The Sun.
London, England, 1848-08-26 00:00:00

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC

We have received the Paris papers of yesterday.
The National Assembly, in its sitting of Thursday,
adopted the measure of postal reform proposed by M.
GOUDCHAUX. The rate of postage is fixed at 20 cen-
times (twopence) on all letters not exceeding the
weight of 7i grammes ; 40 centimes on all letters ex-
ceeding 74, but not exceeding 15 grammes, and If.
on all letters and parcels exceeding 15, but not ex-
ceeding 100 grammes. Beyond the weight of 100
grammes no packet will be carried by the Post-office.
Stamps are to be used as in England, and the mea-
sure is to come in force on the Ist January, 1849.
The ilfoniteur publishes the decree suspending the
publication of the Gazette de France. It sets forth
that—
" Considering that this journal contains incessant attacks
against the Republic, and excitations tending to destroy this
form of government in order to put in its place the monar-
chical form ;
" Considering that these attacks and these excitations are
of a nature, under present circumstances, to turn citizens
one against another, and thus to raise civil war in Paris and
in the departments—
" Decrees—That from this day the Gazette de France is
and remains suspended."
An attempt was made by the proprietors of the
Communist journal, the Lampion, the publication of
which was suspended by the decree of Tuesday, to
continue it under a new name, the Bouche de Fer.
General CAVAIGNAC, however, would not suffer his
decrees to be set at nought by such trifling as this,
and accordingly the Bouche de Fer was seized imme-
diately on its publication.
The meeting of journalists called by EMILE DE
GIRARDIN was held yesterday, at which it was agreed
that a protest should be drawn up against the decrees
of General CAVAIGNAC, suspending the publication of
certain newspapers, and that such protest should be
presented to the Assembly. The meeting and the
protest, however, were alike failures. Neither the
Debats, the Constitutionnel, the .National, the Siicle,
the Union, nor, in fact, any of the leading journals,
were represented at it, and, with the exception of the
name of M. EMILE DE GIRARDIN, there is not at-
tached to the protest the signature of any individual
of note either in the political or in the literary world.
The fact is, that all the true friends of order and of
the Republic are perfectly aware of the existence of a
vast conspiracy for the plunder and murder of the
industrious classes, the conspirators being the non-
productive idlers of every description.
Monarchists and Communists who, however much they
may differ on other points, agree in their hatred of those
who gain their living by their industry, and in their de-
sire to rob them of the fruits of their labours. The
drones are endeavouring to rob the working bees. It is
to be hoped that the bees will succeed in expelling the
drones.
The National thus alludes to the attempts which are
being made by the Legitimatist party to produce con-
fusion:--
"Bad rumours are spread about. It is reported on all
sides that the last of the Royalist parties is seeking to take
advantage of the misery of the working classes, in order to
seduce and pervert them ; that clandestine meetings are held
in Paris, and others more numerous in the open country ; in
fine, that money destined for charitable purposes is used to
hire bands of insurgents now organizing. We know not
what may be true or false in these manceuvres of a faction
on its last legs; but we do not fear the result. The last
sixty years have enlightened the people, who can now judge
of the future by the past. They know what were worth the
promises of 1815 and the programmes of 1830. They have
faith in the Republic they have founded, and the calumnies
that are in the dark directed against it, although conjoined
with passing sufferings, cannot prevail against its principles.
The honest workman will not serve any cause for mere hire.
He cherishes his convictions, and does not sell them. It
would be doing him an injury to doubt his patriotism and
disinterestedness. We will not be guilty of such injustice."
It is said that the Legitimatists had fixed upon yes-
terday, the 25th, the fête of St. Lours, fur the outbreak
of the united Royalist and Communist insurrection, but
General CAVAIGNAC is, we believe, amply provided with
means to meet the threatened danger.
The Opinion Republique says—
" A million of cartridges have been distributed to the Na-
tional Guard.
" Yesterday several carriages with shells and howitzers
passed along the quay going towards the Ecole Militaire ;
eight ammunition waggons heavily laden proceeded from
Vincennes to the same destination.
" At Vincennes one hundred field pieces are in the court-
yard ready to be put to. There are four in the Hotel de
Ville, forty in the Temple, four in the court of the Tuileries,
eight in the Luxembourg, four at the Palais d'Orsay, six-
teen in the court and garden of the National Assembly, and
a whole park in the Ecole Militaire, Champs de Mars. Mount
Valerian and several other forts have cannons of siege planted
on their ramparts."
