The Sun.
London, England, 1863-01-12 00:00:00

OPENING

THE FRENCH CHAMBERS.

THE EMPEROR'S SPEECH

PARIS, JAN% 12.

The session of the Senate and Corps Legislatif was
opened to-day by the Emperor, who delivered the follow-
ing Speech :

Messieurs les Senateurs, Messieurs les Depute's—
The Legislative Corps is about to commence its last ses-
sion. To advance the term fixed by the Constitution would
in my eyes be an act of ingratitude towards the Chamber
and of mistrust towards the country. This is no longer a
time when it might be necessary to avail one's s.:lf of the
occasion to make sure of the suffrages of a limited number
of electors, Let every one see at the present day that
there is no longer in these masses the mobility of former
times, and that opinions do not change with the least breath
that agitates the political atmosphere.
Since we find ourselves united for the last time, it will
not be loss of time to cast back our eyes over that which we
have done together for the last five years, since it is only
by embracing a period of some duration that it is possible
to appreciate the spirit which has presided at the direction
of our affairs.

People are often pleased to seek in the acts of sovereigns
concealed motives and mysterious combinations, my policy,
nevertheless, has been simply to augment the prosperity
and moral ascendancy of France, maintaining without
abusing it, as without weakening it, the power entrusted
to our hands.

Abroad, favoured in a just policy by treaties, the legiti-
mate aspirations of the peoples tend towards an improved
future. To develope our commercial relations with the
countries towards which we approach in community of in-
terests; to remove from diplomacy questions that
have long been under discussion, so as to obviate all pre-
texts of misunderstanding; finally, to pursue boldly the
policy of repairing all insults to our flag, and everything
injurious to our national interests; in such a course of
action it has been permitted to me to apply these principles.
In the East the national wish of the Danubian Principali-
ties to form but one people could not find us insensible, and
our concurrence has contributed to cement their union, We
have supported all that is just in the grievances of Servia,
of Montenegro, and of the Christians of Syria, without dis •
regarding the rights of the Ottoman Porte, Our arms have
defended the independence of Italy without associating them-
selves with revolution, leaving unaltered after the field of
battle our good relations with our adversaries of a day
without abandoning the Holy Father, whom our honour
and our engagements oblige us to sustain.
We have suppressed causes which might have given rise
to contests in Spain, either on questions of boundary, or of
the old debt of 1823. With Switzerland we have smoothed
over the difficulty contested with the valley of Dappes,
Treaties of Commerce have been or are on the eve of being
completed with England, Belgium, Prussia, Italy, and
Switzerland.

Finally, expeditions in China and Cochin China, and in
Mexico, prove that there are no countries so far removed
from us that an attempt against the honour of France can
be made with impunity. Events like these cannot have
taken place without bringing with them some complica-
tions. Duty always runs counter to interest. Neverthe-
less France has been aggrandised by two provinces. The
barriers which separated us from our neighbours have been
lowered, A vast territory has been opened to our activity
in the extreme East, and what is better than conquest, we
have acquired a title to the sympathy of the peoples
without losing the confidence and esteem of Govern-
ments. During the years which have gone by it has
been given to me to meet most of the sovereigns, and from
these interviews friendly relations have arisen which are so
many pledges for the peace of Europe. This peace has not
been troubled by the events which have taken place in
ffreece. This rapid expose of the past will give you a gua-
rantee for the future, and in spite of the pressure of con -
flicting events and opposing opinions, you will recognise,
I trust, that I have always followed with firmness the
same line of conduct.

With reference to that which more particularly concerns
internal affairs, I have endeavoured on the one part to efface
as far as possible by a complete amnesty 00 recollection
of civil discord. On the other, in order to increase the im-
portance of the great bodies of State, I
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to take a more direct part in the manage
have surrounded your deliberations with all the guarantees
necessary to preserve liberty of discussion. I.have re-
tr
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order to enable th
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to the bases on which public credit rests. In order
to relieve our finaaces;the armies on landand sea have been
reduced in their proportions, the floating debt has been re-
duced, and by the success of the conversion of
.the Botta,
a great step has been taken towards the unification of the
debt.

Indirect revenues constantly augment by the increase of
the general prosperity, and the situation of the Empire
would be flourishing if the American war had not come to
dry up one of the chief sources of our industry. The
forced stagnation of manufaature has engendered in several
places a distress worthy of all our solicitude, and you will
be asked for a credit to assist those who support with so
much resignation the effects of a misfortune, the cessation
of which does not depend on us. Nevertheless, I have en-
deavoured to offer, on the other side of the Atlantic, advice
inspired by a sincere sympathy, but as the great maritime
Powers have not yet thought themselves able to join with
me, I have been forced to remit until a later period the offer
of a mediation, the object of which will be to stop the effu-
sion of blood and to prevent the exhaustion of a country
whose future cannot be indifferent to us.

Will 4(4 outer into a detail of the various administrative

improvements, such as the creation of a reserve for the army,
the transformation of the fleet, the establishment of insti-
tutions for the benefit of the poor ; great public works ; the
encouragement of agriculture, science and art; the main-
tenance of the prosperity of our colonies, in spite of the
suppression of negro emigration; the firm establishment of
our positions in Africa by our care in constantly gaining
the affections of the Arabian people, and in protecting our
colonists. The expose of the situation of the empire will ex-
plain to you all these measures.

You will now mark, by useful labours, the end of your
term of service ; and when you return to your departments,
do not forget that if we have surmounted many obstacles,
and aocomplished much that is useful, it is owing to the
devoted assistance of the great bodies of the State, and to
the good understanding that reigns amongst us. At the
same time much remains to be dono to perfect our institu-
tions, to disseminate sound ideas, and to accustom the coun-
try to self-reliance. Say to your fellow-citizens that I shall
be constantly ready to accept everything that is to the inte-
rest of the greatest number, but that if they have at heart
the progress of the work commenced, the avoidance of con-
flicts which could engender bad feeling, the fortification of
the constitution which is their work, they must send to the
new Chamber men who, like you,will accept without reserve
the present eginte; who prefer serious deliberations to
sterile conflicts; men who, animated by the spirit of the
time and by a genuine patriotism, will illustrate by their
progress of the Government. and will not
independence the
hesitate to place above the interests of party the stability of
the State and the grandeur of the country.