The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1815-08-16
FRENCH NEWS
Recei1'ed by the H6eihno ar Boston.
CHAMBER OLE REPR ESENTATIVES

Gen. La Fayette--This is the first time
tGat nave raised my voice within these
walls, and feel the necessity of opening nv
whole soul to my colleagues. In a time OF
public distress, the true friends of liberty will
perhaps recognize this voice, which has al
ways been raised i'll its defence, and never has
been mingled with the cries of faction. The
sinister reports, which have been surrepti-
tiously circulated for these few days, are now
realized; our armies have suffered a re-
verse, and our territory is threatened. II is to
you' representatives ct the people, that it be-
longs to rally the nation around the tri-coor-
ed banner of 1899, that sacred standard
which is the signal of the revival of liberty,
Independence and public order. It is to YOU,
that IL belongs to summon. the whole nation
TO the defence OK its rights, its ndepentience
and Its territory against FOREIGN usurDatiop ::
veteran OF liberty. and repeat it, always
stranger to the spirit of faction, am about to
propose to you these measures, which our
present Critical circumstances impc rIous.y re-
quire, and hope that the chamber will feel
the tlil necessity of adopting the resolutions
which ] am noY to read. I demand
l. That the chamosr declare, that the in
dependence OF the nation is threatened
=. lhat the chamber declare itself perma-
nent, and that every Individual who shall at
tempt disorder, be declared guilty Of high
treason, and be Forthwith condemned as 5sch.
). That the chamber declare that the
troops OF the line and the national guards who
nave fought for the integrity OF the FreDch
territory, have deserved well Of their coun-
lry.
4. That the minister of the interior be re-
questsd to assemble the staff eff that national
guard, which by It's services has at all times
deserved SO we'll OF the country, ia order that
measures may be taken to furnish arms to
those who are destitute OF them.
5. That the ministers of foreign affairs. of
war, OF the interior nd of the police be re-
quested TO attend before the chamber to an
swer such questions as may be asked Of them
-[seconded seconded 4
NJ. LGcoStes have heard with the liyeliest
emotion what has just been proposed The
momeht most critical, but we will fulfil the
task, that Is imposed on US the emperor's
arrival has undoubtedly Increased its difficult
w. out 1t IS not beyond our strength. The
timehas arrived for declaring to the French
people the whole truth. approve the pro
position that the ministers be REQUESTED to
attend the chamber to answer such questions
as may be asked OF them, but / demand that
they be heard with closed DOORS murmurs
In moment OF alarm, continued the ora
tor, q rash expression ha7Uked about by t6e
t"discrect, might, if it did not discourage the
true TRENDS OF the country, at least furnish
arms to the maievoleut; we are accountable
lor our deliberations to the nation we ought
to make them worthy OF it and of US.
The President. In the cri tical circumstan.
ces IN which we are placed, the chamber can
not be too Cautious as to the measures it
takes. shall therefore read second time.
the propositions, which have been submitted
tous.
One member desired, that in the. ,propositi-
on OF M de Lafayette, instead of the words
the ministers shall be requested''- BE sab
St'tuted the following" the minister shall at
tend" [Secondrd.)
Another member proposed, that every pro-
position should be suspended until the arii-
val OF the ministers, in order that before de
Gliding any thing the members might know all
that they have to say.
Several voices. We know well enough
what they have to say. =.
M PaLentn did not believe that all the
propositions OF Gen. Lafayette were, eG,lailv
admissible. The fourth, he thought, belonged
to the executive power, and the third might
be adjourned.
NJ I,zang6gnes shall support part Of
our colleague La Fayette's proposals h,t
there arc some of them. Which anne.'r
to me susceptible of modification. II IS i'm.
portant To take decisive measures inmedi
ateIy, and MeTCYorc, aEhroUe fhat The
chdm5er declare ITSELF Permanent. Without
TINS indispensable resolution, this assembly
perhaps Will be dissolved in half an hnu,
a ie" moments more, aud you viii not yer.
h4ps h ". the power Of hearing the minis
t@rs whom you have requested 20 attend YOU.
NJ EIaNSeTsues concluded with. moving
that the ulth proposition of NJ In FaV-
enc be suppressed, Is belsnging to the Exec
utiye Alter some further observations tu
multuousy made, the propositions thus modi-
ned, were adop.ed
loe'eral propositions were subsequently
made, Tor printing the resolutions, transmit.
ll"g taen 10 the dep utu ents, Communicating
theH, e. the o'her house, &c.
NJ Rsshaulfdc ST.. Trim d.I4r,ly---The
ministers are assembled ~ council Of state.
was Ar their sitting, and have been char
geo ny his MAJESTY the Emperor t. submit 20
you the following communications:
he empcrur arrived last night at ~ ~
ciocE. Helihmediately asse nIlled his minis
tcrs, aud announced to thcn that at J,eny he
htd gaWcd a victory on the 18Th. and that
the following day the English also we're de-
tedted on The Brussels road their defeat was
complete, and SIX standards were taken from
them But during the night, some il-dispo-
SGD pcrsons spread an alarm, and incalcnla-
bic dis stcrs followed. The emperor ordered =
| retreat upon Avesnes and PhiiliDevie. The
| loss OF material was very considerable. The