The following have been stated as candidates for the
seats vacant in the representation of Paris in ;the Na-
tional Assembly :—Messrs. GOMM, ACHILLE FOULD,
EMILE DE GIRARDIN, EDMOND ADAM, Secretary-
General of the Prefecture ; THORE, editor of La Vraie
Republique ; and RASPAIL, who is now a prisoner at
Vincennes.
It is said that the speech which M. CAUSSIDIERE is
to read in his defence in the debate on the report* of the
Committee on the insurrection, has been written for
him by M. LINGAY, who was at one time secretary to
the late Prince Pomoreac, and who was subsequently
employed by Count MOLE and various of the Ministers
of Lours PHILIPPE.
The important discussion on the report of the Com-
mittee of Investigation into the insurrection of Juno
commenced in the Assembly yesterday, at twelve
o'clockf; M. ARMAND MARRAST, President of the Na-
tional Assembly, in the chair. The following is a re-
port of this important debate, up to the hour of post:—
The order of the day was the discussion on the report of
the Committee of Investigation into the insurrection of June.
The President, in a discussion of such gravity, thought it
unnecessary to appeal to the patriotism and good feeling of
the Assembly. He trusted that they would contribute as much
as possible to promote union and concord amongst all the chil-
dren of the Republic. He trusted also that the representa-
tives would aid him in having the Parliamentary rules strictly
observed. (Approbation 4
Colonel Charras would propose that the priority should be
given to such representatives as wished to take part in the
discussion on a personal matter.
The President—This propesition is to give to the persons
incriminated, or who have to complain of the evidence given,
the right of speaking before all others.—(Murmurs.)
The question, being put to the vote, was carried in the
affirmative.
Admiral Casy came forward to complain that M. Lacrosse,
in his evidence given on the 11th of June, relative to the
invasion of the Assembly, had accused him of having re-
mained seated in his place next to M. Charras in tranquillity,
when he might have been more usefully employed in freeing
the Assembly of its invaders. He had to declare that the
memory of M. Lacrosse had proved treacherous. He (the
Admiral) was then Minister of Marine, and M. Charras,
Minister of War, and did not deserve the imputation thus
cast on them. M. Lacrosse had not addressed them, as he
stated, on the day in question, and it was no doubt to others
atai dahnstatedconcluded no
cu
udodtpehdei
rnbr
s nothing
dbutr
what had really occurred. The honourable representativ;
that thisati
that
orat
Lacrosse
ss
stteehhr vee
maintainedadt ei
truthot iai
lh,
demanded
themb eat been
nhndai
incident,
made.
dchidetehnh
e
whatecillatreirnegldie had already affirmed.
Colonel Charras next ascended the tribune, and said that
M. Lacrosse had on that day in question only asked him whe-
ther it would not be better to take measures to free the
Assembly. lie (M. Charras) had replied that he was
not the commander of the force about the Assembly, but
General Courtais, and that consequently he could not take
upon him to give orders. Beyond that nothing further had
passed,

M. Ceyras complained that in the report his
conduct
had been altogether misrepresented. It had been
inti-
mated
that on May 15th he bad taken part with Barbel, and other invaders of the Chamber; whereas he
was altogether opposed to those persons and their views. He
was represented as having gone to the Hotel de Ville
to takeipart with the outbreak. He had been twice exa-
mined before the Committee—once as Government
commis-
sioner,
and next as representative; and he thought that the
evidence which he had then given ought to have kept him
free from any accusation. In fact, he was represented as a
Terrorist, a Socialist, or anything that was objectionable,
in place of what he was, a true Republican. The Honour.
able Representative then gave an account of his going in
company with M. Falloux and M. de Mornay to the Hotel
de Ville on the 15th of May, in the open day, not to aid
the invaders of the Assembly, but to oppose them. He
next complained of the manner in which the Government
Commissioners had been treated in the report, saying that
they had been looked upon as " lictors." He was proceed-
ing on this point when a cry arose against him as straying
from the question. He then repeated his former assertions
about his conduct on the 15th of May, and descended from
the tribune.
M. Portalis expressed his regret that he, who had been
Procureur of the Republic, should have been obliged to ad-
dress the Assembly in his own defence, particularly as he
felt conscious of having always fully and conscientiously per-
formed his duty. In the evidence of M. Arago there was
an imputation on him as having, on May 3, been present at
a meeting held at M. Ledru Rollin's, the object of that meet-
ing being to devise measures to act against the Republic.
