The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-05 00:00:00

OPENING OF THE FRENCH CHAMBERS.

f.

THE EMPEROR'S SPEECH.

PARIS, NOVEMBER 5.
The French Chambers were opened at one
o'clock to-day by the Emperor, who delivered the
following
Speech : -

MESSIEURS THE SENATORS AND MESSIEURS
THE DEPUTIES,
The annual re-union of the great bodies of the
State is always a happy occasion, which brings
together all men devoted to the public good, and
Permits them to manifest the truth of their
patriotism to their country.

The freedom of our mutual intercommunications
calms disquietude and strengthens my resolutions.
The legislative corps has been just now renewed
for the third time since the foundation of the Em-
pire, and for the third time, in spite of certain local
contentions, I have had no reason to do otherwise
than congratulate myself upon the result of the
elections. You have each of you taken the same
oath of allegiance. I rely implicitly upon your
concurrence. Our duty is to conduct promptly
and well the affairs of the country, remaining
faithful to the constitution which has given us
eleven years of prosperity, and that you have
sworn to maintain.

The exposition of the interior situation will show
you that, in spite of the compulsory stagnation
of work in certain branches, the general progress
has not been relaxed. Our industry has contended
with success against foreign competition, and before
indisputable facts; the fears excited by the Treaty
of Commerce with England have vanished. Our
exportations in the eight first months of the year
1863, compared with those of the corresponding
months of the year 1862, have increased to the
extent of 233,000,000 f. During the same period
the development of maritime navigation has
surpassed that of the preceding epoch to the extent
of 175,000 tons, of which 136,000 are under the
banners of France. The abundant harvest of this
year is a benefaction of Divine Providence, which
ought to give assurance of cheaper sustenance to
the population at large. It evidences also the pros-
perity of our agriculture. Public Works,
meanwhile, have been followed up with
activity. About 1,000 new kilometres of
railway have opened up communication between
our outports and interior. Our rivers, our canals,
.our highways continued to be improved.
The session now taking place a little later than
ordinary, the report of tie Ministers of Finance has
not yet been published, it will be so, however,
almost immediately. You will there see that if our
hopes have not been completely realised, the re-
venues of the country have steadily continued to ad-
vance and increase, and that without our extraordi-
nary resources we have met the expenses occasioned
by the war in Mexico and in Cochin China.
I ought to notify several reforms deemed
to be opportune, amongst others the de-
crees relative to the freedom of bread
making (de la Boulangerie) one which
renders maritime inscription less onerous to the
coast population. The project which modifies
the law upon coalitions and that which suppress
exclusive privileges of the theatres. I direct your
attention to a law destined to augment the pre-
rogatives of the general and communal councils,
and to modify somewhat the excessive application of
the principle of centralisation. In effect to simplify
administrative formalities, to soften the legis-
lation applicable to the crisis worthy of all our
solicitude. That such will be a Congress with
you will surely rejoice to associate yourselves. You
will have also t.o occupy yourselves with the sugar
question now requiring to be finally solved by
more stable legislation. The projects submitted to
the Council of State, tends to accord to unworthy
produce that facility of exportation wl Eh the
sugars of better quality possess. A law will
cause the double decline to disappear and
to replace this overcharge by a more just arrange-
ment.

In Algeria, in spite of the anomaly which places
the same population, the one under the civil power,
the other under the military power, the Arabs
have understood how well the French domination
was the equitable protector and repairer, without
the Europeans having less confidence in the pro-
tection of the Government.

Our ancient colonies have seen gigantic barriers
disappear which formerly impeded their progress,
but circumstances have not been favourable to the
development of commerce. The recent establishment
of the institution of credit will tend, I hope, to
ameliorate the general condition. In the midst of
these natural cares, nothing that touches or relates
to religion, to the spirit, to morality, has been
neglected. The religious works of benevolence,
the arts, the sciences, and public instruction have
received numerous encouragements.
Since 1848 the multitude of young students have
increased by one-fourth. To-day nearly 5,000,000
children (a third of them gratuitously) have been
received into the primary schools, but our efforts
should not be relaxed, seeing that 600,000 yet re-
main deprived of instruction. The higher studies
have been reanimated
in the secondary school to
the end of a more especial re-organisation.
Such measures is an outline of what we have
already done, and of what we still wish to do.
Certainly, the prosperity of our country will
take a still more rapid flight of political
Preoccupations should trouble them less. But in
life of nations unforeseen and inevitable
events arise that one ought to look in
the face without fear, and to sustain with-
"t yielding. Of this number are the war in
Atoerica, the unavoidable occupation of Mexico and
Cochin China, the Polish insurrection, and neigh-
uouring expeditions which have been the object
°! So much criticism have not been the execu-
tl"er of a pre-meditated plan—the force of
areevent 8 'l
aving necessitated them and, so far they
sot tobe neglected.
LThe
conclusion of the Speech will be given, as
'Web. tits
the translation, in our next edition.]

...1Z1.1:1:,% STATT:O-I,—N—APO-LEON I.—A letter from
deloon I. ~_ yesterday, says :—The Emperor
iolded, in Napo-
ev ~ 4ekended to-day, at one p.m., from his "id.angerous
ati°u,'' and, as I write this, is standing, with arms
improve the Place Vendome, apparently staring at the
~,ruvenatnts of Paris. The figure is about 13 feet high.
"-1•0 descent from the column attracted a large crowd of
'1,9 and was very easily effected. I suppose the raising
the crowned and robed successor will be the occasion of
some demonstration, and may, perhaps, be taken by his Im-
perial heir as the text on which to preach one of those lay
sermons which Napoleon 111. sometimes addresses to his
faithful people of Paris.
THE CATUOLIC CHAPLAIN QUESTION.—After
considerable discussion and opposition a Catho-
lic chaplain has at length been appointed to Walton
gaol, near Liverpool, at a salary of £3OO a year. The
ground upon which the appointment was made was that the
number of Catholic prisoners was so large that it necessi-
tated the exclusive services of a Catholic priest, The ma-
jority in favour of the appointment was 13 to 3,
The ltev.
James Nugent is the gentleman who has been voted to the j
office.

The course of exchange at New York on London for bills at
60 days' sdc;dit is 163 to 101 per cent., and the premium on
gold is 491 per cent. At these rates there is very little profit
on the importation of gold from the United States.

THE POLISH INSURRECTION.
THORN, Nov. 5.

It is stated on reliable authority that the Grand
Duke Constantine will be relieved from his func-
tions as Governor of Poland, and will travel abroad.
Gen. Berg is to be definitively appointed his
successor.

LEMBERG, Nov. 4.

The insurgent corps, numbering it is said 600
infantry and 230 cavalry, which advanced on Sun-
day into Volhynia, having been pressed by the
Russians, laid down their arms yesterday in the
district of Z)lkieu, in Galicia.

400 men, with arms and munitions, and upwards
of 100 horses, surrendered to the Austrians.

SWEDEN.

STOCKHOLM, Nov. 5.
The official Gazette, in a leading article upon the
Dano-German conflict, says :—" It is now by no
means the fault of Denmark if peace should be
disturbed."