Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-02-08 00:00:00

FRANCE

An article in the Presse of this evening expresses
entire
sympathy with the policy of the Imperial
„Reeeh, which it considers firm but conciliatory.
,v)unt Cavour has sent a circular note to the
iljplomatic agents abroad, explaining the motives
for contracting a new loan.

SPEECH OF THE
EMPEROR NAPOLEON.

PARIS, Monday Afternoon

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

Messieurs les Senateurs,
" Messieurs les Deputes,

" France, you are aware, has seen for six years
its welfare advance, its riches increase, its internal
dissensions 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
;riu-.eh has been produced, without any appearance
imminent dangers, might naturally cause sur-
prise, for it testifies at once to too much mistrust
and tee much fear.
"Doubts would seem to have been entertained
not only of the moderation of which I have g:v2n
tz,B°' much proof, but also of the real power of
4,_rftnee• Happily the mass of the people is far
'“1"31 submitting to such impressions.
18 my duty to show to you again that which seems
to have been forgotten.
r " What has constantly been my policy ? To
"Assure Enrope—to give Francs its true rank—
to cement closely our alliance with England--
am to regulate the degree of my friendship with
the continental powers, in conformity with our
own views, and the nature of their proceedings
towards France. It is thus that, on the eve of my
third election, I made at Bordeaux this decla-
ration,
L'Empire c' est la Paix,' wishing
tb° prove thereby that if the heir of the
"2'lllPeror Napoleon ascended the throne, he did
not- commence an era of conquests ; but inaugu-
11.tea a system of peace, which would not be
;,,disturbed but for the defence of great national
-44terests.

To-day it

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
°f statesmen of all opinions. Moreover, to attain
this object, so favourable to the peace of the
"(It'd, I put under my feet, on every occasion, the
irritating recollections of the past, the attacks of
calumny, even the national prejudices of my
cnantry. This alliance has borne its fruits—
t Only have we acquired, together, a lasting
's'.°l7 in the East, but even at the extremitY
of
the world we have been opening an immense
empire to the progress of Civilisation, and the
Christian: religion. Since the conclusion of the
rrace, the cabinet of Vienna and mine, on the con-
ary, I say it with• regret, have often been found
hjarinnee upon the principal questions, and it
required a great spirit of conciliation to
of
e.,ect their solution. For example, the recon-
stitution of the Danubian Principalities
Nevohll;l4, Only be terminated after many difficulties
most
have prevented the full satisfaction of their
legitimate desires, and if it should be asked,
of
co nle what interest France had in those distant
untries washed by the Danube, I should reply
that the interest of France is wherever there is a
Just and civilised cause to promote.
I.ln this state of things, it was not at all extra-
011,i"41arY that France should draw more closely to
edulan.t, which had been so devoted during the
Aar-so faithful to our policy during peace.
E" The happy union of my beloved cousin, Prince
al)°1e011, with the daughter of King Victor
raulanuel, is not then one of those unusual facts
for Which it is necessary to seek a hidden reason,
but naturally arises from that community of in-
terest of the two countries and the friendship of
the two sovereigns.
" For some time past the state of Italy and its
abnormal situation, which ,makes it impossible to
maintain order except with the aid of foreign
troops has justly alarmed diplomacy. It is not,
however,cr, a sufficient motive for believing in war.
e n'est pas neanmoins un motif sujisant de croire
a quarre.
"While some call for it with all their hearts
Without legitimate reason, and others in the ex-
aggeration of their fears, like to show France the
angers of a 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."

War. Stoyle as Simon Sly and Clown,
with songs, on
ednesday next.