That intelligence had come from M. Duclerc, who had it
from Louis Blanc. M. Portalis declared solemnly that
be had not been present at that meeting, nor did he
know anything whatever about it. He had al-
ways considered himself honoured by the friend-
ship of M. Ledru Rollin, but he never was acquainted
with M. Louis Blanc. The Honourable Gentleman then re-
ferred to the case of Sobrier, whom he wanted to have
arrested, but who was allowed to remain at large by the con-
nivance of the Government. He referred also to the arms
dwigansanntotteramssa,ftehepeimrsponu
chlauvdee
dk known that
pt
ehiai Sobrierin i
indignant
given by M. Arago to Sobrier, when that gentleman must
on him by the evidence of M. Arago. 't
a t ne s con-ca s
M. Landrin also complained of the language of M. Arago,
in comprising him amongst the persons who had plotted to
overthrow the moderate portion of the Government. He
spoke in very animated language, and defied any one to sub-
stantiate such a charge against him.
M. Arago entered into explanations of his statements
against those two gentlemen. He declared he had spoken
according to what he had heard from M. Ledru-Rollin.;
M. Ledrudlollin—l claim permission to speak.
M. Arago went on to explain the giving of arms to Sobrier
affirming that Colonel Brissol having brought him an order
from the Minister of the Interior, he did nut think it fit to
refuse them. The Hon. Representative repeated the sub-
stance of his evidence before the Committee, again declaring
that what lie said was in consequence of what M. Ledru-
Rollin had affirmed to him.
Ledru-Rollin said that lie was accused of holding im-
and that of May 3 was particularly referred
proper meetings,
He
to. had certainly often spoken with M. Portalis and N.
Landrin on the affairs of the Republic, they being the law offi-
cers of the
Government, and he the Minister of the Interior.
But there was nothing reprehensible in such conversations,
nor in the meetings at which they took place. At that of
May 3 he had not been present, and he could not therefore
have spoken to M. Arago in the manner which that gentle-
manhad
those gentlemen for
some days before that spoken and indeed almost all
of, as he,
withthe busied elections. It was
the political men, were
Arago true that he had spoken to M. of various political
matters, and in a moment of animation he might have gone
beyond what he meant: he certainly never attributed to N.
Portalis and M. Landrin what was asserted.

M. Arago again repeated his assertions, and concluded by
declaring that he must maintain his affirmation, notwith-
standing M. Ledru-Rollin.—(Sensation.)
M. Quinet complained that in the deposition of M. Turck
it had been asserted that he (the Colonel of the 11th Legion)
had not come forward on May 15. He had to declare that
this assertion was quite unfounded, as them and at all times
he had always been ready to perform his duty.honourably
and loyally to his country. The Hon. Representative con-
tinued to speak for some time, until at last, the Assembly
becoming inattentive, he descended from the tribune.
M. Turck replied, that he had given his evidence as he
believed it to be true at the time. The returns sent in de-
clared that the column of the 11th Legion had shown an un-
willingness to move, and accordingly he had stated it in his
evidence.
M. Baune also complained of the words attributed to him
on June 24, by M. Turck. That gentleman had declared
that he (M. Baune) had stated that it was necessary to
sweep away, to kill, 400 or 500 representatives, if the Repub-
lic was to go on successfully; that Marat, Robespierre, and
other Republicans of the olden time were at first mild, but
that they were obliged in the end to change their views;
that the present Assembly ought to begin where the others
had ceased. The Honourable Deputy then asked permission
to give a sketch of his political career to show that he was
quite incapable of such sanguinary language. He conoluded
by denying in the strongest manner the truth of the asser-
tion of M. Turck, whom, he observed, he scarcely knew by sight.
M. Turck replied that he could not be mistaken in the
person of M. Baune; it was true he was not personally ac-
quainted with him, but he perfectly well knew his person,
and still more, he recognized his voice, which was too re-
markable to be mistaken for that of another representative.
[M. Baune has a peculiarly hoarse voice. ] He could only
account for the language of the Hon. Representative by
supposing that the excitement under which he laboured had
changed his usual way of thinking. He must maintain the
perfect veracity of his testimony before the committee of in-
vestigation.
