The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-04 00:00:00

OPENING OF THE FRENCH

CHAMBERS.

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 SENATEURS,
_ MESSIEURS LES DEPUTES,

Le discour d'ouverture do chaque session resume
en peu de mots les actes passs et les projets a venir.
Jusqu' a ce jour cette communication restrainte par
sa nature ne mettait pas mon Gouvernement en
rapport assez intime avec les grand corps de PE tat
et ceux ci etaient privees do la faculte de
fortifier le gouvernemont par leur adhesion pub-
lique ou de l'eclairer par leers conseils.
J'ai decide que tousles ans un expose general
de la situation de l'Empire serait mis sous vos yeux
et que les depeches les plus importante de la d iplo-
matic seraient depasees sur vos bureaux.
Vous passrerez egalement dans une adresso mani-
festee ♦otre sentiment sur les' faits qui s' accom-
plessent non plus comme autrefois par une, simple
paraphrase du discours du trone mais par la libre
et loyale expression do votre opinion.
Cette amelioration initie plus amplement le pays
a ses propres affaires lin fact ceux connaitr© ceur
qui le gouvernment comme ceux qui siegent dans lee
Chambres et malgre son importance n' attire en
rien l'esprit de la constitution.

Autrefois vous les savez le suffrage etait restraint.
La Chambre des deputies avait it est vrai des pre-
rogatives plus etendus. Mais le grand nombre des
fonctionnairres publics que en faisaient partie don-
nait an gouvernement une action directe sur sea
resolutions. La Chambre despaires votait anssi lea
lois mais la majorite pouvait etre a ehaque instant
deplacee par l'adjonction facultative de nouveaux
membres. Enfin les lois n'etaient pas touj ours dis-
cutees pour leur valour reelle mais suivant la
chance que leur adoption on leur rejet pouvait
avoir de maintenir on de renverser un Ministeir de
la par de sincerili, dans les deliberations peu do
stabilites dans la mnrche du Gouvernement peu de
travail utile accompli. Anjourdhui toutes lea lois
sont preparees avec soin et maturite par un con-
seil compose d'hommes, eolaires qui donnent lour
axis sur toutes le mesures a prendre.
Le Senat gardien du pacte fundamental of dont
le pouvoir conservateur n'use de son initiative que
dana les circonstances graves, examine les lois sous
les soul report de leur constitutionnalite mais veri-
table tour de cassation politique, est composee
d'un nombre de membres qui no pout etre depasse.
Le:corps Legislatif ne s'immisee pas it est vrai, dans
tons les details d'Administration mais ii est nomme
direetement pas le suffrage universe' et ne compte
dans son sein aucun fonctionaire public. Il discute
les lois avec la plus entiere liberto. Si ellos sont
repoussier 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 consoilliers
des hommes qui n'auraunt pas sa confiance.
Telles sent les differences principales entre la
constitution actuelle et celle qui a precede la revo-
lution de Fevrier.

Equisez Messieurs pendant lc vote de l'adresse
toutes les discussions suivant la mesure do leur
gravite pour pouvoir ensiute vous consacrer entiere-
ment anx affaires du pays car si celles-ci reclament
un examen approfondi et consciencicux les interots
a leur tour sont impatients de solution prompter.
A la veille d'explications plus detaillea jo me
bournerai a vous rappeler sommairement cc qui
s'est fait au dedaus et au debors.

A l'interieur toutes lcs niesures prises tendent a
augmenter la production agricole industrielle et
commercielle. Le rencherissement de toute chose est
la consequence inevitable d'une prosperite crois-
sant mais au moins devious nous chercher a
rendre les objets do premiere necessite
le moing chers possible. C'est dans ce but que
nous avons diminue les droits our les matieres
premieres, signe un traite do commerce
avec I'Angleterre, projecte d'en contracter d'autres
avec les pays voisins, facilite partout les voice de
communication et lee transports.
Poureealiser ces reformes economiques nous avons
du renoncer a quatre vingt die millions de recettes
annuelles et cependant le budjet vows 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 jo vous l'avais
annonce l'annee derniere.

Les changements operes dans I'administration de
l'Algerie ont place la direction superieure des
affaires au sein meme des populations. Les ser-
vices illustres du Marechal mis a la tete de la
colonie soot de surs garantis d'ordre et de pro-
sperite.

A l'exterieur je me suis efforco 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 on ses interets n'ctait pas en
jeu, enfin que si elle avait des sympathies
pour tout ce qui est noble et grand, elk n'hisitait
pas a condanmer tous ce qui violait les droit des
gens et la justice.

Des evenements dificiles a prevoir sont venue
compliquer en Italie une situation deja si
barrassee.

