The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-06-06 00:00:00

FRANCE.

Since our last, tranquility in—France has not been in-
terrupted by any specitlic act, but apprehension prevails
in Paris. The National Assembly have passed a law for
the reform of the national ateliers, substituting task work,
and sending the country workmen home to their own
departments. It was declared by the Minister of Public
Works that men refused five and six francs a day from
private employers, that they might have two francs and
idleness at the national ateliers. The report to the Cham-
ber denounced the ateliers as a national burden, and, in
fact, a nuisance.

The principal debate in the assembly on Wednesday
was relative to the application, on the part of the At-
torney-General, for leave to impeach M. Louis Blanc for
participation in the outrages of the 15th of May. The
feeling in the chamber against him was evidently very
strong. He made a speech, and defended himself
spiritedly. He said—" Ido not desire to defend myself
as an individual, but as a representative of the people, for,
in fact, what is demanded of you, is to commence an era
of persecution, to inaugurate the epoch of the republic by
the reign of terror, which they reproach us with having
desired to establish—we who commenced by abolishing
the punishment of death. Behold to-day our recom-
pense. Not a drop of blood has been shed for three
months ; not a single prosecution has been directed, but
now hatred arouses itself, and acts with violence. What !
reproach me with having wished to violate this sacred
assembly; I, who have said to the people, `Here is the
temple of your sovereignty.' Let him who can say to the
contrary rise, that I may tell him to his face he lies. I
await with impatience the examination of my conduct. It
will then be seen whether I did not confer the prior even-
ing with the authors of the manifestation, and use my
endeavours to dissuade them,—and whether I did not tell
them that such a manifestation would be hiehly dangerous,
not only to the interests of established order, but also to
the interests of liberty. Yes, the interests of liberty ; for
I represented that the reactionists would make good use
of the effect of that manifestation. (Murmurs.) A re-
publican, I did not desire a manifestation fatal to the
republi. (Hear.) If Iso speak, be assured it is not to
avoid either imprisonment or death. Ido not fear either.
(M. Louis Blanc here became very animated.) I do not
fear death (said he), and in thus speaking, I know what I
say; for I undertake to say that, before long, the punish..
meat of death will be restoreu." (Loud expressions of
dissent.) After a lengthened discussion, the question as
to whether the impeachment should proceed was referred
to a committee, the composition of which is understood
to be unfavourable to M. Louis Blanc. The number of
persons in custody for this affair amounts now to between
two and three hundred. How to dispose of them will be
one of the great difficulties of the government.
A placard was seen posted on the walls of Paris, on
Wednesday, proposing the Prince de Joinville as a can-
didate for the department of the Seine. The decree of
banishment against the family disqualifies him. The
person (M. Viguic) who proposed the prince as a candi-
date is to be prosecuted. The elections for the Seine are
fixed for to-morrow (Sunday), and the fate of M. Adolphe
Thieis is then to be decided. The committee of the
assembly on the constitution determined, on Wednesday,
in favour of a single president, by a majority of 17 voices
against 5. It will be remembered that it was determined
that the presidentship of the assembly should be.a monthly
office. The period for M. Buchez will expire in a few
days.. The oandidatvo for the pre4deolalip for the ne4