his property, but on the landing of the Spaniards
ho immediately placed himself at the head of the Mexi•
eras.—T :ma.

Numbers of families are reduced to beggary by
the inundations is the valley of the Danube, their few
cattle or little flocks drowned, their winter seed washed
oat of the ground, their agricultural implements floated
away, and not to be recovered. Many houses and cottages
have also fallen into ruins, the flood having lasted long
enough to sap their foundations, and crumble the ill-
cemented materials of their walls. Among the curious
Amidents of the inundation, it is mentioned that in some
places the water subsided so suddenly that the large Danu-
bian fish were caught and remained on land,end the peasants
went fishing in the fields. An instance is cited of a fish
weighing 4611 m. having been captured in this manner.
Hibernating animals have been disturbed from their winter
sleep, and in a oommunication to an Hungarian paper it is
stated that large snakes were seen making their way over
the fields to escape the advancing wawa.

Cordier," says the Chronipte Artidigue,
"hos just completed for the Empress Eugenie two full-
length statues of Arab women for holding lights. The dra-
peries are in onyx, the naked parts in oxydised silver, and
the ornament& in enamels and precious stones."

M. Edmond About's play of Gaetano was repre-
sented three nights back at the theatre at Dieppe. The
evening passed off very quietly, the only person hiving
having been turned oat.

The Epinanos du Peupk of Nantes relates the
following curious incident, as having taken place in that
town :—" The body of a young man had been deposited
for interment in one of the side chapels of the Church of St.
Laurent, when, while awaiting the arrival of the clergy, the
bier was agitated violently. The coffin was immediately
opened, sad the young man inside was found to have awoke
hem a lethargy of sixty hours. He wu at once removed
to his own house, and is doing well. He has a wife and tiro
children."

-------
The Monde of Path, the ultramontane journal,
says that Spain, which has the happiness of enjoying
ligious unity, " is perfectly right in opposing the introduc-
tion of heresy, which would moaned in weakening her, and
would certainly hinder her from ever again taking that
glorious place among aation; which she forst* °coupled-
Let it be remarked that we do not defend the particular
fact mentioned by the Dibsts ; we only sustain the core
tietaof. right, neither do we pretend to Indicate the kind Pi
Jr/pilgrim then set applicable to tha.pressot circwnstanre.;
we ealy Aka that repression would be legitimate."