The Sun.
London, England, 1849-09-12 00:00:00

FRANCE.

Surprise is felt that General Raudon should be
spoken of as the successor to General Rostolan, in-
stead of sending such a man as General Bedeau to
Rome.

The President of the Republic reviewed this day,
in the Champ de Mars, six regiments of infantry,
ho have been ordered to different places of the first
military districts to perform garrison duty. This is
the sole motive for the change. Whatever may have
been the doubts entertained previously to the 13th of
June as to the fidelity of the army, I am assured on
good authority that nothing is more certain than that
should an emergency arise (of which there is, happily,
no likelihood at this moment) the army would, to a
man, defend the Government.
The following is the speech delivered by the Mayor
of Sens on proposing the health of the President of
the Republic :
" I propose the health of the President of the Repub-
lic as a testimony of the lively and profound gratitude
telt by the country towards the Head of the Govern-
ment, labouring incessantly for the happiness of the
people who elected him, and for the glory and pros-
perity of the country—striving to re-establish credit
and confidence, to restore the were, s of employ went,
to strengthen the Republic, to protect property, family
ties, and religion:—in fact, all the great interests of
society, so audaciously attacked in our days—and,
finally, to efface the trace of our discords. France, who
remembers with religious veneration the great things
which are done for her, can never forget what he will
have accomplished for the well-being of the country. See
how his mere presence here has already revived amongst
our patriotic populations all the ideas of glory, all the
noble sentiments of a past time, the immortal tradition
of which will for ever constitute the pride of the high-
spirited children of France I And it is his name, his name
alone, which produces that effect, which exercises that
kind of fascination which calls to mind all those glo-
rious reminisences which generate in every heart those
enthusiastic bursts of eternal gratitude towards the
great man who was able to raise so high the flag
of France, and whose all-powerful genius knew how
to make of the French nation the first people of the
globe. Let me be permitted, Monsieur le President, to
offer you, in the name of the population of Sens, of whom
I am happy and proud to be the organ, the solemn ex-
pression of the sentiment of lively and true heartfelt
joy which they all experience at finding you in the
midst of them there are remembrances of this
kind which are never effaced! Also, I know not what
charm, what sentiments of happiness are connected with
certain unforeseen situations in life! Thus, it appears
as if we had more faith, more confidence, more security
in the future, for the reason that we have seen that we
have touched so closely with heart and eyes him who
holds in his hands the destinies of the country, and who
points out from on high by precept, by example, by dig•
nified and noble language, the duties of a good citizen;
and it is such citizens that constitute the force and glory
of a country. Vive le President de la Ripublique!' "
The President then rose and made the following
reply :
" A year ago this day I was exiled—proscribed.
I had desired to place my foot on the French territory
the entrance would have been interdicted to me. To-
day I am the recognised Chief of /a grande nation.
Who caused this change in my destiny? It was you—
it was the department of the Yonne, who, in electing
me a representative of the people, recalled me to
my country. You thought, gentlemen, that my name
would be useful to France. You said to yourselves
that, a stranger to all parties, I was hostile to none, and
that, in uniting under the same flag all the men de-
voted to our country, I might serve as a rallying point
at a moment at which parties seemed inveterately
hostile one to the other.—(Applause.) The depart-
ment of the Yonne gave the example, an example
which was followed, which was contagious, inasmuch
as at a later period France gave me 6,000,000 votes.—
(Prolonged bravos.) I have long desired to be in the
midst of you. I wished to see with my own eyes those
whose suffrages went to seek me in a foreign land.—(Tre-
mendous applause, and cries of Vive Louis Napo-
leon!') Ido not thank you for having given me power,
for power is a heavy burden; but what I thank you for
is to have opened to me the gates of my country. I
could have wished to have gone as for as Tonerre, as
I should then have been more in the centre of the
department to express to it my gratitude, but circum-
stances and want of time have prevented me from so
doing. I deeply regret it. Permit me, then, gentlemen,
to give a toast not only to the town of Sens, but to all
the department of the Yonne. Believe that I shall
always be worthy of the confidence which you have
expressed to me in so touching a manner.—(Renewed
applause.) To the town of Sens! To all the depart-
ment of the Yonne!"—(Enthusiastic shouts, and cries of
" Vive Napoleon!" " Vive le President!")