The Express.
London, England, 1849-03-22 00:00:00

FRANCE.

PARIS. WIDNESDAT, 8 P.M..

After the departure of my despatches of list night
the Assembly recorded a most important vote. The
clubs are interdicted. This decision was made at a
late hour last evening by a majority of 378 to 359.1
This majority is small, but not the less decisive.
The question kis now assumed a new aspect. By the
project originally proposed by the government, the
clubs would have been simply interdicted ; but as
no definition of the term " club' was i eluded in the
project, all public meetings whatever might thus
hue ken understood to have been forbidden. To
meet this objection, an amendment was proposed,
in which the government acquiesced, dee'artog that
caolonal public meetings held for determinate poli-
tical purposes, such as to petition the legislature, or
to discus particular grievances, should not be held to
be clubs within the meaning of the law. The vote of
last nigho, however, was confined to the simple inter-
diction of the clubP. _ _

Much mu °einem, has been creates by the course
taken by the more violent section of the Assembly,
consisting of the party of the Mountain, in reference
to the vote of yesterday declarirg the interdiction of
the clubs. Tat party now effa et. to take to share
in the proceedings of the Assembly, having declined
to vote in the first division tc-day, on the second pert
of tke project.
Having thus abdicated their functions as represen-
tatives, it is feared Viet some violent proceedings out-
side the Assembly may be contemplated.
Another slight fall took place at the Bonne to-day,
the Fives awing at 8223, and the Threes at 5210.
In the National Assembly to-day the debate on the
clause of the law for the suppression of the clubs, ex-
planatory of the term " club," was taken. M. Cre-
misax, the reporter of the committee, stated that the
vote of yesterday declaring the interdiction of the
clubs was, in the judgment of the majority of the
committee, a violation of the constitution, and that in
coexquenos of it the majority of the committee
withdrew their project, and had decided to take
no part in the debate as members of the com-
mittee. The explanatory clause proposed was,
that " public and political meetings not permanent,
and which should take place for a special obj. et,
should not be considered as clubs." On this clause a
rote was taken, when only 422 members were found
to have voted. The president then declared that, 500
members not having voted, a new vote must be had.
On the second vote 402 only voted, and a new vote
par omit nominal was ailed for. On this impel
several members were silent. Great agitation prevailed
in the Assembly, but several members who had not
voted in the earlier votes answered to their names,
amongst whom we observed MM. Cavaignac,
Pagnerre, Marrast, and Cremieux. The result of the'
last vote was 464 for and 150 against the clause,
winch was accordingly adopted. A vote was then
takes on the ensemble of the article, which showed
404 for and 303 against it, and the ensemble of
the article was therefoee declated to be adopted.
M. Duceux interrupted the proceedings of the As-
sembly "to signalise a serious danger which threat-
sued the republic." He then produced and read two
circulars emanating from an electoral committee in
the Rue Faubourg St. Honore, which could not, be
emtended, be acting without the knowledge. of go-
"men_ t, if it were not formed under its auspices.
there re circulars quired the electors to demand of
„_ n
Madidates " absolute devotion to the Bonaparte
finial, the only one worthy to reign in France, and to
take for programme theme words, " Empire eleclif el
!freamial." M. 0. Barret declared " That he was
ignorant, until that moment, of the existence of both
tins committee and the circulars. No electoral
Meamittee was authorised or acted in connexion
with the government, and the honourable member
eight to have given notice to the govern-
ment of the facts, and tot, by making them
ithjetta of intcrpellation, create a scandal in the As-
sembly. The government well do its duty against
eveff violation of the constitution."
The debate on the law spinet clubs was then con-
tkeed, and was proceeding when oar reporter closed
his despatches.
Since the above was written I learn that a meeting