The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-05 00:00:00

OPENING OF THE FRENCH
CHAMBERS.

The following appeared in a portion of our impression of
yesterday eveDlDgr, :

PARIS, MONDAY, FEB. 4.

The French Chambers were opened at 1 o'clock
to-day by the Emperor, who delivered the follow-
ing speech :
MESSIEURS LES SENATE S,
MESSIEURS LES DEPUTES,

Le discour d'ouverture de cheque session resume
en peu de mots les actes passes et les projets i venir.
Jusqu' 3ce jotur cette communication restrainte par
sa nature ne mettait pas mon Gouvernement en
rapport asses intime avec les grand corps de l'Etat
et ceux ci etaient privees de la faculte de
fortifier le gouvernement par leur adhesion pub-
lique ou de l'eclairer par leurs conseils.
J'ai decide que tons lee ans un expose general
de la situation de l'Empire serait mis sous vos ye ux
et que les depeches les plus importante de la d iplo-
matic seraient depasees sur vos bureaux.
Vous passrerea egalement dans une adresse mani-
festee votre sentiment sur lea faith qui s' accom-
plessent non plus comma autrefois par une, simple
paraphrase du discours du trone mais par la fibre
et loyale expression de votre opinion.
Cette amelioration initie plus amplement le pays
a ses propres affaires lin fact eeux connaitre ceur
qui le gouvernment comme ceux qui siegent dans les
Chambres et mal gre son importance n' attire en
rien l'eaprit de la constitution.
Autrefois TOW les savez le suffrage etait restraint.
La Chambre des deputies avait it est vrai des pre-
rogatives plus etendus. :dais le grand nombre des
fonetionnairres publics que en faisaient partie don-
nait an gouvernement une action directe sur ses
resolutions. La Chambre despaires votait anssi les
lois maim la majorite pouvait etre a ehaque instant
deplseee par l'adjonction facultative de nouveaux
membres. F.nfin les lON D'Afaiiartb eit3 toujours
cntees pour leur valeur reelle mais suivant la
chance que leer adoption on lour rejet pouvait
avoir de maintenir on de renverser un Ministeir de
la par de sincerili, dans les deliberations peu de
stabilites dans la mnrche du Gouvernement pen de
travail utile accompli. Anjourdhui toutes les lois
sent preparees avec soin et maturite par un eon-
veil compose d'hommes, eclaires qui donnent lour
avis sur toutes le mesures a prendre.
Le Senat gardien du pacte fundamental et dont
le pouvoir conservateur n'use de son initiative que
dans lee circonstances graves, examine les lois sous
lee soul report de leur constitutionnalite mais veri-
table eon! de cessation politique, est composes
d'un nombre de membres qui ne peut etre depasse.
le:corps Legislatif ne s'immisee pas it est vrai, dans
tousles details d'Administration mais it est nomme
directement pas le suffrage universel et ne compte
dans son sein anenn fonetionaire public. Il discute
les lois avec la plus entiere liberte. Si elles sont
rep:mission c'est un avertissement dont le Gouverne-
ment tient compte, mais ce rejet n'ebranle pas le
pouvoir, n'arrete pas la marche des affairs, et n'ob-
lige pas le Souverain a prendre pour conseilliers
des hommes qui n'auraunt pas sa confiance.
Telles sont les differences principales entre la
constitution actuelle et celle qui a precede la revo-
lution de Fevrier.

