The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-02-18 00:00:00

OPENING OF THE FRENCH LEGISLA-

TIVE CHAMBERS.

THE EMPEROR'S SPEECH

In our'palication of yesterday we gave a brief
telegraphic report of the opening of the French
Legislative Chambers on Monday. We are now
in possession of full details, and proceed to give
the Emperor's speech in. extenso.
The Emperor having taken his seat on the throne
in the Salle des Marechaus, with Prince Jerome on
his right and Prince Napoleon on his left, addressed
the assembled Senate and Legislative body as
follows :

GENTLEMEN, SENATORS, AND GENTLEMEN DFPUTIES,
Last year my opening speech concluded with an
invocation to Divine protection—l prayed to Him to
direct our efforts in the way most conducive to the
interests of humanity, and of civilization. That prayer
seems to have been heard.
Peace has been signed, and the difficulties of detail
Which the execution of the treaty of Paris led to, have
been happily overcome.
The struggle entered into between the King of
Prussia and the H lvetic Confeieration has lost every-
thing of a hostile character, and we may be permitted
speedily to look for a favourable so'ution.
The understanding re-established between the three
protecting powers of Greece renders unnecessary for the
future any prolonged occupation of the Pit mus by the
English and French troops.
If an unfortunate disagreement, hat arisen with respect
to the affairs of Naples, it must be attributed to the
ee%ire which animates the Government of Queen Vic-
tuia, equally with my own, to act everywhere in favour
of humanity and civilization.
Now that the best understanding exists among all the
great Powers, it is our duty seriously to look to the
regulation and development of the internal strength and,
resources of the nation. We Must struggle against the
evils from which a progressive society is not exempt.
It must certainly be admitted, _that civilization.
although its object is the moral amelioration and
material vrbll-being of the greatest number, proceeds
like the march of an army. Its victories are not
achieved without sacrifices and victims. That rapid
progress which facilitates communications and opens
n'w channels to commerce, displaces and throws back
these interests and those countries which are still

