The Sun.
London, England, 1831-12-26 00:00:00

FRENCH PAPERS.

(From the Constitutionnel.)
PARIS, DEC. 20.—The regret caused by the news
of the capture of General Torrijos bas been suc-
ceeded by lively indignation on its being known that
it was attended with circumstances affecting our na.
tional honour.
The Indicatcur at Bordeaux says that the refu-
gees, about 60 in number, being compelled by the
authorities to leave Gibraltar, embarked on board
two small French vessels bound to France, but the
Spanish Government, which had long watched all
their motions, ordered its Custom-house vessels to
pursue and drive them on the Spanish coast.
The French vessels perceiving, but too late, this
infamous plan, in vain hoisted the tri-coloured flag,
protested that they were bound to France, that they
had no hostile project against Spain, and had no pas-
sengers but some unarmed individuals. They were
obliged to land their passengers, who were imme-
diately made prisoners.
If these particulars are correct (and the Indica-
tear affirms that they are noted in the afieial des-
patch of Gen. Monet), a great violation of the rights
of nations has been committed which requires exem-
plary reparation.
But we have before us a private letter with a dif-
ferent account. It says Torrijos and his partisans were
not forced to quit Gibraltar, but resolved to at-
tempt a landing in Spain. The authorities of that
country were soon. informed of the day of their in-
tended- landing, and of the spot where it was to take
phipe, and prompt orders were given there to detain
them at seg. They, however, succeeded in landing
47 in number, and took a position in a place which
the inhabitants abandoned in haste, for fear of being
implicated. Troops of the line soon arrived and
surrounded them, and, after a murderous fire, at.
tacked the refugees at the point of the bayonet,
who surrendered at discretion. The Royal troops
had three killed and eight wounded,
We think the last account the moat probable, and
are going to invite solicitude of the Monarchy in
favour of these new victims of despotism ; but we
jeanthat
General
leftp that Lafayette has applied to the Mi-
nister for 14;oreign Affairs, and that a courier has been
despatched to the Spanish (..7,-overnment.
,I,ord Granville, it is said, has written to his col-
league at 4<ulyid to second the effort of the French
General; and we r 2 assured that the Queer; of the
French has written to her piece, the Queen of
Spaie, go autograph letter, earnestly reiuesting her
to give her pr,otpction to General Torrijos and his
companions in misforturte. It seems certain, also

that Madame Torrijos, who was at Paris, is going
to set out immediately for Madrid. May all these
steps not be useless! May our despatches be more
speedy than the justice or the vengeance of absolute
power ! We tremble on reflecting that since the
last restoration a terrible law has existed in Spain
against those who are called rebels—a law which
kills without trial.

(From the Journal des Debats of Friday. )
The affairs of Holland and Belgium for some days
past have caused false c'rculations, which affected
the public credit. We think the following is the
true state of things :—lt is not true that the Emperor
of Russia has refused the ratification of the treaty
between Holland and Belgium. The Emperor
being absent at Moscow for some time, received the
copy of the treaty there, and the first step the
Russian Government took was to present it to
King William, counselling him to accept it, and
Russia has notified to the other Powers of Europe

that she does not wish to take part in concerting
measures against the King of Holland.
(From the Temps.)
We think to day that the news so promptly re-
ceived from St. Petersburgh has been fabricated, to
counteract the Belgian loan, by some banking house.

CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES, Drc. 21.
(CONCLUDED.)
The President of the Council—" I have now to
reply to the second part of the charges brought
against the Ministry by M. Mauguin—namely, that
relating to the pretended enrolment of artisans by
the police on the 14th July last. I thought the ex-
planations which I had before given would have
been sufficient to prove to every one that the
Ministry had only interfered in the affair by dis-
countenancing any project of enrolment. But, as
specific charges are made against us on the subject,
our replies shall be no less specific."
A Voice—" Address yourself to the whole
Chamber."
The President of the Council—" I beg pardon,
if I occasionally turn toward M. Mauguin, it is in
order to prevent his losing a word of what I say.—
(A laugh.) The picture of carnage which has been
painted, the statements of Magistrates po.nting out
their victims, and troops protecting assassination,
would seem to recall an epoch of melancholy recol-
lection. It is in the presence of Deputies who are
well acquainted with the National Guards, and after
a trial in which no fact to be regretted was proved,
that these accusations are brought against us. If I
reply to them, it is from respect for you, and you
oily.—( Here the Hon. Minister turned towards the
the Centres.)
A Deputy on the Left exclaimed—" Order, order,
this is too insulting."
The President of the Council—" I must explain
myself. I said that lam here to defend myself be-
fore the whole Chamber, and before all my judges
except my accuser."—(Agitation.)
A Voice on the Left—" lie is your judge also."
The President of the Council then recapitulated
the arguments by which M. Mauguin had attempted
to make him, as Minister of the Interior, answer-
able for the supposed acts of the inferior agents of
the police, and, after admitting their ingenuity, said
that he should be able to show that they proceeded
on entirely false data.—(Hear.) He then read a
letter from M. Carlier, formally denying the asser-
tions made by M. Souchet in his letter read by M.
Mauguin, and particularly stating that he did not
conduct Souchet to M. Vivien on the 13th July ;
that no money was ever either given or pro-
mised by the police to the artisans, and that both
the Administration of the police arid the superior
Administration were wholly strangers to every
thing which took place in the Faubourg Sr.
Antoine, as is proved even by the declarations
of M. Bouvattier. The Hon. Minister next read a
letter from M. Tarbe, the Avocat•General, who
stated, in reply to questions put to him by the Mini-
ster, that it appeared from the evidence and docu-
ments brought forward on the late trial that Carlier
had not either ordered or sanctioned the enrolment
of the artisans; that in the scuffle which took place
on the 14th July on the Place de la Bastille, the ar-
tisans had used their sticks, and the young men
who formed the rassemblement their pen-knives, but
that no serious wounds were inflicted on either side;
that several of both parties were arrested, but all
were released, either because their accusers could
not be found, or because it appeared that both were
equally in fault; that although it was reported
among the artisans that money had been promised
to them, none was ever given; the only gratuity
received was that some of them were allowed to eat
and drink without paying; that M. Bouvattier, who
sanctioned the enrolment of the artisans, not for the
purpose of attacking the young men, but for that
of repelling any proceedings likely to disturb the
tranquillity of the quarter, had been led by Souchet
into the error of supposing that the measure was
sanctioned by the police; and, lastly, that the artisans
who were active on the occasion were not, as had been
asserted, chiefly men who had been in the hands of
justice, but that, on the contrary, a great number
of them were decores of July; and the only two
among them against whom any thing of the kind
was attempted to be proved were Armand, a police
officer, who had once been fined 16f. for an assault,
and a man, 40 years old, who, at 14 years of age,
had been covicted of a robbery, but who had ever
since borne an irreproachable character. "Against
these testimonials," continued M. Perier, " is op-
posed only a letter addressed to the National by M.
Souchet, the very man who enrolled the artisans,
and who, after having twice given, in a Court of
Justice, contradictory accounts of his conduct, now
attempts to connect his proceedings with the Pre-
fecture of Police by means of relations, the nature
of which have been fully explained by the Prefect
himself, but which, at any rate, have not the
slightest reference to the Ministry. Yet upon this
document is founded a weighty accusation, I will
not say against a Minister (Ministers are accustomed
to endure calumny), but against one of your col-
leagues, who is honoured with your esteem and
confidence."
Several voices—" Yes, yes."
Other voices, among which that of M. Cabet was
predominant—" No, no."
The President of the Council then referred to
events of the 14th of July, and declared his con-
viction that a Republican plot really existed, the
success of which was prevented by the active
measures taken by the Government, and the admi-
rable co-operation of the National Guards. He re-
ferred to the reports made to him by the proper
authorities, all of which concurred in representing
the working classes as having voluntarily, and with-
out any solicitation, taken an active part in opposing
those who wished to disturb the public tranquility,
and added that it was in consequence of these re-
ports that the paragraph in the Monileur, praising
the conduct of the artisans, was inserted. He then
stated that the moment he saw in the Tribune an
assertion of the enrolment and organisation of the
workmen by the police he wrote to the Prefect on
the subject, and received from him in reply a state-
ment of what had passed, which was in accor-
dance with what he had previously stated,
and fully proved that the Prefect, so far from
sanctioning, had expressly disapproved of any such
measure, and had, even after all was over, sent
for Souchet to make further inquiries on the
subject, and had then received from him the assu-
rance that he had not the least intention of acting
on behalf of the Administration, but merely in com-
pliance with the wishes of the artisans, and for the
tranquillity of the Faubourg Sr. Antoine, and the
honour of the Cross of July. The Hon. Minister
then said he would produce only one more docu•
tnent, which would strew the motives of Souchet,
and prove how much reliance was to be placed on
his assertions. He then read u letter, dated the
25th of July, in which Souchet states that the tin-
] fonnded reports of his having organized artizans to
maltreat the republicans had seriously injured him
in his business, and theirefore solicits a place as in-
spector of one of the markets of Faris. This place,
however, had not been given him, and his subse-
quent contradictory and perjured statements proved