Equisez Messieurs pendant le vote de l'adresse
toutes les discussions suivant la mesure de lair
gravity pour pouvoir ensiute volts consacrer entiere-
ment anx affaires du pays car si celles-ci reclament
un examen approfondi et consciencieux les interets
a leur tour sont impatients de solution promptes.
A la veille d'explications plus detaillees je me
bournerai a vous rappeler sommairement co qui
s'est fait au dedaus et au debors.
A l'interieur toutes les mesures prises tendent a
augmenter la production agricole industrielle et
commercielle. Le rencherissement de toute chose est
la eonsequence inevitable d'une prosperite crois-
sant mais au moins devions nous chercher a
rendre les objets de premiere necessite
le moins chers possible. C'est dans ce but que
nous avons diminue les droits sur les matieres
premieres, signe un traite de commerce
avec I'Angleterre, projecte d'en contractor d'autres
avec les pays voisins, facilite partout les voies de
communication et les transports.
Poureealiser ces reformes economiques nous avons
du renoncer a quatre vingt dix millions de recettes
annuelles et cependant to budjet vous sera presente
en equilibre sans qu' it ait ete necessaire
de recouvsir ni a la creation de nouveaux
impots ni an credit public ainsi que je vous l'avais
annonce l'annee derniere.
Les chan,gements operes dans I'administration de
ont place la direction superieure des
atiaires au coin meme des populations. Les ser-
vices illustres du Marechal mis a la tete de la
colonie soot de ours garantis d'ordre et de pro-

sperite.
A l'exterieur je me snis efforce de preveuir dans
mes relations avec les 5 puissances etrangers que la
France desirait sincerement la pain, que sans re•
noncer a une legitime influence elle ne pretendait
s'ingerer nulle part ou ses interets n'etait pas en
jeu, enfin que si elle avait des sympathies
pour tout ce qui est noble et grand, elle n'hesitait
pas a condanmer tous ce qui violait les droit des
gens et la justice.
Des erenements dificiles a preroir sent venue
compliquer en Italie une situation deja si em-
barrassee.
Mon gouvernment d'accord avee ses allies a cru
que le meilleur moyen de conjurer de plus grands
dangers etait d'avoir recours an principe de nos in-
terventions quo laisse cheque pays maitre de ses
destinees, localise les questions et les empeche de
degenerer en conflits Europeens.
Certes je ne l'ignore pas ce systeme a I'inconve-
nient de paraitre aitoriser bien de facheux exces
et les opinions extremes prefereraient, les ones, quo
la France, prit fait et cause pour toutes les revolu-
tions ; les autres, qu'elle se mit a la tete d'une reac-
tion generale. Je ne me laisserai detour-
ner de ma route par aucune de ces excita-
tions opposees. II suffit a la grandeur du
pays de maintenir son droit la ou it est incontes-
table, de defendre son honneur la ou it est attaque,
de preter son appui la ou it est implore en faveur
d'une juste cause.
C'est ainsi que noun axons maintenu notre droit
en Ifaisant accepter la cession de la Savoie et de
Nice. Ces provinces sout aujourd'hui irrevocable-
ment reunies a la France.
C'est ainsi que pour venger notre honneur'
l'extreme Orient, notre drapeau uni a celui dela
grande Bretagne, a flotte victorieusement sir les
murs de Pekin et que la croix embleme de la civili-
sation chretienne, surmonte de nouveau dans la
Capitale de la Chine, lee temples de notre religion
fermes de:puis plus d'un siecle.
C'est ainsi qu' au nom de l'humanite nos troupes
sont allees en Syrie en vertu d'une convention
Europeenne proteger les chretiens contre un
fanatisme avengle.
A Rome j'ai cru devoir augmenter la garrison
lorsque la securite du St. Pere a paru men acee. A
Gaeta j'ai envoye ma flotte au moment ou elle
aemblait devoir etre le dernier refuge du Roi de
Naples, Apres l'y avoir laisse quatre mois je
retire, quelque digne de sympathie que fat tine,
infortune Royale si noblement supportee.
La presence de nos vaisseaux none obligeait a
tous ecarter tousle jours du systeme de neutralite
clue J'avais proclame et elle donnait lieu a des in-
terpretations erronees. Or vous le savez en poli-
tique on ne croit, gnere a une demarche purement
desinteressee.

