The Sun.
London, England, 1849-02-23 00:00:00

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC

We have received the Paris papers of yesterday.
The National Assembly was on Wednesday en.
gaged in discussing the electoral law, and adopted
Clauses, declaring that all individuals condemned at
any period of their lives for crimes and felonies, as
well a 3 those condemned for theft, swindling, abuse
of confidence, usury, and also those interdicted from
their civil rights—insane persons, &c., should be dis-
qualified from sitting in the Chamber. An attempt
was made to procure a relaxation of this disqualifica-
tion in favour of persons who had been convicted of
theft before they were sixteen years of age, and who
would, as the clause then stood, be for ever
disqualified in consequence of such conviction ;
it proved, however, unsuccessful; whereupon
M. PIERRE laitoux rose, and, after uttering
an indignant philippic against those who thus se-
verely visited the crimes of the poor, leaving the
crimes of the rich untouched, concluded by moving,
, that " adulterers and those who brought troubles
into families be excluded froni the Legislative As-
sembly ! "
A lively debate, which was ever and anon inter-
rupted by shouts of laughter, followed. At the con-
clusion of which the proposition was put, and
declared by the President to be lost; but
a ballot was demanded, when, to the great surprise
of M. PIERRE LEROUX, the proposition was carried
by a majority of 57, the numbers being—for M.
PIERRE LEROUX'S proposition, 286 ; against it, 229.
The Club of the Institute, which numbers among
PAGES, its members MM. GARNIER PAGNERRE, BAR-
THELEMY ST. HILAIRE, and DUCLERE, has put forth
the following electoral manifesto :

" MANIFESTO OFTIIE MODERATE REPUBLIC.

" The undersigned Representatives, atter having con-
stantly practised, in the Constituent Assembly, the policy
of conciliatory moderation, in the name of which seve-
ral Parliamentary Clubs have been formed—among
others, that of the Institute and of the Council of State—
consider it their duty to point out in a frank declaration
the ideas which, in their opinion, ought to preside over
the new election, in order to respond to the necessities
Of a new state of things. France is on the eve of a great
and decisive trial. In a few weeks she will be
called on to complete her institutions by the elec-
tion of the Members of the Legislative Assembly.
The French people, who have already made
the solemn application of universal suffrage—who
have so admirably understood the duties imposed
on them by the exercise of their sovereign right—the
people will again, on this occasion, know how to produce
from the balloting urns the consolidation of order, of
peace, and of society. The Government which organises
the Republic of 1848, is made not to continue the revo-
lution, but to close it. Unexpected, and arising out of
Complications and faults henceforth forgotten, the Re-
public ought not to be one of party, but one of progress
and of necessity. Its cause of existence is at the same
its evident legitimacy, and the averred weakness of all
other forms of government; its honour is to remain the
government of all, to appeal to the efforts and devoted-
ness of all; its strength is the rational development of
all rights, the ennobling of all duties • its advantages will
be to increase labour, to enlarge the already wide bases of
property, and to extend public assistance to all who merit
it. Let not the electors, by irresolution, weakness, or guilty
passion, compromise public order, which has been
strengthened by its successive victories over anarchy
and by the increasing progress of a spirit of conciliation.
Let us continue the work thus commenced, by improving
it; let us beware of any attempt at a counter-revolution;
let us not, after so many sufferings and trials, put in
danger the very existence of society. Let us know how
to close energetically the career of revolutions. Any
intrigue, any conspiracy against our Republican institu-
tions, would be a crime. Let those who hatch such
conspiracies feel well assured that, under whatever pre-
text they may shield themselves, they are net the less
guilty nor less anarchial than those savage perturbators,
who have stained our streets with blood, for they also
prepare a civil war. As a condition of our votes, let us
demand from every candidate a formal adhesion to the
institutions founded in the name of the nation by the
and a loyal co-operation to
whole Constituent Assembly,
the President elected by universal suffrage. The country
wished, by the imposing
election of the 10th Dec., to asso-
ciate the glorious name of Napoleon Bonaparte with the
strengthening of the Republic. Good citizens should set
aside their previous differences of opinion, and unite in
the sentiments which henceforth become a powerful
guarantee of order, of calm, and of prosperity. It is to
attain that object, it is in that spirit that we think it our
duty to address ourselves to our fellow-citizens. Let the
wisdom of the people discourage both those sterile hopes
that are kept up by the regrets of a past which can never
be revived but at the cost of sanguinary catastrophes,
and those senseless schemes which, by vain and odious
utopian theories, compromise the most sacred principles
of social order. Let us only accept those who will
honestly strengthen what has been established, ameijo.
rate it by legal, prudent, and pacific means, and place
the future fate of the country in the hands of an honest,
firm, and conciliatory Government. This is the only
means of safety. For our part, we shall be happy if we
can contribute to instil into the minds of the electors
those patriotic convictions which have been given us by
painful experience, and we believe we shall have ren-
dered to the country the most useful service in our
power."
The Pafrie of Wednesdaycontains the following
semi-official account of the occurrence of disturb•
ances at Niort :
" A telegraphic dispatch, received to day from Niort,
announces that serious disturbances have taken place
there. The following
are some details of the affair:—
The 2d Regiment of Horse Chasseurs, in garrison at
Niort, was to detach a squadron for Saintes. Whilst the
for and obtaining in Paris
Mayor of Niort was applying
tho revocation of this order, on his undertaking to find
barracks for the entire regiment, the anarchists of the
town, on a pretext of local interest, had resolved to op-
pose the departure. On the 18th, about noon, the
colonel put his regiment in march to escort the squadron
which was to go to Saintes. Whilst passing the regi.
went in review en the Plaoe de la Btache, seeine. his
men pressed upon by the crowd, be gave orders that it
should be kept at a distance. On this order, which was
natural and necessary, the agitators began to throw
stones at these brave soldiers. Soon afterwards a con-
ducteur of the ponts et ehaussees, who was in the fore-
most rank of the assailants, came forward and insulted
the colonel, who in legitimate defence struck the ag-
gressor with the flat of his sword, which broke with
the blow. A slight' wound being -inflicted, the crowd
hurled a shower of atones at the Moue' and the regi-