The Express.
London, England, 1859-02-07 00:00:00

SPEECH

OP THB
EMPEROR NAPOLEON.

(THIS DAY).

(BT IC 'MARINE LSD aIIITIIIII TELPOI•ti.)

(nom ova OWN col

PARIS, MONDAY AITZLNOON.

The Emperor Napoleon opened the session of
the Legislative Chambers this afternoon, when he
delivered a speech, of which the following is the
chief portion :

" MESSIELBS LES SENATEURS,
" MESSIEULS LES DEPUTES.

" France, you are aware, has seen for six years its
welfare advance, its riches increase, its internal dis-
sensions extinguished, its prestige raised ; yet there
arises at intervals in the midst of the general
calm and prosperity a vague inquietude, an agita-
tion which, without any well-defined cause, carries
away certain spirits and affects public confidence.
I deplore these periodical discouragements without
being astonished at them. In a society which has been
so convulsed by so many revolutions, time alone can
strengthen convictions, invigorate character, and
create political faith. The emotion which has been pro-
duced, without any appearance of imminent dangers,
might naturally cause surprise, for it testifies at
once to too mush mistrust and too much fear.

" Doubts would seem to have been entertained not
only of the moderation of which I have given so much
proof, but also of the real power of France. Happily the
mass of the people is far from submitting to such im-
pressions. To-day it is my duty to show to you
again that which seems to have been forgotten.
" What has constantly been my policy? To m-
aims Europe—to give France its true rank—to
cement closely oar alliance with England—
and to regulate the degree of my friend-
ship Lwith the continental powers, in con-
formity with our own views, and the nature of
their proceedings towards France. It is thee
that, on the eve of my third election,
I made at Bordeaux this declaration, L'Empire
e'set la Pais,' wishing to prove thereby that if the
heir of the Emperor Napoleon ascended the Throne,
he did not commence an era of conquests ; but inau-
gurated a system of peace, which would not be dis-
turbed but for theldefence of great national interests.
" As to the alliance of France and England, I
have exerted all my perseverance to consolidate it,
and I have found on the other side of the Channel
a happy reciprocity of sentiment on the part of the
Queen of Great Britain as well as on the part of
statesmen of all opinions. Moreover to attain
this object, so favourable to the peace
of the world, I put under my feet on every occasion,
the irritating recollections of the past, the attacks of
calumny, even the national prejudices of my country.
This alliance has borne its fruits—not only
have we acquired, together, a lasting glory
In the East, but even at the extremity
of the world we have been opening an immense
empire to the program' of Civilisation and the
Christian religion. Since the conclusion of the
peace the cabinet of
.Vienna and mine, on
the contrary, I say it with regret, have
often been found at variance upon the principal ques-
tions, and:it has required a great spirit of con-
ciliation to effect their solution. For example
the reconstitution of the Danubian Principalities
could only be terminated after many difficulties
which have prevented the full satisfaction of
their most legitimate desires, and if it should be
salted of me what interest France had in those
distant countries washed by the Danube,
I should reply that the interest of France is
wherever there is a just and civilised cause to
promote.

"In this state of things, it WU not at all extra-
ordinary that France should draw more closely to
Piedmont, which had been so devoted during
the war—so faithful to our policy during peace.
"The happy union of my beloved cousin,PrinceNapo-
It on, with the daughter of Ring Victor Emmanuel, is
not then one of those unusual facts for
which it is necessary to seek • hidden reason.
but naturally arises from that community of interest
of the two countries and the friendship of the two
sovereigns.

" For some time pest the state of Italy and its
abnormal situation, which makes it impassible to
maintain order except with the aid of foreign troops
has justly alarmed diplomacy. It is not however
a sufficient motive for believing in war. (Co West
pas neannso ins an motif saffisant de croire a le
guerre.

" While some call for it with all their hearts with-
out legitimate reason, and others in the exaggera-
tion of their fears, like to show France
the dangers of n new coalition, I shall remain
firmly in the path of law, of justice, and of national
honour, and my government will neither permit
itself to be led away or intimidated."