The Express.
London, England, 1850-02-18 00:00:00

FRANCE.

PARIS, SATCILDAT, MILT PAST 5, rid.
The opinion of the democratic party on the new
military organization of France which has been com-
pleted today by a decree in the Moniteur, and the
causes to which they refer this proceeding of the exe-
cutive, are ably expounded this morning in the
National. This journal remarks that the concentra-
tion of all military power into the hands of four or
five generals is a resuscitation of the system of the
great captaincies which the revolution of 'B9 had
' abolished. This system is clearly unconstitutional,
inasmuch as the charter of last year says in its 103rd
clause that the constitution of the army will be regu-
lated by a law. Now uno law has yet been passed
on the subject, the course now adopted is unconstitn-
tionaL The legislation at present in vigour
has constituted seventeen military divisions, and
it ought not to be in the power of the
executive alone to create a change. The results
of the measure are most serious because a force which
was formerly divided into many fraotions—say 17—
is now eentralised into the hands of four or five, a
number mach more easy to wield from the centre
than the larger one.
"In oae word," says the National, "it might not
be easy to find seventeen chiefs lof divisions ready to
stake their heads at the ministerial beck ; b2t these
game officers, being placed under the orders of four
or five devoted generals, might be pliant, and forget
their paramount duty. Such is the danger created
by the decree of the 12th of January."

A decree already referred to completed the frame
of great commands into which France is low divided.
It is dated the 13th ine., and appoints General Marey
Menge to the command of the 13th military division
(Clermont-Ferrand), be being replaced in the 9 h
division (Perpignan) by General Hecquet. who already
commands the 12th division. General Thierry, who
commanded the 13th division, is, by this decree, placed
en thiponibiliti.
Whilst the executive are taking theme decidel
measures against disaffection, they continue their
rigour against the democratic rem The nix dm
Pimple is seized almost every day, but it computes
that with all these seizures it may live yet three
weeks. "Yesterday," says the National, adopting
the same tone, "a seizure, today a conviction, but
to-morrow . . . Do the seizures and convictions
of the press guarantee any liberticide government
against a terrible morrow?"
What this language conceals beneath must be left
to be surmised. But a crisis must be near, when we
see threats on one side and preparations for &feace on
the other.

Up to the last moment the qucetions that had b:•en
fixed for debate relative to the military ao-,.nra, de
had not been put, the attention of the thamber
having been confined to a motion of MM. Nadetd
Morellet, sad others relative to the formation of aver
elation for public works. This question had born
debated after post hour yesterday, and led to a speech
from M. Fincher, in which that kentleman

---
Maintained that the associations propneed were not lilts
those religious anal of former times, which had effcc-cd
such wonders in Europe by their efforts to tmward the pro-
gress of science. The workmen's associations had commenced
amine, but had Moony failed. (Denial on the let) Bone
rare instances of partial success had been wit hsssed, but they
were eaceptioaa. It was most difficult to IlriZ3 the rerise
object of the present propoetion. The authors of It had
stated In the tribune that they desired to seplreas Alt inset.-
mediate parties between workmen and employers. But they
had not stated the precise means of effecting that end. Th.
employer, be it borne in mind, was capital, inti lligesos,
production. (Murmurs on the left.) Suppress all that, and