The Sun.
London, England, 1831-04-18 00:00:00

BRUSSELS PAPERS.

NATIONAL CONGRESS...-. 87.1 s of
APRIL 12,
_

The order of the day wee discunsion of the project
presented by Menem i'orgeur and Mien., relative to a de-
claration of War against Holland. The central section
propneed to pass to the order of the day. After a short
debate, the order of the day wee adopted. Toe next sub-
ject was the order of the day against the Orangeist press.
The central section thorght it was necessary to proceed
by a law against tilt tianagressors of the press, and to ap-
point a committee to draw it up.
N. Robertlx thought, that if the Congress would em-
ploy itself against Orangeist laws, which were the con-
sequences of the principles of the revolution, there Were
others more urgent; for instance, that on tilt jury, and
many more.
. M. Leveque thought, that as the constitution declared
that the transgressions of the press should be decided on
by a jury, the committee should first proceed to the or-
ganization of the jury.
M. Nothomb thought a law to check the licentious-
ness of the press irmarediately necessary. The Regent had
been insulted by hireling journals, and the want of this
law, perhaps, caused the late disorders. The people had
taken on themselves the office of the court of atetite.
M. de Robaulx—The constitution will haVe the trial
by jury, not only to the press, bet to triinet of every kind.
11, for want of the jut", We cannot now restraiu the press,
I might say fir the same reason we cannot inflict the pe-
nalty of death. But your intention was to leave all as it
is till a complete holy of organic laws shell Laity into
effect the principles laid down by the constitution. As
for the Regent, if lotto! hireling journals have insulted
him, public evirtion has done him justice. Our respect for
him ie his principal guarantee,—our gratitude, for the sa-
Wive of his time and his habits, his reward.
MM. Gendebien and Lebeau thought that the organiza-
tion of the jury should precede a law on the press ; and
after some debate it wee resolved to add to the proposal of
central section.
Art. 2. It (the committee) shall propose a law for the
le-introduction of the jury, with suitable modifications.
The proposal for a decree against the authors of the
acts of pillage was declared uttnetessary, as a committee
of inquiry had been appointed.
The next stihject was the proposal for the dissolution of
the Congress.
This question gave rise to a very long debate. Some
menal,ers thought that the dissolution of the Congress and
the convocation of the Chambers would be dangerous, and
that the Congress eoutt4 not be considered as having com
platted its work till the revolution was wholly terminated
by the choice of a S ,vereign. Other members were of
opinion that the decree of the 4th of October, 1880, con-
stituting the Congress, ought to be scrupulously observed,
and the sole ground for this decree is stated to be that it is
important to fix the situation of Belgium, and to that end
to convoke a Congress which shall examine the proposed
ennotitution, modify it if necessary, and to render it valid
in all Belgium as the definitive constitution. " Thus, it
is evident (said M. Isid Fallon) that the functions of the
Congres. should cease the moment that the constitution is
decreed and can be carried into effect in all its parts. At
present (he continued) our situation is in fact still provi-
sional. We have appointed ot Regent in conformity with
the constitution, but he has none of the attributes of
royalty; he cannot participate in the exercise of the legis-
lative power, he can neither adjourn nor dissolve the
Congress, whatever may be_, his opinion of the utility
or the disadvantage of the acts of the Assembly, he
• has no alternative but seriously to execute them ;
even his right of declaring war or making peace, has
been disputed; he is, in a word, nothing more than
the gent of the Congress, which, in fact, governs. On
the other hand, as long as the Congress remains, it may
change our institutions ; State necessity is always at hand
ae an argument. Mtjerities are variable; great change%
have taken place in the composition of the Congr, as; the
number of its Members daily decreases and the central
section informs us, that one Member of it thinks it pos-
sible that we may change our system, and prcclaim a re-
public; thus the end of our revolution is doubtful, and the
definitive constitution of the State a problem. I therefore
vote for the dissolution of the Congress as speedy as pos-
sible, and for the adoption of measures to ensure the
meeting of the Chambers at the same time."
Messrs. Nothomb, Ch. Rogier, Rodenbsch, and others
spoke against the dissolution, and it was decided, with only
five dissentient voices, that the Congress should not yet fix
the time of its dissolution.
SITTING OF APRIL 13.

