Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-03-19


And then the meeting adjourned.
p. HARRISON, Chairman.
W. F. GRAY, Chairman.
by TIE HANNIBAL FROM LIVERPOOL.
From. he London Times, FEB. 10.
PART, papers and letters of Saturday, which
were received yesterday, contain No political
news of Importance. The French Ministry are
described in our private correspondence as cx-
iecting every day to learn some of the results
OF the mission OF their new Envoy VI. de Mr.
celins) tn Madrid, and are said to be dctcrmin-
ctt To SHOW their high displeasure against their
fanaticai satrap Ferdinand, if he continues lon
ger to- oppose the publication of an amnesty,
which they des,n as necessary 10 the Tranquil
military occupation of Spain, to the ultimate
restoration of internal order. II is even men
TONED, that they have threatened if their repre-
sentation prove iruitlcss, to recall their anibas-
sa,tor-l kihI of menace which, if made, even,
Ferdinand will know how to appreciate. The
french Cabinet, i'll the manage: nent of two
kingdoms, seem at present to have sufficient
work Oh hant; but the elections in France appa-
rently give them more trouble tan fcrIina,i,!
AMI the civil dscorls on the other sle of the
Pyrcnocs. 1t would be difficult t. make per-
unacquanted with the representative sys-
TEN and political parties in France comprehend
to what extent Government acts ON tie clcc-
lions, and the multiplied abuses of which their
opponents huye to complain. In this country,
Whatever defects may exist in the mode OF clioo,
sinr oIi,-incnbers, it Will at least be allowed
shat we have some independent elective bodies
and that, except in the case of close borong!ls,
the agents of Government cannot act directly
xjn the mass OF the electors, or command the
corrupt services oil the returning officers. The
Layers oft,wns, the S!ie;itts and Lord Lieute-
naats of couaticss cannot here be removed from
t',eir situations for not returning Government
'aalLiate. Among our neighbours the case is
sii.flrent. In France there is no in dependent
holy intcrposai rs shield between the citizen
Gillcl to exercise his right of tlecting deputies,
to control the conduct of Administration, AMI
the agents of that Administration interested in
securing the choice of individuals, To sanction
their abuses Of power. From the Minister of
the Interior, down to the petty Mayor of an in
signifcantviilase -fron the hccpcroft the Seals,
-downto the door-zeepcrs of a provincial court,
there is an unbralcn chain of authority and IN,
iincuce on which the Cabinet can act with an
unerrin:, certainty of effect, and with the rapi-
dity OF telegraphic communication. The lat
ter officer has lately told, By u circular, call
whom it may concern" within his jurisdiction,
tat there rs place IN the whole scale of Of
fee which reckon oll stability if its &C.
Cuper does not vote for Government cantli-
date; and every Project, Sub-Prefnct, Mayor
Civil Administrator, or Collector of Revenue,
have received similar Instructions. The or
aSanization of the system being perfect, and
the orders to work it in behalf OF the Ministry
SD strict and mGnacing, it is wonder that we
hear of multiplied and almost incredible abuses.
Tue clector whose opinion is known or suspec-
1e; to be hostile TO the existing Cabinet meets
every where witli obstacles in procuring the
documents necessary to establish his right of
suffrage; while the elector Ola opposite set of
opinions is hailed as friend at all the bureauX
ani finds really delivery of all his papers and
certificates. Old men OF seventy or eir.ty.
bonding under the weight of age and inirmitics,
wlo hive voted ut all elections since France
obtained the elective franchise, are sent away
II obtain certificates Of their birth, if they are
supposed to be Liberals while persons below
the gal age of 30 admitted on the clecto-
ral lists, If they are known to entertain Ultra
principles. Nay, the atn3unt of the electors
iinpos.s Is altered to suit electonccring purpo-
.s,s and as the payment of 800 francs of direct
taxes is required as qualification, opposition
persons, who have been in the habit Of paying
that sum, find themselves suddenly and unex-
pocteIiy re'ieoed Of such part Of it as brings
them below the Ieya! rate, while the Ultra cleo
tor is 'tDou,'ed with the imposition of new bur
dcns, that he may receive the carcsses of the
ministry, ani send Government Deputy to
ahe Chamber. We hear of electors who have
been obliged to spend fo'u'd days, and to run a.
bout 100 miles III the streets of Paris, to obtain
papers which, hut for frivolous objections, they
might have obtained :: an hour: while, on the
ot!.,r han |, individuals who favour Ministerial
views have certificates kindly sent them, which
prove their possession of a vote to which they
could not previously aspire.
But the climax OF notorious partially and in
Justice has been attainedin the case of M. Scho-
ncn, a Judge OF the Royal Court of Paris. A
letter from this respectable person, whose pro-
fcssion and rank in society place his word above
Suspicion, has appeared in the Paris journals
AMI las we are t,ld in our private letters) has
male deep impression on the general body
of the electors. NJ. Schoncn is doncied in
Paris; AMI cough he has property in two OF
three departments, has nodorniciic but in the CAPT
tai. Having obtained his certificate of taxes
age, and other qualifications, he presented their
as required to the Prefecture. No objection
was made to the correctness of any one of then
or to te suiicicncy Of the whole; but what was
his surprise when they were returned to hin
with ii note th,t he must pr1ue that he did no
a,aaal h uOfc in any other department. Wher
Illus required TO prove the negative of a thing
impossible fall the elections of the departments
happening on the same day., the Judge of the
Royal Court said he conll scarcely believe Iii,
eyes on reading this official missve lis power.
full remonstranccs, and the publicity given TO hi:
case, have opened the eyes of Government tc
the disgraccful partiality of their agents, and
orders are said TO have been issued TO them t.
conduct their manGuvrcs with more caution in
future. There is no doubt that the result Y. the
elections in Paris will be favourable to liberty
because Ministerial arts neither seduce MOI
inti,nidatc the intelligent population of the ca
pital but it is equally true, that these arts vii
succeed in the provinces, in returning to tht
an Observation-Disclosures Ministerial iori