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

SUN OFFICE, SEVEN O'CLOCK.

[REUTER'S TELEGRAM.]
OPENING OF THE FRENCH CHAMBERS.

THE EMPEROR'S SPEECH.

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

MESSIEURS THE SENATORS AND MESSIEURS

TIIE 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. Yon 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 branched, 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
reeking (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 suppresses
exclusive privileges of the theatres. I direct your
attention to a law destined to augment the pre-
rogatives of the general and commuual 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 classes worthy 01 all our
solicitude. Such will be a progress with which
you will surely rejoice to associate yourselves. You
will have also to 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 which the
sugars of better quality possess. A law will
cause the double decime 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 Frenoh 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 mind, 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 if political
preoccupations should trouble them less. But in
the life of nations unforeseen and inevitable
events arise that one ought to look in
the face without fear, and to sustain with-
out Yielding. Of this number are the war in
America, the unavoidable occupation of Mexico and
eeehin China, the Polish insurrection, and neigh-
bouring expeditions which have been the object
of
te,,
en 8° ranch criticism have not been the execu-
" „
of a pre-meditated plan—the force of
n 04,„ having necessitated them, and, so far they
it :14
eo.be regretted.
ineente,l,lo, after an unexpected resistance, sur-
hal,:e°9 the courage of our soldiers and sailors,
our efrlrt een the population receive us as liberators;
be largely not have been vain, and we shall
destinies -
freimbursed for our sacrifices when the
re that country, which will owe us her
generation
'cl • shall have been entrusted to a Prince
Rhone talents
of 80 and qualifications render him worthy
Nth.
,_"010 a mission. Let us, therefore, have
"I our enterprises beyond the seas. Com-
mane ed to vindicate our honour, they will termi-
J edi
.laBt° hy the triumph of our interests ; and if pre-
by eed minds cannot divine the fecundity presented
the germs laid down for the future, let us not
allow them to calumniate the glory acquired, so
to speak, at the two extremities of the world—at
Pekin and at Mexico.
The Polish question requires to be dat
greater length. When the insurrectiontreate broke out
in Poland, the Russian Government and the Go-
vernment of France were upon the best possible
terms. Since the conclusion of
peace, great Euro-
Pean questions have found them agreed ; aLd do not hesitate to declare that duiing the war in Italy,
4s in the annexation of the provinces of Nice and
of SAvoy, the Emperor has afforded me the