In this sitting some conversation arose on the mane
fest() which a Committee was to have drawn up, respecting
the causes of the revolution, but which had not been
heard of for many weeks.

M. Van de Weyer thought the manifesto of greit im-
portance ; but M. Ch. Rogier was of opinion that what
they bad already done wit the best justification of the re-
solution, and that a minif, sto would be useless; others
thought that the Congress should abide by its resolution ;
and M. Van de Weyer put the question—" Shall the re-
solution of the Congress be adhered to ?" which was una-
nimously agreed to.

SITTING OF APRIL 14.
A Member said that it was reported that the Ministry did not
seem to be in haste to fulfil its promises relative to the defence of
Luxemburg ; to which M. d'llant de Steenhause replied, and
repeated the assurance that the intentions of the Congress for the
defence of our territory shall be fulfilled.
On the question of the prorogation of the Congress, M. Claes,
reporter, said, that in the central section four Members against
one had voted for the Order of the Day on the proposal to pro-
rogue indefinitely the dissolution of the Congress; they. thought
that as the electoral law had passed by which the elections were
to take place in June, and as the Constitution fixed the convoca-
tion of the Chambers on the second Tuesday of November every
year, it would be suspending the Constitution in part, if the Con-
gross should exist atter the month of November, and that the
elections ought to be made in June.
M. I'. Devaux said, this report is only a pleading against your
resolution of the day before Yesterday, and the decree which
resulted from it ; there are no elections to be made for Chambers
which do not exist. Shall there be partial elections to fill up the
vacancies in the Congress P lam for the affirmative.
M. de Theur, disapproving of the opinions of the Central Sec-
tion, proposed the following resolution, which was adopted :
" Article I. From the 16th of April he session of the Congress
is prorogued (prolonged) without fixed adjournment.
2. The President and the Government shall have the right
to con coke it.
" 3. For any place that is or may become vacant, a deputy and
a substitute shall be elected according to the decrees of the 10th,
12th, and 16th of October last."
At the close of the sitting,

M. Lebeau, the Minister7or Foreign Affairs, said he had re..
ceived no official answer to the despatches which he had sent, in
order to obtain categorical answers respecting the discussions of
the Congress at London ; but that N. C. Le lion had announced
that he had been invited to see the French Ministry, to receive
a final answer from the French Cabinet. He added, that he had
good authority for saying that the French Cabinet mediated in a
very active and friendly manner in all our affairs before the Con-
gress at London. We have the i)ovierful protection of France,
and if it has assented to the protocols, it has done so only to have
the grounds for further negociations which will refute the Innis-
ter3rreports that have been circulated.' "Be convinced, as lam
Member a
our
elf, that all hope for the entire guarantee of our rights, of
Mi.ndependence, is not lost."
u. then deplored the sally lately made by an Hon.
to
lavheeeKhecinkedg peisrastontahlelyii.TehaepMrocineiedsteinrgcoBnofesunsedp
even
attacnixstt the French Cabinet, and not content with that,
he might I
was of
by such language but mentarY, and he now d
language. 'I he Frencheceari that the Ministry disavowed such
a rt lhi aa -t
.1-luad not signified to him that it
M. Itobaulx thanked the 'Minibsterttfo: itnhteirnlectatuiornehcame
hadefrgoimvena
higher quarter.
him, which, however, he thought out
M. Lebeau replied, and the 'titling ended.
BRUSSELS, Aram 14.—The Government h,"*.nt °vim to
..,-i- ~ •

the Count d'Aerschot to leave England on the 17th instant, on.
less he has been previously received, officially, by the Court of
London.
The two finest regiments of cavalry in the French army (the
Ist and 2d carbineers), in garrison at Lille and Cambray, are or.
dered to the environs of Paris. The removal of this fine brig.:de
of heavy cavalry from the northern frontier,shows that the French
Government has none of the Intentions reVectilig Belgium as-
signed to it by some newsmongerr, King. William has just de-
clared the town of Maestricht an integral part of Holland, and has
reorganized the tribunals theta.—Prusseis Papers, April 16.