M. Repellin, who had been a Government commissioner in
the South of France, complained of the manner in which ilia
conduct was represented in the documents given in the third
volume of the evidence just published. He maintained that
his conduct had been unexceptional, and he defied any per.
son to bring forward and prove any act that could really re-
flect on his conduct.
M. Larabit explained his motives for giving leave of ab-
sence
ong ost a
the number
troo men, whose office was to go
m
young
evive their zeal. He complained that
his motives had been misrepresented. He had consulted the
ps:aonfd
Minister of the Interior before acting as he had done.
at
M. Martin ascended the tribune to protest against the
evidence of M. Piscator
y, which stated that the directors of
the Orleans Railway Company had prevented the National
Guards from coming to Paris at the time of the insurrection.
The Hon. Gentleman went on to show that this charge was
unfounded, but at last, the Assembly becoming impatient of
his continuance in the tribune, he descended.
M. Bac wished to draw the attention of the Assembly to
the fact of certain documents being published when they re-
lated to a club of the representatives of the people. He alluded
to the papers belonging to the Societe. des Reprdsentants Re-
publicain, which held its sittings in the Rue Castiglione.
He declared such publication to be an act against the inviola-
bility of the representatives, and gave it as his opinion that
such publication was intended to give a false impression to
the country, that the representatives in question were con-
nected with the insurrection either remotely or actively. He
maintained that the Committee had no right to publish these
documents—(Cries of "Yes, yes")—nor had the National
Assembly a right to order such publication.—(Renewed
exclamations.)
M. Bauchart (the reporter of the Committee) replied that
it wits not the Committee who had decided on publishing the
documents in question, but the National Assembly.—(Cries
of ' No, no" from the Left.) These documents had been
seized on the person of an insurgent, had been transmitted
to the commander of the National Guard, and by him to the
Conimittee. The Committee had placed the document under
seal, and had not intended to publish it, when the order of
the Assembly had insisted on the publication.
An observation here fell from M. Letranc amidst much
noise, which called forth the animadverson of the President,
who, believing it to be M Devignier, accused him of troubling
order.

M. Devignier said—lt is a lie! (c'est un mensonge !)
(Great uproar; the President's bell ringing, and the Members
crying out from their places.)
m. Lefrant complained that the document alluded to was
published to raise a prejudice against the Republican repre-
sentatives. He declared that this was ill-advised from those
who would one day have to demand grace from the other
side.—(Great agitation.) The Hon. Representative went on
for some time in violent language, which was greatly ap-
plauded by the extreme Left.
M. Raynal complained that the published document nar-
rated how his house had been entered by the police, and
his place visited, under the pretext that secret meetings
were held there. He declared that the whole of the asser-
tions made by M. Samson, the Commissary of Police, about
papers having been found burnt in the grate, were all false.
Never had he, he declared, been implicated in private meet-
ings, or in doing anything that could call for a visit from the
police,

M. J. Fevre wished to make a single denial. M. Arago
had coupled his name with that of MM. Portalis and Lan-
drin as having been accustomed to meet at M. Ledru-Rol-
lin's. He could declare that nothing of the sort had occur-
red, and that M. Arago must have been misinformed.
The PitEsuse.srr—The list of persons who conceived that
they had a :right to complain of the evidence has now come
to a close. The Tribune is to M. Ledru-Rollin.—(Move-
ment of attention).
