The Express.
London, England, 1867-02-15 00:00:00

SPEECH OF THE EMPEROR.

[The following appeared in a Second Edition of yester-
day's ILepTa

(IZUTEWS TELEGRAM.

PARIS, Fro. 14.

The French Chambers were opened to-day by
the Emperor in person, who delivered a speech, of
which the following is the translation :
" MIASIEVILS LES SRNATEVILS,
" MiSSISLI3B LEN DEPUTES,

" Since your last session serious events have
arisen in Europe. Although they may have asto-
nished the world by their rapidity as by the impor-
tance of their results, it appears that, according to
the anticipations of the Emperor, there was &fatality
in their fulfilment. Napoleon said at St. Helena :
' One of my great ideas has been the ag-
glomeration and concentration of the same
nations, geographically considered, who have
been cattered piecemeal by revolutions and
policy. This agglomeration will take place
sooner or later by the force of circumstances.
This impulse is given, and I do not think that
after my fall and the disappearance of my system
there will be any other great equilibrium possible
than the agglomeration and confederation of great
nations.'

" The transformations that have taken place in
Italy and Germany pave the way for the realise-1
tion of this vast programme of the union of the
European states in one sole confederation. The
spectacle of the efforts made by the neighbour-
ing nations to assemble their members, scattered
abroad for se,. many centuries, cannot cause
disquiet to a country like ours, all the
parts of which are irrevocably bound up
with each other, and form a homogeneous and in-
destructible body. We have been impartial wit-
Wefts of the struggle which has been waged on
the other side of the Rhine. In presence of
this conflict the country strongly manifested its
wish to keep aloof from it. Not only did I defer
to this wish, but I used every effort to hasten
the conclusion of peace. 1 did not arm a single
additional soldier-1 did not move forward a single
regiment ; and yet the voice of France had
influence to arrest the conqueror at the
gates of Vienna. Our mediation effected an ar-
rangement between the belligerents, which leaving
to Prussia the fruit of her successes, maintained
the integrity of the Austrian territory with the
exception of a single province, and by the cession
of Venetia completed Italian independence. Our
action has been exercised, therefore, with the view
of justice and conciliation. France has not drawn
the sword, because her honour was nut at stake, and
because she had observed a strict neutrality. In
another part of the globe we have been obliged to
employ force to redress legitimate grievances, and
we have endeavoured to raise an ancient empire.
The happy results at tint obtained were com-
promised by an inauspicious concurrence of cir-
cumstances.

"The guiding idea of the Mexican expedition
was an elevated one. To regenerate a people,
and implant among them ideas of order and
progress ; to open vast outlets to our com-
merce, and leave the recollection of ser-
vices rendered to civilisation to mark our
path—such was my desire and yours. But as
soon as the extent of our sacrifices ap-
peared to me to exceed the interests which
had called us across the ocean, I spontaneously
determined upon the recall of our army corps.l
The government of the Belted States compre-
hended that want of conciliation would only have
prolonged the occupation and embittered rela-
tions, which for the welfare of both countries
should remain friendly. In the East troubles
have arisen, but the great Powers are acting in
concert to bring about a state of things which may
satisfy the legitimate wishes of the Christian
populations, reserve the rights of the Sultan,'
and prevent dangerous complications. At
Rome we have faithfully executed the convention
of the 15th of September. The government of
the Holy Father has entered into a fresh
phase. Left to itself it maintains itself
by its roper strength, by the veneration
' which is felt by all towards the head
of the catholic church, and the surveillance
loyally exercised upon his frontiers by the Italian
government. But if demagogic conspiracies should
audaciously seek to threaten the temporal Power
of the Holy See, Europe, I do notdoubt,
would not permit the accomplishment of an event
which would cause such great perturbation in the
catholic world.

" I have only to congratulate myself upon my re-
lations with foreign Powers. Our connexion with
England becomes daily more intimate by the simi-
litude of our policy and the multiplicity of our
commercial relations. Prussia seeks to avoid
ever7thing which might arouse our national sus-
ceptibilities, and agrees with ua upon the chief
European questions. Russia, inspired by concilia-
tory intentions, is not disposed to separate her
policy in the East from that of France. The same
is the case with the empire of Austria, the great-
ness of which is indispensable to the general
equilibrium. A recent commercial treaty has created
new ties between the two countries. Lastly,
Spain and Italy are upon terms of sincere agree-
ment with us.

" Thus, therefore, nothing in present circum-
stances need arouse our uneasiness, and I enter-
tain the firm conviction that peace will not be
disturbed.

" Assured of the present, and trusting in the
future, I have thought the time had arrived
to develop our institutions. You have ex-
pressed your wishes to me every year
that this should be effected, but being justly
convinced that progress can only be accom-
plished by complete harmony between the
powers, you had placed in my hands—and I
thank you for your confidence—the privi-
lege of deciding upon the moment when I
might think the realisation of your desires
possible, now, after fifteen years of calm and
prosperity, due to our common efforts and to
your profound devotion to the institutions of
the empire, it has appeared to me that the
time had come to adopt the liberal measures which
lay in the minds of the Senateand the aspirations of
the Corps Legislatif. I respond to your expecta-
tions, and without departing from the constitu-
tion, I propose to you laws which offer new
guarantees for political liberty.
justice
The nation, which does to my efforts,
and which again recently in Lorraine gave such
touching proofs of its attachment to my dynasty,
will make a wise use of these new rights.
Juatly jealous of its repose anti its;
prosperity, it will continue to disdain the
dangerous Utopias and excitements of parties.
For you, gentlemen, the immense majority of
whom have constantly sustained my courage in the
always difficult task of governing a people, you
will continue to be with me the faithful guardians
of the true interests and the veritable greatness of
the country.
" These interests impose upon us obligations
we shall know how to fulfil. France is re-
spected abroad. The army has displayed
its valour, but the conditions of war being
changed, require the increase of our defensive
forces, and we must organise ourselves in such a
manner as to be invulnerable. The bill upon this
subject, which has been studied with the greatest
care, lightens the burden of the conscrip-
tion in time of peace, offers considerable
resources in time of war, and redistributing
burdens between all in a fair proportion,thus satis-
fies the principles of equality. It possesses all the