Tel est l'expose rapide de la situation generale.
Qua les apprehensions se dissipent done et que la
confiance se rafierraisse pour quoi les affairs corn-
.rnerciales et industrielles no reprendraient-elles pas
tx n nouvel escort ?

de n'
Ma ferme resolution
estentrer dans aneun
cot: flit ou la cause do la France
our le droit et le justice. Qua, ne serait pas bass
aotts nous done
a craindre ? Est-ce qu'une nationu,,
et compacte
conaptant quarante millions d'areespeut redouter
'wit d'etre entraiaer dans dea luttes dont elle
reapprOn, verait pas le bret soit d'etre provoquer
par une menace quelconque;
La premiere vertu d'un peuple est d'avoir
confiance, en lui meme et de ne pas se kisser
emouvoir par des alarmes imaginaires. Envisageons
done l'avenir avec calme, daus la plaine confiance
de ,notre force comme de nos loyales intentions

livrons nous sans pre-occupation exageres au
developpement des germes de prosperite que la
Providence a mice entre nos mains.

[TRANSLATION.]
1
The opening speech of each session sums up in a
few words the acts of the past and the projects of
the future. Up to this time this communication,
restrained by its nature, did not put my Govern-
ment in Esufficiently intimate correspondence with
the great bodies of the State, and they were like-
wise deprived of the power of supporting the
Government by their public adhesion, or of
enlightening it by their advice.
I have resolved that every year a general state-
ment of the situation of the Empire shall be placed
before you, and that the most important of the
diplomatic despatches shall be laid before you.
You will express also, in a published address,
your sentiments on the events which are passing;
not, as formerly, by a simple paraphrase of the
Speech from the Throne, but by a free
and loyal expression of your opinion.
This improvement initiates the country more fully
into its own affairs—makes it know those who
govern it as those who sit in the Chambers, and,
notwithstanding its importance, it affects in no
way the spirit of the Constitution.
Of old, you are aware that the suffrage was re-
stricted. The Chamber of Deputies had, it is true,
more extended prerogatives, but the great number
of public functionaries who formed part of it, gave
the Government a direct influence over its resolutions.
The Chamber of Peers also voted laws, but the ma-
jority could, at any moment, be displaced by the op-
tional addition of new members. In fine, the laws
were not always discussed with a regard to their
value, ;but according to the chance which their
adoption or their rejection might have in maintain
ing or overthrowing a Ministry.
Thus by sincerity in deliberations, by steadfast-
nhsi• ;v.% the plotria of anvprnmPnt. by useful works
accomplished, at present all the laws are prepared
with care and consideration by a council
composed of enlightened men, who give
their opinions on all the measures that are under-
taken.

The Senate, guardian of the fundamental char-
ter, and whose conservatory power never exercises
its prerogative except in circumstances of grave
importance, examines the laws solely on the
question of their constitutionality, but it is in
reality the Court of Political Cassatien, composed
of a number of members who cannot be super-
seded. It is true that the Legislative Body
does not mix itself in the details of
the Administration, but it is elected by
universal suffrage, and does not contain any
public functionary. It discusses the laws with the
most entire freedom. If they are rejected
it is a warning of which the Govern-
ment takes notice, but this refusal does
not upset the powers, does not stop the progress of
affairs, and does not oblige the Sovereign to take
for his advisers men who have not his confidence.
Such are the principal differences between the
existing constitution and that which preceded the
revolution of February.
Exhaust, gentlemen, daring the vote on the Ad-
dress, all the discussions on the measure in order
subsequently to devote yourselves entirely to the
affairs of the country, for if these debates demand
profound and conscientious consideration, the public
interests in their turn demand prompt attention.
On the eve of more detailed explanations I shall
confine myself to recalling to you summarily what
has occurred at home and abroad.