.

how little lie deserved either Adence or considera-
tion. " Gentlemen," said M. Perier in conclusion,
" we have already solemnly refuted, before the Tribu-
nals, the accusation brought against us of having en-
rolled the workmen to maltreat the seditious.We repeat
this denial before the highest tribunal of the nation.
It cannot fail to be listened to, and this is quite
enough, if not more than enough, on such a subject.
These explanations, joined to those we have already
given with regard to the events at Lyons, and the
sufficiency of which you have acknowledged, com •
plete our answers to the interrogatories that have
been put to us ; for, with regard to those which
relate to the political system of the Ministry, what
can I say more, gentlemen, than that even during
the existence of the serious circumstances which
involve accusations, and are attended with threats of
rendering us responsible for blood that has been
shed, I persist, with a more perfectly conscientious
conviction than ever in declaring to those Members
of this Chamber who have given their support to
this system of legality and conciliation, that upon
that alone depends the present safety and future
prosperity of the country. I persist in declaring to
the adversaries of our principles that the system
they have proposed to introduce in the place of that
adopted by you involves, in my opinion, dangers
and misfortunes which they certainly do not intend
to bring upon the country, but which must inevi-
tably be its consequences. I persist in defending
our line of policy, which is yours, and not our per-
sons; for, after this sad explanation, I find it abso-
lutely necessary for me, before I quit this tribune,
to declare, Gentlemen, that I never was desirous of
power,-that even those who yesterday talked of
granting me indulgence know better than any that,
having entered into office with the purest intention,
my only ambition is to retire from it with honour.-
(General cheers.) I demand, for I have a right to
demand, the esteem of my country, because my con-
science tells me that I have deserved it.-(Hear,
hear, with approbation.) I demand justice from the
majority of this Chamber when that is attacked
which they have supported ; but I ask for no indul-
gence, because I feel I have need of none,-neither
will I accept it, if proffered."
The Ministers, from their places-" Nor will we
accept of any, for we know we do not require it."
-(No, no.)
This speech, which was delivered with great emo-
tion, was received by the Chamber with the most
lively expressions of interest and approbation.
M. Odillon Barrot recurred to the Lyons question
for the purpose of explaining why he had said in
the preceding debate that " indulgence, and not
approbation,' was all he could give to the Ministry
on that subject.-(The President of the Council
said, with great warmth, " I will not accept indul-
gence." M. Odillon Barrot then continued his
address, and the President of the Council, who ap-
peared greatly exhausted, left the Chamber a very
few minutes after be had resumed his speech.) He
maintained that the temporising policy pursued res-
pecting the tariff, when it was made known to the
Ministry, was a great and culpable weakness, to
which were owing all the subsequent evils. On the
one hand, the manufacturers, who had their deputies
in Paris, in immediate communication with Govern-
ment, were well aware that the tariff was considered
illegal, and would not ultimately be retained :
this induced them to take but little pains to conci-
liate the artisans, or endeavour in any manner to
meet their wishes and necessities. On the other
hand, the artisans, seeing the tariff unrepealed,
were led to consider it as a right-a charter almost,
and looked on the opposition of the manufacturers
as the mere expression of selfish and interested views.
Here the the two interests were directly brought
into a conflict, which entailed such melancholy re-
sults. He then argued that the Ministry should
have acted on the same principle as the Provisional
Government at the Hotel de Ville did immediately
after the days of July. When all the working popu-
lation were demanding work at increased prices, the
Government said it could not interfere in any manner
between the masters and those employed by them,
but recommended tranquillity and good order as the
best means of restoring confidence and reviving
