The Sun.
London, England, 1848-05-09 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MAY 9, 1848.

amongst the National Guards, of which 150,000 had
been given to the people of Paris. In case of war, not
lees than 800 000 men could be brought under arms.
The Hon. Minister also referred to the state of the
navy, and declared that it had been placed in a state to
meet every possible eventuality.
M. Marie, Minister of Public Works, commenced by
alluding to the commercial crisis which weighed on
France when the revolution burst forth. A factitious
system of riches had been established some time previ-
ously, and when the folly of the many schemes which
had been brought forward was made manifest, a
severe reaction succeeded, and great want was
the consequence. The revolution found the work-
ing classes in great distress, and the Provisional Go-
vernment found it necessary to afford employment
to a considerable number. He then explained the
nature of the national workshops ; referred to the im-
pulse which he said bad been given to public works in
every part of France. Alluding to the railway question,
the Honourable Member spoke of its great importance,
and, after declaring that the works had not been for a
moment interrupted, did nothing more, otherwise, than
to recommend the Assembly to consider the question
most maturely.
M. de Lamartine, Minister of Foreign Affairs, then
ascended the tribune amidst general marks of interest.
There were, he said, two parties in presence after the
late revolution—those who thought war the necessary
concomitant of a republic, and those who looked
for liberty, peace, and prosperity, as perfectly
pmible. For his part, be belonged to the latter
class, and though warighoumghtbe might become indispensable,
la
thoughss , France forced to have recourse to
arms, yet he thought peace ought to Ibe aimed at
constantly. The whole policy of the foreign depart-
ment of France, since he bad taken its direction, might
be comprised in two words—armed diplomacy. The
people, it appeared to him, had willed 6y the revolution
three things—a republic; democratic progress, clearly
avowed; and peace, if possible, accompanied by prospe-
rity and plenty. The,Honourable Deputy then said that
he should endeavour to show that the system which he
had adopted was perfectly suited to the present position
of affairs. He thought that in doing so the National
Assembly would not think it necessary for him to read a
sketch which he had prepared of the state of Europe
after 1815.—(Cries of " No, no.") Ile should then
proceed to remark on the position of Prance, as to her
foreign policy after the revolution of July. In place of
standing forth amongst the nations of Europe in her
strength, she had stood apart in a state of isolation and
subalternity. There were two courses, which might have
been adopted after that event—either to declare war on
Europe, or to adopt a system of peace, founded on the
fraternity of nations. The Government which existed
after the revolution of July did neither, and in conse-
quence it had reduced France to a state of deep humi-
, nation. The Hon. Member then proceeded to give a
sketch of the events in Europe since the revolution of
, Feb. 24, with a view to prove that the several nations
were actuated with the same democratic feeling as
France, and that consequently there was no chance of
any power attacking France. He alluded to the events
in Austria, Prussia, Sicily, and Italy; spoke of Swit-
zerland, Russia, and the.various parts of Germany; in
fact, went through the whole of Europe, and drew the
conclusion that France might remain as she was, at
peace, but prepared for all events. Prussia and Austria
could not act, ho remarked, against the will of their
people. Switzerland, Italy, Sicily, and the smaller
German states, were of the same opinion as France,
and sympathised with her most heartily. England
could not suspect France of any desire of meddling
in Spain. Russia had Poland to look to. Whence, then,
had France to dread attack ?—(Loud cheers.) Formerly,
France, with her 36 millions, was isolated; now she
stood in the closest bonds of fraternity with the greatest
part of the nations of Europe, and far from fearing war
from them, could look to them for aid. Under the late
Government all was confusion, now all was the verity of
democratic principles. The Hon. Minister concluded
by expressing a firm belief that France, though fully
prepared for war, if, unfortunately, that course should
be called for, would be able to remain at peace with the
whole world, and carry out the views of democratic
progress which ought to be the principal characteristic
of a republic.—(Loud cheers.)
The President had to inform the Assembly that he
had received a letter from M. Beranger, sending in his
resignation.—(Loud marks of disapprobation.) The
Lion. President here read the letter which expressed the
warmest sentiments of gratitude on the part of M. Be
ranger for the honour done him by assigning him a place
in the National Assembly. His age and literary habits
rendered legislative labours irksome to him, and, unwil-
lingly, he was obliged to retire into private life. He
had, before his return, expressed his unfitness to sit in
the National Assembly; still his fellow-citizens had
thought fit to elect him. They must not be surprised at
his now withdrawing.
A curious scene here occurred, a great number of
Members exclaiming loudly against the poet's resigna-
tion. The opposition was so marked, that at last the
President was obliged to put the question to the vote.