sieprived of them. Those useful machines which multiply
the products of manual labour, at first take the place
of the latter, and leave for 'the time nianir hands
• unemployed. Those mines whisb throw into the
circulation of the world an amount of money hitherto
unimagined—this increase of the public fortime,
which multiplies cOrsumplion ten fold, tends to make
the value of all things vary and rise. That inexhaustible
aonrce:of wealth evlsich is called credit. produces wonders,
and, nevertheless, speculation pushed beyond due limits
brings it the ruin of many individuals. Hence
arises, .the necessity, without obstructing progress, of
iotning to the assistance of those who are anabl3 to follow
its accelerated speed.
It was necessary to stimn'aSe some and to moderate
others—to sustain the activity of this society in France
which, out of breath, anxious, exigeant, looks to govern
ment for everything, and which must nevertheless'he
met by hying down the limits of what is possible, and
by the calculations of reason.
To enlighten and to direct—that is our duty.
It might be admitted that the country is prosperous;
for, notwithstanding the war and the famine, advancement
has not lagged. The revenue from the indirect
schich.is an unerring sign of the public wealth—exceeded,
in 1856, by fifty millions of franc', the amount of 1855,
although that was exceptional, Not reckoning the new
tales, these revenues have inontareourly increased since
the re-establishment of the empire, to the amount of 210
millions (francs). 'Among a portion of the people, however,
great misery prevails; and unless Providence shall send us
- a good harvest, the millions given by private charity and
by the Gsvernrnent will be but feeble palliatives.
Let us redouble oar exertions to remedy evils beyond
human foresight., Several departments have this year been
desolated by the scourge of inundation. Everything gives
rne reason to hope that Snience will succeed in overcoming
Nature. I make it a point of honour that, in France, the
rivers, like the revolution, should retire within their courses,
rid he in future unable to leave them.
. . Another unenaitiess, not less grave, is to be found' in
public opinion. When a crisis arises, there is no end of the
false rumours and the false doctrines which are propagated
by ignorance and ill-will. This has lately gone even so far
as to disquiet the national industry, as if it were possible
for the goverment to desire anything save the develop.
meet of its nresaeritv. It is th.r.r.ro the duty of good
citizens to spread every where the wise doctrines of political
economy, and above all,-to fortify those vacillating spirits
which, I will not ray at the first breath of had fortune, but
at the least cessation of prosperity, sow discouragement,
and increase the general anxiety by their imaginary
alarms,
xd meet the various requirements of the country in its
ketual position, 1 have resolved to reduce the expenditure,
without suspending any of the great works or displacing
eqahlished interests ; and to diminish certain taxes .
without weakening the finances of the State. The budget
for 1858 will he presented to you with its balanced debtor
and creditor side. All the estimated expenditure will be
therein set forth. The produce of the loans will suffice to
defray the expensss of the war.
The service of all the government departments may be
provided for without having recourse anew to public
cred:t.
The army and navy estimates have been reduced within
jusi limits, and so as to preserve the frames of the regi-
ments (lee cadres) and respect the promotions so gloriously
gained ; and also, so as to maintain a military force worthy
of the greatness of the country. It is with that view that
the annual Contingent has been fixed at a hundred
thousand Men. This number is twenty thousand more th.an
the Ordinary calls during peace ; but in accordance with the
itystem which I have adopted, and to which I attach great
importance, two thirds of the conscripts will serve only two
years instead of seven, and will Then form an effective f,rce
of 603,000 disciplined troops in the event of danger. The
reduction in the effective strength will allow an in-
crease of the pay of the inferior grades, and of the officers,
—a measure rendered iudispensible by the dearness of
subiistence. Fur the same reason, the Budget grants a
sum of five millions (francs), as a commencment to increase
the smaller salaries of a portion of the lower civil employes,
who, in the midst of the greatest privations, have offered
the excellent example of probity and val.
Neither has en allowance been forgotten for the estab-
lishment of a line of Transatlantic steamers, the creation of
which has so long been required. In spite of these aug-
mentations of expense, I shall propose the abolition, from.'
the let of Jannary, 1858, of the war decisne on the regis-
try duties. This will involve a sacrifice of twenty three
millions
_(francs) ; but, in conformity with the wish
-frequently expressed by the Legislative body, I have
given directions for the elaboration of a new tax on
moveable property.
• A purely philanthropic idea had led the government to
transfer the hulks (bane.) to Cayenne. Unfortunately, the
y.-fiow fever, which had not been known in that country
, for fifty years, has arrested the progress of colonisation
there. At present we are engaged in a project to transfer
these establishments to Africa, or elsewhere.
Algeria, the cultivation and commerce of which, in skil-
ful bands, are daily extending, esp.cially merits our
attention. The decree of decentraliaation, recently issued,
will favour the fires of the' administration ; and I shall
neglect nothing in laying before you, according to circum-
stances, the esost appropriate measures for the development
of the colony.
I call your attention to-a law, the object of which is to
reclaim the waste lands of Gascony. The progress of
agriculture ought to be one of the objects of our most
constant solicitude, because from its advancement or
decline, the prosperity or decadence of empires. is to be
dated.
Anotherlbill, drawn up by the Marshal the Minister of
'Wars Rill be presented to you. It will contain a com-
plete military penal code. eonsolidating into ono body, and
reducing into harmony with our institution; all the scat-
tered and frequently contradictory laws established since
179). You will, I doubt. not, deem yourselves fortunate
in being able to connect your name with a work of this
importance.
Gentlemen Deputies—As-this session will be the last of
your term of legislation, permit ,me to, thank you for the
devoted and active concurrence you have given me since
1852. You have proclaimed the empire. You have
associated yourselves with us in all the measures that
have re-established order and prosperity in the country.
You have energetically supported me during the war.
You have shared my griefs during the epidemic, and
during the famine. You were partakers of my joy, when
Heaven granted me a glorious peace and a well-beloved
son.. Your loyal co-operation has enabled me to estab.
lish in France a regime based upon the popular will
and the popular interests. To habituate the country
to new institutions was a difficult task to fulfil, and one
which demanded true patriotism. To substitute a free,
but calm and serious discussion for the licence of the
• tribune,-and for the exciting struggles caused by the fall
or the rise of ministries, was a signal service rendered to
the country and to liberty, for liberty has no enemies
more to be dreaded than fury of passion or violence of
language.
Strong in the concurrence of the great bodies of the
State, and in the devotion of the army ; strong, above all
in the support of this people which knows that every
moment of my life is consecrated to their interests,
foreseo our country in future :full of hope. France,