The Sun.
London, England, 1848-05-17 00:00:00

marks of general interest, and proceeded to explain
what steps the Executive Government had taken to put
down the insurrection the day before. Everything, he
s tid, had been most energetically conducted, the
ringleaders had been taken into custody, and steps
taken to preserve tranquillity. M. S ,brier has been
arrested, arms and ammunition were taken in his
den, illegally collected, and nalny of his men
taken prisoners. The clubs have closed ; that of
the Rights of Man (Blanqui's) was surrounded the
evening before, and the persons composing it dispersed.
All the prisoners had been that moment removed
to Vincennes. Barbei, Blanqui, and Albert were all
in custody. Raspail, Bazin, and Colonel Cess6,
of the staff, were also in custody. The Monta-
guards would not be permitted to exist as a
body. At the Prefecture of Police such persons as
Were suspected were to be dismissed. The head of that
department (M. Caussidiere) had not been included in
that decision, as he had acted with good intention.—
(No, no.) Colonel Clement Thomas, in whom they all
had confidence, was now at the head of the National
quard, and every measure had been taken to insure
public safety.—(Cheers.) The Hon. Member then pro-
ceeded to say that in order that the Executive Com-
mittee could act with energy, the National Assembly
ought to award it full confidence. If the Executive
Committee did not act with activity and decision, it
would find it impossible to insure such order as would
restore confidence, and allow affairs to resume their usual
course.

M. Bonjeau wished to know what were the powers
which the Government demanded. The conduct of the
Executive Council had been the day before marked by
weakness, and if the measures of that body for the
preservation of order hereafter, were not to be
better devised than those for the past, the greatest
scandal might again fall on the Assembly of the
nation.—(Hear, hear.) But he confessed that he
was quite dissatisfied with its conduct with respect to the
prefecture of police. The persons who had held office
there were to be dismissed. it was said ; but why had
not that been done long before? Was it known that M.
Caussidiare had kept about him the Republican guard ?
Wby had not that body been at once put down ? He
must confess that all this appeared to him to require
explanation.—(Hear, hear.)
M. de Lamartine said that his reply to any doubt
thrown on the sound sentiments of the Provisional
Government, would be to point to what it bad done
after the Revolution of February 24. The security of
the great capital in which they were now discussing had
been preserved intact, and the interests of all carefully
attended to. As to the Citizen Caussidiere, whose mo-
rality and character had just been attacked, the Go-
vernment could declare that he had given numerous
proofs of zeal and capacity. He should not, however,
discuss that point, but would leave it to the conscience
of all to decide. The Honourable Member then con-
cluded by demanding, like his compeer, M. Garnier
Pages, " the confidence of the Assembly for some time
longer, assuring them that the period for which it was
required would be short."—(Partial cheers.)
M. Baroche thought that before the confidence of the
Assembly was thus accorded to the:Executive Committee,
fuller explanations ought to be given by the gentlemen
Comprising it.—(Yes, yes.) The affair of M. Caussi-
diere was, in particular, exceedingly dark.—(Hear,
hear.) Why did he not execute the orders sent to him?
--o.lear, hear.) Why was the Republican Guard
allowed to be about him? Why was any such body
allowed to exist ?—(Hear, hear.) He knew of no armed
body established for the &fence of order but the Na-
tional Guard, the Guard Mobile, and the army.—(Loud
cheers.) He proposed that the Republican Guard be at
once declared dissolved.—(Tremendous cheering in sign
of acquiescence.)
M. Garnier Pages, from his place, gesticulated most
energetically. We understood him to ask, if the As-
sembly was prepared to wear the responsibility of such
a measure.—(Cries of " Yes, yes.") It would in all
probability lead to bloodshed.—(No, no.)
A scene of great confusion here arose, and several
members collected round the Honourable Deputy.
The Assembly decided that the Republican Guard
could be at once put down and disbanded.
M. de Lamartine wished to declare on the part of the
Executive Committee, that it did not want an unlimited
confidence for an indefinite time, but merely for such a
period as would enable them to settle the present dis-
turbed state of affairs.—(Applause.)
The Assembly then decided that they would pass to
the order of the day, leaving thereby to the Executive
Committee full freedom to act as might be best for the
public safety.
The Assembly next voted a certain sum of money for
the expense of the Chamber.
M. 13illaulr, after speaking for a short time on the
necessity which existed for the National Assembly to
show that it was determined not to lose time in bring-
ing forward such measures as were most especially re-
quired for the good of the country, said the two ques-
tions of most pressing importance at present—were
public credit and labour. For the first he propt:Pd
that a Committee should be immediately appointed
to present a report—let, on the state of the public
treasury ; 2d, on the state of the public credit': and
3d, on the measures to be taken to remedy existing
evils connected with this subject. On the subject of
labour, he moved that the Committee appointed on that
subject should present without delay a projet de loi, ap-
pointing—lat. Throughout the whole extent of the
Republic, local committees in every arrondissement, to
'inquire into the condition of the working classes in
their neighbourhood, and to interfere in an amicable
manner to arrange questions pending between work-
men and their employers. 2d. Committees in every
department to collect such information from the local
committees as might be useful; and 3d. A central com-
mittee at Paris, to commuaicute on the subject with the
Government.
