The Sun.
London, England, 1849-01-18 00:00:00

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC

In the sitting of the National Assembly on Tues-
day, a Bill demanding a credit of 2,720,000 f. to close
the accounts of the Ateliers. Nationaux was read a
first time. In the course of the same sitting, M.
PASSY, the Finance Minister, announced the intention
of the Government to withdraw the project of law for
the imposition of an income-tax.
In the course of the sitting of yesterday, M.
ODILON BARROT presented a decree by which the
authors and accomplices in the affair of the 15th of
May are to be sent for trial before the High Court of
the Nation, in conformity with the 91st article of the
Constitution.
The special committee charged to examine M.
RATEAU'S proposition for the dissolution of the As-
sembly has appointed M. LIECHTENBERGER Presi-
dent, and M. PIERRE BONAPARTE Secretary. It has
also appointed a sub-committee to examine all the
propositions presented on the subject. It is composed
of three members who spoke absolutely against fixing
any,term to the dissolution of the Assembly. MM.
DUPONT (de Bussac), JULES FAVRE, and GREVY.
The agitation on the subject of the dissolution of
the Assembly is commented on in all the journals.
The Constitutionnel says—
"ln making known the composition of the Com-
mittee charged with the examination of the proposition
of M. Rateau, we expressed our doubts whether the
Committee would propose its absolute rejection. The
necessities of the present state of things will induce
them to refrain from such a course. If we are well in-
formed, the Committee will propose to reduce to three,
or at the most four, the organic laws, which should be
voted by the present Assembly, and fix the elections to
take place in the middle of April."
The Government, it is said, will endeavour to fix
the 15th of April as the day for the dissolution.
The National publishes the following manifesto
from the " Democratic Association of the Friends
of the Constitution," the views of which it sup-
Forts

" The Democratic Association of the Friends of the
Constitution, convinced that without the organic laws
the constitution will be but a dead letter—convinced
that the National Assembly, by precipitating its dissolu-
tion, will only serve the criminal and publicly avowed
projects of a Royalist coalition ; convinced that its
speedy dissolution would leave the President of the Re-
public exposed to the increasing audacity of re-actionists
—manifest with all the energy of its patriotic convictions
the desire to see the representatives of the people pursue
to the end the accomplishment of their great and fruit-
ful mission.

"Let them remain at their posts firm and united; and
if the Royalists in their contempt of the dignity of man
and of the repose of the country go from intrigue to
violence ; if they should dare to make an attempt by
force on the sovereignty of the National Assembly, let
it reckon on the true friends of the Republic founded by
their devotedness: they will rise to a man to defend it.
" Insensible alike to menaces and to calumnies, let our
worthy representatives calmly complete the work of re-
generation which France has entrusted to them ; the fu-
ture will take account of the combats which they may
have to sustain for the cause of French democracy.
" Signed by M. Buchez, President, and the members
of the Bureau."
The National adds :

" The sentiments expressed in this document are those
telt by all true Republicans. If ever the Assembly
should be threatened, 100,000 arms would be raised in
its defence. If moral force should stagger, 100,000 de-
voted hearts would press around it to re-inspire it with
energy. But nothing of that kind is necessary. The
Assembly will prove itself equal to its task.
"While petitions are being hawked about, tending to
bring about the dissolution of the Assembly, we know
that others are in preparation in a contrary sense.
While we applaud these efforts of true Republicans, we
say that we do not think their exertions will be re-
quired. The Assembly has its incontestible rights, and
' it is from them that it derives its strength; and the vain
demonstrations which are made against it will fall to the
ground before its indifference and its disdain."
The Presse contains a "communication" upon the
subject of the preparations at Toulon, and the affairs
of Rome. The POPE, in the protest he has addressed
to the various European Governments, asks merely for
moral aid, and expresses himself opposed to armed in-
tervention. There is a strong party in his favour at
Rome, and it is only because the people consider that
he is not free at Gaeta, that no manifestation has as
He is therefore desi-
r
rows
st
o remove taken
relpfavour. place
in t
o Civita his
Vecchiaor Ancona. Having
thus explained the situation and desires of the Pol.;
the Presse thus proceeds :
" The Queen of Spain. who, at the commencement of
these troubles, dispatched a steam-frigate, the Lepanto,
to Civita Vecchia, to remain at the disposal of the So-
vereign Pontiff, in ease he should be obliged to seek an
asylum abroad, has now taken the initiative in a