The Sun.
London, England, 1849-12-13 00:00:00

rHE FRENCH REPUBLIC

We have received the Paris journals of yesterday
At the sitting of the Assembly on Tuesdiy, 111.
BAUM moved an order of the day motive, censuring
the Minister of War for issuing his recent circular
to the officers of the Gendarmerie. General D'HAUT
Four, defended himself, and said a circular of a simi
lar character had been issued by General LAmo-
aICIERN, when be was Minister of War under General
CAVAIGNAC. This observation brought General CA
VAIGNAC to the tribune, who said, "I do not approv,
of the circular which is at present under discussion.
and which calls upOn the Gendarmerie to exercise a
surveillance over the Functionaires. The circular
of General LAmoitictEßs which has been read to you
contains no such recommendation, and it is on account
of this difference that I accept the responsibility of
the circular of General LAMoRICIERE, and that I
blame the circular which is now under discussion."

An animated debate followed, at the conclusion o'
which the order of the day, pure and simple, was
voted, in preference Ito the order of the day motiv,
by a majority of 378 to 202. The question of the
circular hayig been disposed of, M. FOULD, the
Minister of-Finance, proposed the adoption of the lee
re-establishing the duty on potable liquors, for the
year 18.50. He said that he had already, in the
financial statement which he had with perfect good
faith laid before the House, showed the renewal of
this tax to be indispensable. If they did not re-im-
pose this tax, he begged to esk what others could
they find in its place ? They could not have recourse
to an income-tax, which had been repudiated by the
Assembly and the country. The present tax had not
met with the same objections. There had been no
outcry against it. There was no agitation anywhere
The renewal of the tax had been recommended by 58
of the Departmental Councils. In order to show that
the tax on potable liquors was not any hindrance to
the production of wine, or to the home and foreign
consumption, be must be allowed to point out some
results drawn from official documents. In 1788 there
were 1,555,400 hectares'. of vineyards in cultivation:
in 1830 there were 1,993,000 hectares; and at the
present time 2,137,000. The quantity of wines thus
offered to foreign consumption showed a constantly
progressive increase from 1,144,000 hectolitres to
1;550,000 hectolitres, and from 44 millions to 54A
millions—that is to say, of 33 per cent. on the quantity,
and of 18 per cent. on the value. The home consumption
had followed the same rate of increase, and it was im-
portant to state that the Revolution of July had done
what that of February had not done, although the
circumstances were quite as serious ; thus, in 18!:.8,
far from the consumption and the receipts stopping
as they did in 1830, they reached the quantity of 10
million hectolitres, which they had never before
attained. The increase in spirits was not less
remarkable. The quantity exported had riser,
between the years 1831 and 1848, in the proportion
of three to five.—(Hear.) The difference was still
greater on brandy. He would now point out the
consequences of the step the Assembly was about to
take. It would be impossible to carry on the
Government, if, while the expenses increased, the
taxes were diminished. That was the path that had
been followed for the last two years. Since 1848,
155 millions had been added to the budget of expenses
for public assistance, and that at the time when the
disturbances of the country bad decreased the receipts
by an equal amount. The abolition of stamp duty
on journals had cost the country 4 millions ; the
postal reform 12 millions ; and the reduction of
the duty on salt 40 millions. It was necessary to stop
on that fatal declivity. If the tax on potable liquors
were to be abolished, a fatal blow would be aimed at
the finances of the country; confidence would be
arrested, and the country would fall into a crisis of
which it was impossible to foresee the end. The first
effect of the abolition of the tax would be the sus-
pension of labour, and the working classes would be
exposed to sufferings for which they might justly
reproach the Assembly. The finances of the State
would not only be disorganised, but the communes
would be prevented from receiving the octroi duties,
and they would be deprived of the resource of the
additional centimes. " Happily (said the Minister in
conclusion) I feel not the slightest fear of the result
in an Assembly so enlightened. We reject all the
amendments, which are nothing more than an
encroachment on the Parliamentary inquiry which
we propose."—(Hear, hear.)
After a long speech from M. ANTHONY THOURET
in opposition to the measure, and one from M,
DEPASSE in support of it, the debate was adjourned,

PARIS ifOURSE, WEDNESDAY, DEC: 12.
The market has been again very firm to-day, pricey
steadily rising to near the close, when a few sales for
cash brought quotations down a little; the rise for the
account, however, being still maintained, Threes closing
at 561. 50c., and Fives at 9l f. 95c. The market doled a.;
follows:—Threes, for cash, 56f. 40c., for account, 56f.
60c.; Fives, for cash, 91f. 65c, for account, 91f. 95c,;
Bank of France Shares, 2,430 f ; Spanish Throes, 38if.;
Do. Fives and Neapolitans not quo!ed.
RAILWAYS —The Share market has been also well
supported. end prices have again improved. Orleans
closed at 762 f. 50c.; Rouen, 552 f. 50e.; Harro, 241 f. 25e.;
Avignon, 220 F.; Vi,rzon, 335.; Bale, 105 f.; Bordeaux,
4061. 25e ; Northern, 461 f. 25c.; Paris and Strasburgh,
3621. 50c.; Nantes, 280 f.; Montereau, 1151.
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE