The Sun.
London, England, 1860-03-03 00:00:00

FRANCE.

PARIS, FRIDAT.
Of all the Paris journals, only three publish any
observations on the Emperor's Speech at the open-
ing. of the Chambers, and in none of these cases are
the remarks of any length or importance. The

Patric, one of the journals in question, merely
directs attention to the manner in which a passage
of the Speech was received :
" The paragraph," it says, " in which the Em-
peror indicates in such clear terms the views of
France with regard to the frontier of the Alps, ex-
cited the enthusiastic applause of the Assembly."

The remarks of the Debats seem intended prin
cipally to show that the English Government, ai

he moment Mr. Kinglake's motion came on, was

not aware of the intentions of France with respect
to Italy. It says :
" The discourse removes all doubts which the
public may have entertained respecting the new
programme of French policy in Italy. The adhe-
sion given by France to the aggrandisement of Sar-
dinia beyond the limits fixed by the stipulations of
Villafranea and Zurich is definitively subjected to

the following conditions :—Respect of the-separate
existence of Tuscany ; and in Romagna respect in
principle of the temporal power of the Pope.
Moreover, the annexation of Savoy and of the county
of Nice appears to be considered by the Emperor as
a natural and legitimate consequence of this for-
mation of a considerable State in the north of Italy;

but this annexation will not be effectsd by a mili-
tary occupation, and will be preceded by an under-
standing on the subject between the great Powers of
Europe. The English Government, for its part, does
not appear yet decided to give its adhesion to the latter
project, if we are to judge by the speech of Lord
John Russell in reply to the interpellations of Mr.
Kinglake. Lord John, in fact, declared that he had
every reason to believe that this project was aban-
doned by France, or at loaAt that the French Go-
vernment would hesitate long before carrying it
into execution, on account of the distrust it inspires
in Europe."
The writer then enters into an examination of the

proceedings in the English Parliament, and con-
cludes in these terms :
"As to the French programwe which bas re-
placed the four propositions of the English Cabinet,
Lord John Russell made no mention of them in his

important s, tech, and we may suppose that he was
imperfectly informed of it when he expeessed himself
with so much clearness on the question of Savoy."
The language of the third journal, the Pays, is
of an infinitely more laudatory character. It
says : _ _

" Although the speeches delivered by the Empe-
ror, at the opening of legislative sessions or on
great political occasions, have always obtained
great success both among the higher classes and
among the people, it may be said that none ever
produced a more profound or more favourable im-
pression than that which his Majesty has just
pronounced in the Salle des Etats. Four points,
in particular, obtained marked adhesion—The an•
nouncement of the certain and early regulation
of Italian affairs on a basis which will leave Pied-
mont nine millions of inhabitants, and which will
reserve Tuscany and the Legations for distinct ar-
rangement; the passage in which, in speaking of
the recent religious agitation, the Emperor dwelt
on the evident uprightness of his intentions and
conduct, and the moderation of his Government ;
the announcement made in terms simple and firm
of the reasons which oblige France to subject to the
equitable appreciation of Europe the necessity in
which she is placed of ensuring to herself natural
frontiers in the direction of the Alps ; and, lastly,
the eminently liberal spirit which is displayed in
the programme of economic reforms for which the
Emperor claims with confidence the energetic co-
operation of the Legislative Body.. Our readers
will perceive that this speech has given an answer
to all the anxieties of the moment, whichfact i
ex-
plains the immense approbation t obtained."
The following is the speech delivered to-day by
the President of the Corps Legislatif :
" Gentlemen,—The Emperor's speech ought to
reassure on the subject which interests you most—
peace.
"The greatest element of prosperity at present,
that with which a country cannot dispense whose
industry and commerce are developed by credit,
is confidence. Let us hope that the sincere
intentions of the Emperor, expressed both at
home and abroad, as they deserve to be, will de-
finitively restore it ; and, if it were permitted to
me to refer to an additional motive for confidence,
I could find it in the very character of the Em-
peror. I might say—in reminding you of a passage
in his speech of yesterday, which you warmly ap-
plauded—that he will never cease to have the
real interests of France before his eyes ; le* will not
suffer himself to be led away ; and the attacks of
his enemies leave him as tranquil as the ardour of
his allies.
" Your session opens this year under pacific
auspices. I -have not, as last year, to make an
appeal to the exaltation of your patriotism, nor to
ask you to support the Imperial policy. I address
myself to your judgment and to your cool reason.
,l give
wi,iilefirst question which appears, and which
place to measures which will be sub-
mitted to you, is that which at present agitates
the commercial world, and which is raised by the
Treaty of Commerce concluded with England. It has
revived all the theoretic discussions between free
trade and the prohibitive system. Is it not a fit
opportunity to examine the principles with atten-
tion ?
" Free trade may, it appears to me, be considered
as the object to which society is tending, but pro-
tection ought to be the nleans of arriving at it.
Suppose free trade established in a new and poor
country, what will this country produce ? I do
not deny but that it can develope some favoured
industry by a natural privileged situation, but
foreign competition would stifle in their bud
all those things which it requires in order to
prosper. Capital, skilful workmen, experi-
enced overseers, easy communication, and a good
market, in fact all the conditions which time alone
can give it. A transition, consequently, is indis-
eetssabl,re and to preach Free trade to a country
which does not yet enjoy all these advantages is
nearly as equitable as to propose to a child to con-
tend with a grown man. Now, these principles
being laid down, can it be pretended that a Govern-