In the interior all the measures taken tend to
increase agricultural productions,industrial'and com-
mercial. Increased prices are the inevitable conse-
quence of an increasing prosperity, but at least let us
endeavour to render the articles of first necessity as
cheap as is possible. It is with this object that we
have diminished the duties on primary articles,
signed a treaty of commerce with England, pro-
posed to contract others with neighbouring
States, and given every facility to the means
communication and transport.
In order to realise these economical reforms, we
have renounced 90 millions of annual receipts
and, nevertheless, thelßudget will present an equi-
librium, without its having been necessary to have
recourse either to the creation of new imposts or
to the public credit, as I announced to you last
year.

The changes which have taken place in the
administration of Algeria have placed the su-
preme direction of affairs in the heart of the
population. The illustrious services of the Marshal
who is placed at the head of the colony form a suffi-
cient guarantee of order and prosperity.
With regard to foreign affairs I am forced to
premise, in my relations with the five Great
Powers, that France sincerely • desires peace ;
that without renouncing her legitimate influence
she will not pretend to intermeddle in any part
where her interests are not involved ; in fine, that
if she has sympathies with all that is noble and
great, she will not hesitate to condemn all that
violates the right of individuals and of justice.
Events difficult to foresee have complicated ii
Italy a situation already so much embarrassed.
My Government, in accordance with its allies, have
believed that the best method of avoiding greater
dangers was to have recourse to that principle of non-
intervention, which leaves each country master of
its own destiny, localises such questions, and pre-
vents them from degenerating into European con-
flicts.

Certes, lam not ignorant that this system has
the inconvenience of appearing to authorise many
serious excesses ; and those of extreme opinions
would prefer, on the one side, that France should
suppress all revolutions; and the other side
that she should put herself at the head of a general
reaction. I shall not consent to be turned from my
resolution by any of these opposing agitators. It
is necessary, for the greatness of the country, to
maintain its rights where they are incontestable ;
to defend its honour where it is attacked ; to lend
its support where it is invoked in aid of a just
cause. It is thus that we have maintained our
right in consenting to accept the cession of
Savoy and Nice. These provinces are
now irrevocably reunited to France. It is
thus that, to avenge our honour in the extreme
East, our flag, in unison with that of Great
Britain, has waved victoriously from the walls
of Pekin, and that the Cross, emblem 01
Christian civilisation ; crowns anew in the capital
of China the temples of our religion that hav
been closed for more than a century.
It is thus that in the name of humanity our troop
have gone to Syria, in virtue of a European Con-
vention,to protect the Christians against blind
fanaticism. At Rome I believed it to be
my duty to increase the garrison when
when
heheen sietcauprpi
threatened.tey raleoaft sent
othe Holy Father appeared to
bem the
yfieeltatsot
rGaeta,efuge u
atftthheepiceriinogd
of Naples. After having left it there four months
I withdrew it, notwithstanding the unfortunate
Ling so nobly supported, was worthy of sympathy.
The presence of our ships caused us daily to ignore
the system of neutrality which I had proclaimed,
and it gave rise to erroneous interpretations, for you
ow
in politics no one ever believes that
any step
is purely disinterested. Such
kn that
is a rapid explanation of the general
state of affairs. Therefore,
let apprehensionsbe
be dissipated, and let confidence
re-estab-
lished. Why should not commerce 3
slyand firm
indus-
try be renewed with fresh vigour .
resolution is not to enter into any conflict where
the cause of France will not be based. upon right
and justice. What, then, have we to fear ? Can
it be possible that a united and combined nation,
amounting to forty millions of souls, can dread either
to be drawn into contentions of which she does not
approve the object, or to be provoked by any menace
whatsoever. The first duty of a people is to have
confidence in themselves, and not to allow
themselves to be carried away by imaginary
fears. Let us calmly look forward into the fature,
then, in the full confidence of out at?-ngth as of
our honest intentions, Let us give ourselves up
without over-anxious considerations to the develop-
ment of those germs of prosperity that Providence
has put into our hands.