The Assembly decided that these propositions should
be referred to the Committees on Finance and on
Labour.
M. Billault should also propose, in order to meet the
circumstances of the present time, that a resolution be
passed declaring that tumultous crowds (attroupemens)
within 1,500 metres of the National Palace where the
Assembly sits, are illegal, and that after the usual three
summations, may be dispersed by the armed forces:—
furthermore, that all persons concerned in such acts,
should be at once proceeded against before the tribunals,
and the penalty of banishment be carried into effect
against them.
After some discussion, this proposition was referred to
the Committee on Justice and Legislation.
The Assembly then adjourned for half an hour.
When the public sitting was resumed—
M. A. Avond laid on the table a number of decrees
and papers found in the house of Sobrier, plainly show-
ing that there was a decided intention, on the part of
that person and his confederates, to seize on the National
Assembly.—(Sensation.)
M. Caussid:are ascended the tribune to justify his
conduct during the transactions of the day before. He
complained that he had been most unjustly accused,
which he felt the more, because he had, after having been
appointed Prefect of Police by the men of the barricades,
preserved during two months the city of Paris from
anarchy. He had, by his own energy and that of his
friends, who were men devoted to him, secretly put
down many plots which had come to his knowledge, and
which he thought it useless to make known to the
world. He mentioned several cases as proofs of this
conduct. He complained that in all cases he was not
properly supported by tne Government. With respect
to the manifestation of the day before, he excused
himself on the ground that his powers had been
usurped by others, and that the precautions which he
had taken were rendered nugatory. He dwelt on this
point for a length of time, and then referring to the
money part of his jurisdiction, declared that he we
ready to account for every five-franc piece. Again, re
',forting to the seeming negligence which was spoken of
in his case, he declared that he had offered to arrest some
of the ring-leaders in the morning, but was not per-
mitted—he could not obtain the necessary warrants. He
concluded by praising the Republican Guard as a fine
body of men, devoted to the Republic.
M. Portalis must declare that he had not confidence
in the Prefecture of Police. That very morning a man
named Flotte had been arrested for improper language in
flagranti delieto. and when he had bee❑ taken to the
Prefecture of Police, he had been set at liberty.—
(Marks of astonishment.) Nay, more, several other
persons had been arrested for being connected with the
late insurrection, and they had also been discharged
from custody.—(Oh, oh.) How could any one imagine,
that all could go on well when such things were per-
mitted ? He did not wish to speak against M. Caussi-
diere, but his acts were suspicious.—(Hear.)
M. Caussidifire defended his acts, declaring that he
had never set any man at liberty without sufficient
reasons. He had 1,600 men placed under him as
police, and they were even now, three months after
the revolution, without any proper and distinctive cos-
tume. These were well inclined, but they could not in-
spire confidence, if not properly equipped—(Cries of
"flotte, flotte.") As to flotte, he had given intelli-
gence relative to the intentions of Blanqui and others,
and not having been arrested on a warrant from a com-
missary of police, he had been set at liberty. M. Cans-
sidiare went on praising himself for his conduct, and
blaming the Executive Government for not properly
clothing his men.
M. Senard alluded to the case of Sobrier, who held the
building occupied under the old Government of the
civil list, and had there collected arms and gunpowder
for a considerable number of men. When this was
represented to M. Caussidiare, he declared that he had
interfered and that the arms were taken way, the men
dispersed, and the gunpowder removed elsewhere. All
these assertions were proved to bo false, by the fact that
the National Guard of Paris, indignant at the conduct of
Sobrier, had the day before forcibly entered Sobrier's
house and sacked it; the arms were found there, as well
as the gunpowder, so that Sobrier and his act were
winked at by Caussidistre.
M. Caussidelre attempted to justify himself, affecting
to treat the case of Sobrier as a mere trifle, declaring
that he was a legal tenant of the house, where he bad
established a journal (the Commune de Paris), and where
he had a right to keep what he pleased.—(His explana-
tions appeared very unsatisfactory.)
M. Bavoux wished to place before the Chamber the
contents of a letter which he had just received, but he
must decline naming the author.—(" Name," "Name."
Great confusion on the point of the letter being read,
which lasted some time.)
The Assembly being consulted decided that it would
hear the letter read without requiring the name of the
writer.
M. Bavoux read the letter, which stated that the
writer was present the day before when Sobrier's house
was forced into ; that several barrels of gunpowder were
found there, and a great quantity of cartridges and
muskets. About thirty men were found hiding them-
selves in the cellar.
M. J. Fevre thought that it was a bad precedent for
the Assembly thus to listen to anonymous denuncia-
tions.—(Uproar.) He proposed to close the discussion—