trade. This answered the purpose; and he main-
' tained that, had the Ministry openly, and at once,
declared the tariff illegal, and repressed it, the people
would have submitted quietly, or, at least, no tu-
multuous demonstration more than might have been
put an end to by a few ordinary police precautions
would have ensued. In concluding that portion of
his address, he also took occasion to remark that he
considered the conduct of the National Guard who
did not come forward to repress the disturbances
not as baseness or cowardice,but merely as weakness,
produced by the want of firmness and decision exhi-
bited by the ministry. He then proceeded to examine
the question of enrolment of artizatis, and drew a glow-
ing picture of the evils incident to a state of things
on which the preservation of the public peace was
allowed to depend on an organised association un-
known to the laws. He retraced the events of the
14th of July, and represented the police agents as
leaping on the bands of infuriated workmen, who
had drained enthusiasm from the wine flask, and en-
couraging the most wanton cruelty towards the
young men who wished to celebrate the day by
planting a tree of liberty. He said that he did not
charge the Ministers with having directly sanc-
tioned these measures, but he must apply to them
the memorable words addressed to a former
Administration, on the occasion of the riots con-
cerning the Election Law in 1820, by M. Casimir
Perier, then a Member of the Opposition.-
" You are Ministers ; you have allowed these events
to occur; you have not punished their authors-
therefore you are responsible." These words,
he continued, comprised the main principle of
a Representative Government.-(Loud applause.)
In conclusion, he said that when the system of mu-
nicipal police was properly understood, arid so or-
ganized that its agents themselves set an example
of obedience to the laws, before they imposed tbat
obedience upon others, the public tranquillity would
be easily preserved, the constant and harassing dis-
play of military force would be rendered useless,
and the scarf of the Magistrate would be sufficient
to insure obedience ; but that if Government per-
sisted in the present system, and refused to modify
the police of the capital, the laws, the execution of
which was entrusted to a brutal force, would lose all
their authority, and a deplorable catastrophe would
be the fatal expiation of the error.-( Loud applause
followed the conclusion of this speech.)
The Minister of Justice re-produced the argu-
ments of the President of the Council on both the
questions in discussion, and cited in addition several
documents tending to prove that a plan had been
formed by some of the members of the Society
called the Antis du Peuple, to stir up the working
classes to insurrection against the Government.
M. de Tracy said that the man named Alexandre,
mentioned in Souchet's letter as having been the
police agent who sanctioned the enrolment of the
arti,ans, was riot now to be found, and urged the ne-
cessity of his being brought forward to clear up the
facts imputed to him as an agent of authority.
M. Guizot spoke in defence of the general system
of the present Administration.
The Order of the Day was then loudly called for.
The President was about to put it to the vote, when
General Jacqueminot said that the National Guard
had been attacked in the course of the discussion,
and he therefore required to be heard in reply.
The Chamber assented to this, and the discussion
was adjourned until to-morrow.
The Papers do not contain any other news o.
consequence.
Fauxcu FUNDS, DEC. 23.-Five per Cents. 97f. 10c. 97f. 97f.
sc. 10c. 20c. 25c. 10c. 25c. 97f. 20c. 30c. 2;:c. 30c. 35c. 20c. 96f.
80c. 90c. 97f. ; Four per Cents. 82f. 20c. ' • Three per Cents, 696
20c. 25c, 20c. 10c. 15c. 20c. 10c. 15c. 10c. 696 lk. 20c. 15c. 20c. sc.
69f. 686 60c. 70c. 6SE 60c. ; Bank Actions, 1,840 t: 1,8356 I,BIOE ;
Rente de Naples, 78f. 35c. 40c. 65c. 60c. 50c. ; Rente d'Espagne,
1050 ; ltoyal Spanish Loan, 77 % %; Rente Perpetuelle
d'Espagne, 58 % 3, %; Hayuan Loan, 250 E-Exchange
on London, one month, paper, 25f. 35c. ; money, 25f. 30c. ; three
months, paper, 25f. 20c.: money, 9.5 f. 2.0c.-Cours Authentique.

A tailor, at a late public meeting, declared the
Reform Bill to be absolutely necessary " to repair the
breaches" in the Constitution.