Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-07-20
From Ce65eft's Political Register Of
* .1j1rH %.
NEW FRENCH CONSTITUTIONS.

Wheteverl md the Courier and other
hireIing prints praising any public measure;
whenever I read an eulogium in these seryile
journals on any Legislative act Of our own,
or another government, Immediately sus.
pect something wrong: / am then convinced
that some design is 10 contemplation, to a.
bridge the libef,ies OF the people; that there
is a snake in tie grass which, if not stran-
Sled in time, will sooner or later strange
those by whose sufferance it exists, and is
permitted to become dangerous and for.
midable enemy. 1t is true, that whether
the new Constitution, which France is abcnt
TO receive, be acted upon or not, the situa-
tiou of the French people will be better than
H. was before the Revolrtien, and perEays
better, for some time at Least. than our own
condition under cur present glorious and
happy establishment But il this is all that
the inhabitants of France are to gain by the
change if. after the oceans of blood which
have been shed. during revolutionary
struggle of more than twenty years to obtain
recognition of their just rights, under a
free and representative government !; they
should now reverr to that system which put
it in the power of their ancient rnonarchs.
to render them the dnpes and slaves of their
caprice, or of that OF an insolent minister,
or naughty mistress !: if, say, the French
nation is to be placed in circumstances, In
which there is a probability, or even
chance OF the former tyranny and despo>
tism of the Capets being restored, it APP
pears to me that the return of the Bourbops,
instead of being blessing to France, viii
3be the greatest OF all the curses with which
ishe has been visited. Better. thousand
shines better. would she have been, had she
icontinued under the military sway of Ma
i)oleon for, in the former case, she Will re-
,;eive nothing in return for the sacrifice of
ller rights; while, in the latter, even altho'
no other benefit attended it, her passion for
iSarlike fame her thirst for military glory,
would have continued to be sgrat;fed to the
ullest extent. In the language of the Cou,
. Ter, the new Constitution about to be esta-
slished in France, ought to be source Of
ratuiatipn to this nation, It is,' says that
j aurnal, ? proud tribute indeed tothis conn-
Try. thar, after trying all modes, France ac-
nowiedges AT last that the only real secpri,
~ for pr1lic and private happiness, is To be
found il fashionins her Constitutional Chap-
ter as closely as possible after the model Of the
British'-indeed lit is the first time ever
heard Of people acknowledging The b,ess-
ing of n Constitution, which had been forced
uJ@a. tlsts,s, ~ the 5as.a. % IKE tageaee. =;
even the Senate had been disposed 20 get
rid of the Code Napoleon, and to adopt the
English cuie. rs the only real security for
public and private happiness, why did hey
not declare themseiyesbefare the sword was
pointed to their breasts; before two hundred
Thousand pISksts enyironed the hall where
they were assembled To Iegislate for the
French people s--rhe Seuate must have
known the actual strength OK Napoleon
they must huve been aware, that his re
sources wcnld not long enable hiu To conti-'
nue. the contest. If, therefore, they were
in rea!itv attached 10 the Bcu,.Dons, a /. X
now said, they are TO atnan. why were thev
so long in avowing their sentiniertss How
can they excuse themselves, or where can
any man find an excuse for the conduct OF
rnen who mated Napoleon, who knew th5ir
own strength, who were perfectly acquaInt-
ed with public feeling. and yet, who not on
W permitted NAPOLEON, in these circuHstan-
ces, to sacrifice the best blood of Vance in
useless struggle, but, in truth. employed
their own power end importance i. the
State,>to second, according to the new re-
ceived opinion, his vain and foolish projects ,
1t is idle to .alk of Napoleon having caus.
ed this immense flow Of blood, if the Senate,
knowing his weakness stood BY and did no.
thing to prevent it.--But if. on the other
hand, Bonaparte's Senate was attached to
his dynasty if the people entertained the
same views; and if, jointly. they preferred a
continuance OF his reign to the res,cratiou Of
the Bourbons. Ia position which has nc. vet.
asfar as appears to me. been fully negatively
how then can il be snid That a Constitution.
framed under the Immediate influence OF. If
mot actually dictated BY. foreign powers, who
in possession Of the capital ard whose
sority IS backed by a formidable army
sw, ask, Can this be conjdered the:
peous act Of the French nasiOn 5------