Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-06-10


Gentlemen, the chief glory, the true honor of
nation, IL liberty, Qively appreciation the left,
love murmurs OH the right we begin to be relicv-
ed from the state Of political death by the dspositi-
ons of the Charter the royal pledge Of reservations
Alter these dispositions, gentlemen, seventy thou
sand electors, exercising with perfect equality of
rights the elective franchise the ministry before
the last beeve.I have double right as legislator
and citizen to say have not, against the spirit Of the
charter, and in my opinion contrary TO the simplest
rules OF reason, introduced the article vuigarly
called the double vote, by which the fourth part OF
the electors have the additional privilege of voting
twice for the same chamber that is to say for the
only branch q the Legislative power which is not
hereditary.
lis that, gentlemen. which our constitutional
politicians call the democratic part of represen
tative government, and that which, to the others,
is but the excess OF an intolerable demagogy.
Whether 1t is, gentlemen, you have heard
from our honorable colleague. the first speaker,
that it is the tendency of the public spirit, to yield
to the voice Of counter resolution, and obScuran-
hsna the last ministry found themselves obliged to
employ the means Of violence and fraud which you
have justly stigmatized by the name of deplora-
bic system, (voice the left, very good!) II is to
prevent the return of this system that the present
ministry proposes the project OF law, .of which
can say with candor, under the present organiza-
ton of the administration, il is difficult to carry in
to execution.
In effect, Gentlemen, in surveying this hierar-
chy, cunningly organised by the imperial usurpa-
ton the rights of the French people, religious
ly maintained until the present time by the resto
ration, it is in vain that seek for particle of
independence. (Murmurs on the right, counter
balanced by marks of appreciation on the lefty
Projects, sub-prefects, councils of prefecture, of
communcs. Of circles, OF departments, mayors, as
SCISSORS o. contributions, even justices Of the peace
all are the creatures of power revocable at will!
Let us proceed to vote the law which The prnci-
pie OF election reclaimed on all parts, has render
ed the lie OF the administrations, communal depart
mental, and the magistrates, but has reduced just
bounds the exorbtant powers OF these projects, of
whom the name itself had been dug from the ruins
Of the fallen empire! No, without doubt but il is
the means Of execution which we can vote on the
subject.
proceed to speak Of some OF them.
Without arguing the Mons. the reporter on the
primitive and integral propriety of the legislative
power, and the great latitude allowed, accord
ing to him, to citizens exercising this power, a
gree with the honorable opinions previous, which
reclaim the penalty, condition necessary to all
law; would have the accusation carried before
jury; ask, above all, that they should not want
the authorization of state counsel Already it has
been recognised in all parts of this chamber, and
on the bench Of ministers, that the privilege of
counsel of state had wanted great changes; AREA
dy the exception exists ofpecuniary extortion, and
why should it not exist, when the business is TO
name the deputy who shy his vote to decide ON
the receipts & expenses Of all France?
The discourse of my honorable colleagues has
lett me few observations to make; but will re-
mark, in passing, that the privilege given to coun-
ellis OF prefecture, having for its object the obtain
ing of further guarantee, will have, in their pre-
sent composition, and in their judgments with
closed doors, the mischievOus effect of diminishing,
without great advantages, the responsibility of the
projects.
One OF the faults of electoral system is in the
manner In which the contributions can be divided.
Gentlemen, If they represent to you that i'm fixing
the ELECTORAL q'it-rent at three hundred francs OF
contribution the charter has but given the guaran-
tee OF certain revenue, and that consequently
the rent will be low in proportion to the contribu-
ton in the end, you will stop without scruple be-
lore tins difference between the spirit and the let
ter OF the charter All, WE'LL the inferior agents of
me administration are less timorous; and all the
world knows thatby their arbitrary assessments
ana di'rinutions and augmentation, the can quaIi-
~ & di,quali;y the electors-abuses which will
never cease until the mayors and the assessors arc
named by the citizens.
Tovote by secret ballot appears to me to be a
necessary part Of law 10 prevent frauds in the cleo
tons IL is demanded by all the assemblies Some
OF our colleagues prefer voting in public. will
prefer It also, In social order more liberal more
Tree from the influence and the yeXation of mower
and more independent of its immense PATRONAGE
In our present state, wish oaly that in taking
special measures to secure the Independence OF
suffrage, you will put end 10 the indecent dis
Putes which are too often raised between electors
l.
dents OF colleges provisional boards which, ought
to be composed, in my opinion, of the four oldest
electors Tor inspectors and the youngest for secre
tary, and replaced in the interim by the choice of
the colleges see with pleasure by the discourse
OF Monsieur the minister of the interior that the
government has bestowed its attention on this sub
ject.
Gentlemen, am very sorry for the advcrssries
oil the electoral committees, called by them com
inltees OF directors, but above all when in an cleo
uon they VIII form two or three Of these commit
tees, specially occupied bv the interests of their IA
vorte candidate, particularly the candidates who
shall value their rights, enlighten their doubts.
and repeI their approaches, especially by journals
speaking their sentiments. This is the practice i'm
an countries where elections are held, with this
di1erence, that the magistrates, in promoting the
success of their friends, i. it convenient to make
Their effort with the least possible publicity ION
the left very well, very Welt, Thus il is that time
rehcciion, and experience, has taught the minis
ter, who, know not by what cOmplaisance comes
10 attack the elections s. deputies of Paris "a ge
neral iaugh.) Z"
There is another delicate point on which dFar
WIN my honorable colleagues, which is the active
intervention OF the citizens, who are not electors
thear near The imperial system has excluded
them al. he charter admits to the rights of cleo
uon one only OF more than hundred Frenchmen
oil thirty years OF igc. But il is a right DUTY q
sentiment anterior TO all senatus consultuns and
all charters; II is sacred love of country. Low
murmurs on the right il is the desire which, we
all have for liberty, the prosperity. and the honor
OF our country. (AppIauses on the lefty 1
Gentlemen, let US not discourage this sentiment,
especially in the youth ofFrance. FORGET moi. he
sides: that 1t is the name and at the expense of all
the Frencn people, that the house votes every wear
Inilliard OF taxes. tLvely sensation) Forte res,
where some people see danger and trouble, we
rather perceive pledge Of harmony and rcpose
In efect,if by the advantageous changes in our
new social relations, II even by confused associa
ton OF ideas he oC