M. Ledru Rollin observed that in this grave matter, which
would leave its trace in history, he wished to speak with the
utmost moderation; and if :on the other occasions on which
he had spoken on this subject his words had gone beyond the
line of propriety, it was contrary to his wish. The present
proceedings were not without precedent. In October, 1789,
an investigation was also ordered to inquire into the general
state of things and the conduct of the men at the head of
affairs. The National Assembly had then acted wisely, and
passed to the order of the day. The present House could now
act in the same way if it pleased, or might enter on another
course of a very different nature, which would be disturb-
ance, trouble, and, perhaps, civil war. Let it be borne in
mind that the Provisional Government was without any res-
triction, was unlimited in its power; yet now the report en-
deavoured to cause the events of June 28 and May 15 to be
connected back with something more remote—in other
words, with the Provisional Government. He did not stand
there to defend himself, as he was perfectly protected. On
June 23d was he not at his post ? On May 15th had he
not done his duty ? And for anything that had
occurred before the meeting of the Assembly,
was he not safe by the memorable declaration that the Pro-
visional Government had merited well of their country.—
(Movement.) But he would reply to the charges against
him, because he felt the purity of his motives. He was
accused of having sent out Commissioners into the provinces
of an ultra character; he was charged with sending forth
circulars of an extreme tendency. Yes, he had done so, for
he wished to bring into the National Assembly Republicans
of the Veille. Yes, he tried to realise the principles which
uogfhto oner. )Com
Those
m
Commis-
sioner telt so profoundly—to found the true Republic. But he
defied any one to bring forward ther
case
cLate olice, and not
eh prable Repre-
sentativeows ifoh nto he hre a,dt ho
acted
reendnrGovernment.—(Oh
hadlel
n t.wacted_e
referredr
e( oe
hot:
omlmproperly.mo t
sisted that everything had been conducted most fairly and
honourably. In the course of this part of his speech, the
Hon. Representative having declared that the falling Ministers
were in Belgium a universal mark of denial arose. Then,
turning to the right of the Chamber, he commenced a violent
attackon the old Members of the Left, though without naming
any one. He accused them of now doing what they had been
doing for the last 18 years, namely, aiming at power. They
had been, he said, powerless, formerly, in their position, and
now they were the same. Whenever an important occa-
sion presented itself, they were wanting to their country
and to themselves. He instanced the banquet in February,
place; everything was even then
as an instance in point. He asked, could anything
be worse than the commercial state of the country
again, the same system was
pursued—that hen
immoveability. But that course could not
piwnuhtehne tghree
ar
te
ovsot I u
disorder.i on teo k
Now,
prevail—could not be of benefit to the country. It was the
only way to bring in the Red Republic, by not
yielding to what was justly demanded. But why
speak of the Red Republic ? Believe me," said
the Honourable Gentleman, the " Red Republic is a
vain word."—(Movement.) Socialism, however, he did
not consider so vain a matter. The Honourable Repre-
sentative then declared that he wanted labour for all, family
joys for all. domestic comfort for all. He spoke for some
time in favour of giving the working classes a firmer position
in the country. He declared that unless the working
classes were provided for more effectively, they would in
the end make a position for themselves; property, he
declared, seas almost an empty name at present in France, as
every part of the territory was mortgaged for the full value.
He instanced the fact of the Government giving a few days
before 75 millions worth of the state forests, to raise money,
as a case in point. After supporting Socialism for some time
the Hon. Represenstative declared that if the members of the
Assembly were really republican they would act so as to
carry out the principles of the Republic, he thought the
country might be saved, but if not, fresh troubles must in-
evitably arise. The llon. Representative spoke with great
energy, was occasionally applauded, sometimes laughed at,
and at the end allowed to leave the tribune with scarcely a
cheer.
The President—M. Louis Blanc claims the tribune.
Some of the servants, brought in the stool formerly the
inseparable companion of the Honourable Representative
when in the tribune, though of late neglected. However,
on this occasion, it was again put in requisition.
M. LOUIS BLANC commenced by passing a high eulogium
on
under the monarchy. He declared that he believed the late
the Republic,
and the persons who had supported it
Revolution to be eminently social, the chief point of which
being the organization of labour.—(Murmurs.) He had
brought forward his views in the Provisional Government,
and met with opposition from some of his colleagues. He
wanted Ito give in his resignation, but the others refused,
fearing some popular movement.
(Left sitting.)
BOURSE, PARIS, FRIDAY, AUG. 25.
THREE O'CLOCK.—There was a slight reaction at the
' Bourse to-day. The funds rose per cent.; but the business
done was exceedingly limited. The Bank returns being
favourable, the shares of that establishment rose con-
siderably. The result of the debate in the Assembly was
looked for with great interest, but nothing was known when
the House closed. For the Account, the French Three per
Cents. have risen 25c.; Five per Cents. have risen 50c. ;
Loan has risen 75c. For Money, the Three per Cents. have
risen 50c. ; Five per Cents. have risen 75c. ; Loan is the same
as yesterday; Bons du Tresor not quoted; Bank of France
Shares have risen 5f.; Belgian Bank Shares and Two-and-a-
Half per Cents. not quoted. Spanish Active, Three per
Cents., Passive, Roman, and Rothschild's Receipts are with-
out any change.—Exchange on London (30 days), 26 32i;
ditto (90 days), 25 22k.
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK-EXCHANGE, AUG. 25.
Namur and Liege, 4%—Northern of France, 5%—
Paris and Lyons, s—Ditto, 414—Rouen and llavre, 8.