Mon gouvernment d'accord avee ses allies a cru
que le meilleur moyen de conjurer de plus ;rands
dangers etait d'avoir recours au principe do nos in-
terventions quo laisse cheque pays maitre do ses
destinees, localise les questions of les empeche de
degenerer en conflits Europeens.

Certes je no l'ignore pas ce systemo a l'inconve-
nient de paraitre autoriser bien de facheux °zees
et les opinions extremes prefereraient, les lines, 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 do cos excita-
tions opposees. Il suffit a la grandeur du
pays de maintenir son droit la ou it est incontes-
table, de defendre son honneur is ou it est attaque,
de preter son appui la ou it est implore en favour
d'une juste cause.
C'est ainsi que nous aTous maintenu notre droit
en lfaisant accepter la cession de la Savoie et de
Nice. Cos provinces sout aujourd'hui irrevocable-
ment reunies a la France.

C'est ainsi quo pour Tenger notre honneur:
l'extreme Orient, notre drapeau uni a celui dela
grande Bretagne, a flotte victorieusement sur lee
murs de Pekin et quo la croix embleme de la civili-
sation chretienne, surrnonte de nouveau dans la
Capitale de la Chine, les temples de notro 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 contra un
fanatismo avengle.

A Rome j'ai cru devoir augmenter la garrison
lorsque la securite du St. Pere a paru menaces. A
theta j'ai envoye ma flotte au moment ou elle
semblait devoir etre le dernier refuge du Roi de
Naples, Apres l'y avoir laisse quatre mois je ai
retire, quelque digne de sympathie quo fut une,
infortune Royale si noblement supportcd.
La presence de nos vaisseaux nous obligeait a
nous ecarter tousle jours du systems de neutralite
que j'avais proclame et ell e donnait lieu a des in-
terpretations erronees. Or vous le savez en poli-
tique on ne croit, gnere a tine demarche purement
desinteressee.
Tel est l'expose rapids de la situation generale.
Quo les apprehensions se dissipent done et quo la
confiance se raffermisse pour quoi les affairs com-
merciales et ir.dustrielles ne reprendraient-elles pas
un nouvel essort ?

Ma ferme resolution eat de wentrer dans ancun
conflit cu la cause du la France ne serait pas basEe
sur le droit et le justice. Qu' avoas nous done
a cramdre ? Est-ce qu'une nation unie et compute
comptant quarante millions d'ames peut redouter
sea d'etre entrainer dans des luttes (lout elle
aPPron, verait pas le bro . d'etre provoquer
par une menace queicon quo.
La premiere vertu d'un peuple est d'avoir
confianee, en ini merae et de AC pats f3C laissor

emouvoir par des alarmes imaginaires. Envisageona
done l'avenir avec calme, daus la plaine confiance
de notre force comme de nos loyales intentions
livrons nous sans pre-occupation exagerees au
developpement des germes de prosperite que la
Providence a mice entre nos mains.

[TRANSLATION.]
The opening speech of each session sums up in a
few words the acts of past and the projects of
the future. Up to this time this communication,
restrained by its nature, did not put my Govern-
ment in [sufficiently 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-
ness in the plans of Government, 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 Cassation, composed
of a number of members who cannot bo 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 dues
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, during 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,industrialland coan-
mercial. Increased prices are the inevitable con se-
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, r
have renounced 90 millions of annual receipts
and, nevertheless, the:Budget 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.

Tho 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 o 1 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 in
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 our
interventions, which leaves each country master of
its own destiny, localises such questions, and pre-
vents them from degenerating into European con-
flicts.

Certes, lam Rot 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, o
emblem
Christian civilisation ; crowns anew in the capital
of China the temples of OUT religion that hay
been closed for more than a century.
humanityEuropoeuarntroop
halvteigs otnheustothSayt Syria,
ni
a, theinnameuoefofa
believed it to be
fanaticism. At 801116 I
Con-
vention, to protect the Christians against blind
my duty to increase the garrison when
the
of the Holy Father appeared to
be threatened.o
I sent my fleet to Gaeta, at the period
when it appeared to be the last refuge of the King
of Naples.
After having left it there four months
sec
I withdrew it, notwithstanding the unfortunate
King 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
know that in politics no one ever believes that
any step is purely
disinteresttheed.
general Such
is a rapid explanation
of
state of affairs. Therefore, let apprehensions
be dissipated, and let confidence be re-estab-
lished. Why should not commerce and indus-
try be renewed with fresh vigour ? My firra
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, end not to allow
themselves to be carried away by imaginary
fears. Let us calmly look forward into the future,
then, in the full confidence of our strength 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.