On a show of hands, however, the majority decided that
the resignation should be accepted.
A new Member then ascended the tribune, and pro-
posed that the report of the Hon. Minister of Foreign
Affairs should be printed and sent to the departments, as
well as to the various foreign Courts.—(Great applause).
M. de Lamartine said that he should be sorry that
any innovation should be effected in order to pay a com-
pliment to him. The document would of course be sent
to the representatives of the foreign powers, but for the
44. A....nal:ay must decide as it pleased.
M. Dormes said that he had to propose to the iiational
Assembly a proposition which would be found in perfect
conformity with the sentiments expressed towards the
Provisional Government. It was, first, that the Mem•
bers of the Provisional Government had merited well of
their country—(Great cheering)—and next that an Exe-
cutive Committee bo appointed, consisting of five Mem-
bers, whose names were the following—(The loudest
disapprobation here burst out from the benches of the
Moderate party, and every time the Hon. Member at-
tempted to read the names fresh interruption prevented
him; cries of "It is a surprise," " You have given no
notice," burst out from several benches).
M. Dupont (de l'Eure) rose and said, that it was not
right to bring forward names in that way; it was to con-
promise the proper course of proceeding, :and place the
Members named in a false position.—(Hear, hear.)
Great tumult having arisen, the President suddenly
put on his hat, which was to signify that the sitting was
suspended for half an hour. This would give Honour-
able Members an opportunity of coming to some under-
standing.
During this cessation of the proceedings, it was stated
that the proposition had been agreed to in the morning
at a meeting of the ultra-Republicans. The proposition
was brought forward by MM. Dormes, Trelat, and Jean
Renaud, and the five names intended to be brought for-
ward were AIM. Lamartine, Arago, Ledru Rollin, Gar-
nier Pages, and Marie.
When the public sitting was resumed,
Mr. Dormes said that he should maintain the part of
his proposition referring to the vote of thanks to the
Provisional Government, and to the appointment of an
executive committee, with power to appoint responsible
Ministers, but he should omit the names.—(" Ah, ah,"
and approbation.) The Honourable Member then read
the proposition to that effect.
Another Member said that he should propose as an
amendment, that the proposition should be submitted
in the usual way to the bureaux, and considered with
care.
A third Member said that ho could comprehend the
necessity of submitting the second part of the proposi-
tion to the consideration of the bureaux, but for the
first part he did not see that anything more was neces-
sary than to submit at once to the Assembly the question
that the members of the Provisional Government had
merited well of their country. Surely the Assembly
could nut have a doubt about that point ; it .would be
carried with acclamation.—(Loud cheers.)
M.. Barbes rushed up the tribune and cried out that
he could not coincide in that opinion.—(Oh, oh.) Before
the Assembly passed any such vote, he must call on
them, in the name of the people, to demand an account of
several matters committed by the Government against
the population. Let them call for an account of the
massacres at Rouen.—(Loud disapprobation, which ren-
dered the Hon. Member's 'mice inaudible.) Let them
demand an account of the position in which France had
been placed with respect to Europe.—(Another burst
of the loudest disapprobation, during which the speaker's
voice was completely drowned.)
M. Renaud, the Government Commissioner at Rouen,
replied with great energy to M. Barbes, declaring that
he had long expected to hear that attack, which had
previously been employed in other places—in the clubs,
where the people, so easily excited, were the audience.
After speaking in strong language against the attempts
thus made to sow dissension, he gave a long account
of what had really taken place at Rouen, with a view to
show that the people had been misled, and that the Go-
vernment authorities had been absolutely obliged to act
as they had done.
M. Barbes then proposed an enquite in the affair of
Rouen.
A Member expressed his surprise at such huckstering
in giving a vote of thanks to the Provisional Govern-
ment, after its having, for upwards of two months, so
nobly protected the country from anarchy, and perhaps
civil war.—(Loud cheers.)
After some indignant words from M. Cremieux, in
defence of the Government, the question was put—
" That the Provisional Government has well merited
from the country;" when the question being put, the
immense majority declared in the affirmative, only two
persons (Barbes and Durrieu) having the courage to
stand up against it.
BOURSE--PARIS, MONDAY, MAY 8.
THREE O'CLOCII.---
The Bourse was very calm to-day,
but very little was done. There was an evident reluc-
tance to enter into new transactions until the new Go
vernment was formed. Towards the latter part of the
day there was a slight decline on the opening prices.
The Bons du Tresor are at 31 discount.
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, MAY 6.
Boulogne and Amiens, 65g
Luxembourg, 34 —Namur
and ,Liege, 33,4 —Paris and Lyons, 2—Paris and Rouen
Is—Sambre and Meuse,