The Sun.
London, England, 1851-01-20 00:00:00

THE SUN,

the standard of Legitimacy and proclaiming anew his
adhesion to monarchical ideas. The speech of the
honourable gentleman was nothing less than a de-
claration of loyalty to the cause of the Count DE
CHAMBORD, or in other words a barefaced falsification
of those oaths of allegiance made by him to that
republican form of government which he is now
endeavouring to betray by provoking a counter-
revolution. According to the happy phrase of
M. DE LAMAtRTINE, the heat of the opinions
entertained by M. BERRYER is such as to cause his
most secret thoughts to sparkle out in spite of his
own constitutional self-possession. Uncertainty can
no longer, therefore, be felt as to the feelings cherished
in the hearts of the still infatuated Legitimatists.
Whatever may be averred by them henceforth as to
the veracity of their allegiance to Republicanism, it
never can be credited of them that these assurances
are otherwise than most hypocritical. The charge of
hypocrisy, it is true, has been thrown out by M.
CHARRAS against the Prince. PRESIDENT of the Re-
public ; and that charge has been vociferously echoed
by the Mountain. Yet we are bold to say that it
appears to us somewhat less hypocritical to adhere
to the oath of loyalty to the Republican form of govern-
ment, as Louis NAPOLEON has done uninterruptedly
ever since his election on the memorable 10th of De-
cember, and to endorse that oath voluntarily two
years afterwards by its spontaneous renewal in the
Presidential Message to the Legislature—than it is, to
swear faithfully to obey the Republican institutions
inaugurated on the Ist of May, 1848, as M. BERRY ER
did, together with his brother intriguers in favour of
Legitimacy, and afterwards to betray an un-
diminished fanaticism in behalf of the ex-
ploded principles of Monarchy. The accusation ap-
pears to us, therefore, to be somewhat strangely
misapplied. It hypocrisy is capable of detection on
any side, it unquestionably must be among the Bur-
graves—among those whose solemn oaths of allegiance
to the Republican form of government are not suffi-
ciently powerful to prevent their still conspiring for
another restoration.
Fortunately, the prestige hitherto enjoyed by the
Right of the Assembly has been at length entirely
and irrevocably dissipated by the recent confessions
indulged in by its leaders. M. BERRYER has been
emulated in this wilful candour by a greater than
himself, by one of those remarkable men, the sound
of whose voice can affect the funds of a nation, and
cause the mercurial barometer of credit to rise or fall,
according to the force or feebleness of its intonation.
M. TRIERS, in the sitting of Friday, boldly
asserted the hostility of his sentiments in
regard to the PRESIDENT. The acknowledg-
ment we doubt not will be fittingly employed by
LOUIS NAPOLEON. The duplicity of the historian will
not be forgotten. His sententious avowal, "If the
Assembly recedes the Empire has arrived," will be
borne in serious recollection ; and this not merely in
reference to the declaration uttered, but especially
and peculiarly with regard to the author of the ut-
terance. If M. BERRYER was gifted with audacity
enough to enable him to announce his continued
adhesion to monarchical principles ; and if M.
Tunas was foolhardy enough to throw aside prema-
turely his long preserved masquerade—M. DE LA-
mARTINE, with a magnanimity worthy of his great
name, had the courage to commend the Prince in
spite of the yells of the Mountain, and to eulogise the
Republic in spite of the sneers of the Burgraves—M.
BAROCHE had confidence enough in his own Ministerial
capacity to fling defiance in the teeth of the conspir-
ing Legitimatists—and General CAVAIGNAC had
energy and valour sufficient to brave all possible

consequences, by spurning from him at once the
views of the Right and of the members of the Ad-
ministration. The result of this important discus-
sion is in the highest sense of the word satisfactory,
—the Republicans, that is to say the true Republi-
cans, the moderate Republicans, the Republicans
identified with the more patriotic section of the Pro-
visional Government, having obtained a decisive vic-
tory through the late decision of the Legislature.
That decision in truth, while it is condemnatory of
the proceedings of Ministers, is the actual abandon-
ment by the Right, of the cherished interests of

General CHAIIGARNIER. It will be observed
by the readers of the debates in the Assembly
that " the Sphinx has at length spoken "—briefly and
incidentally it is true, but still—spoken. The be-
nefit derived by General CIIA/CGARNIEE, however,
from his tardy expression of his opinion on Friday
was nothing more substantial than a loud and voci-

ferous cheer from the benches of his quondam sup

porters. Those supporters have since then shrunk
away from the contaminating influence of his society,
and have delivered him over to a state of ignominious
obscurity. The determination of the Assembly,
under existing circumstances, and all things consi-

dered, may be regarded as in truth highly advanta

geous to the PRESIDENT the Burgraves having been
deprived of their importance, General CHANGARNIER
having been reduced to insignificance, and
the cause of Legitimacy itself having been transformed
from a dream of possibility into an actual opprobrium.

Every genuine democrat in France may congratulate
himself and his compatriots on the effects of the late
discussion about CHA.NGARNIER, that discussion having
effectually stripped the Right of the disguise hitherto
worn by the secret aspirants for a restoration. Prince
Lours NAPOLEON may now recognise with facility
the ranks of his antagonists and of his adherents,

;he belligerent forces of the traitors and the chain

pions of Recublicanism, the opposing legions of the

revolutionists and the counter-revolutionists. From

,heir judicious comparison may be drawn a policy
_ _ _

capable of sustaining the vigour of democratic prin
. _

ciples.

The general support accorded to the County Courts
Extension Bill when that measure was before Parlia-
ment last session afforded the best evidence of the in-
tense desire of all classes of the community for the
attainment of cheap and speedy justice. The state of
public feeling enabled the promoters to carry
their project, notwithstanding the resistance
of the Ministers, who having been sig-
nally defeated by a decisive majority on
the second reading, judiciously relinquished further
opposition, and assisted in passing the measure
through both Houses, until it became a portion of the
statute•law of the land. But there was one capital
error committed in the original Act which was not
remedied, or in any degree noticed, in the new enact-
ment, an error which we pointed out during the
pendency of the Bill, so that it might easily have been
avoided. There was no provision made for an appeal
to any tribunal in the event of the district
judge being mistaken in his opinion, and pronouncing
a wrong decision in consequence. This unfortunate
system, -which renders the first hasty judg-
ment to all intents and purposes final and con-
clusive, renders the judge practically irresponsible.
He may mile or unmake laws at his
mere will and pleasure. The law of England
for the time being must come out of his mouth.
He may refuse redress to the suitors, or establish
the most inequitable precedents, and compel their
satisfaction. Ile exercises a despotic authority within
his district, wish respect to all demands not exceed-
ing 201. or .501., if the plaintiff voluntarily selects
his court. The great stimulus that ensures the
accuracy and impartiality of the judges of
the superior courts is completely wanting.
Any error OIL the part of any one of these
learned and eminent men is sure to be brought to
light, and their judgments revised and cor-
rected, if any .point can be discovered on which
e y
the presence
to hang an objection. They are also check d b
of an acute and intelligent bar, and
the desire to maintain an unblemished reputation in
" The Hall But the' County Court judge has
nothing of the kind to take into consideration ; he
may coma lit the most glaring mistakes, his judg-
ment will still be conclusive, and he may
satisfy h imself by thinking that "a blot
no of until it is hit," that his error,
however flagrant, cannot be brought to light.
The lar will not attend, because they are
not al lowe d any precedence. A gentleman may
occasio. lolly be brought down
special
will onl Ten lain while the case in which,
he
bisutconh-e
con-
cerned n at ty he under discussion, and will hurry away
the moma tit it is terminated. It is seldom indeed
that eves . a reporter is found to record and give
publicity to the decisions. Nothing can in fact be
more sun g
and quiet than the entire transac-
tions. ie sic volo sic jubeo of the judge must
be receive d with most profound respect and de-