The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-12-23
Frsm The American Monthly Magazine
SKETCHES OF PARIS.
CHAMBER or pEpuTIEs.

II
| have, for three months, been observin,
the proceedings in the two political chambers
Of France. Their legislation, the bills ap-
proved. the bills rejected. the various opinions
evolved in their discussion, --thesc constitute
one broad and significant type Of the time.
The Chamber Of Peers is, as you may b.
aware, composed Of Two hundred and fifty,
nine members. They are appointed by the
king, out Of certain classes Of notable citi
zens, designated in the charter At the age
of twenty five they may sit in the chamber
al that Of thirty, they VOTE Their various
titles are Of Duke, Marquis, Count, Viscouni
and Baron. The Princes of the blood royal
are Peers by birlhright The body's sane.
ton is Indispensable to the enactment of all
laws, and il constitutes the only tribunal
whereby ministers, accused by the Chamber
OF Deputies may be tried, and all persons
charged with high treason, or any offences
against the surety Of the state. II holds its
sessions, far away from the other Chamber,
over in the old palace of the Luxembourg
palace that has around it as much of revolu-
tionary, consular, imperial, and Bourbon histo-
ry, as any edifce in the kingdom. You enter
beneath lofty portal, into large open court
Through door at one of its corners, you
pass up flight Of stairs, showing your yell
low ticket, first to a national guard, and then
presenting it to liveried huissier, who con-
ducts you up narrow staircase, dimly lamp
lighted, and dreary enough to recall certain
avenues in the old prisons of state at Venice.
Out from that staircase, you pass into the
strangers gallery, and now down before you
may be seen whatever France possesses of
Peers of the realm. The charter which an
nulled every creation Of nobility by Charles
X, permits no exclusive privileges to that ex-
listing for life, under Louis PHILIPPE and his
successors. The king may make mobiles at
his pleasure, but he can give them only rank
and honors, without any exemption from the
charges and duties of society.
The Peers sit in semicircular hall, not un-
like the Senate room of the United States,
resembling also the Chamber Of Deputies,
though much smaller. Its diameter is about
eighty feet. AT the middle Of this diameter
is carved-out recess, wherein stands the
chair of President Pasquier, who is, more
over, Chancellor Of France, circled behind
which are several statues, and between them
hang many standards captured in old wars.
The members benches are ranged amphithe-
atrically in front of the President. Whoever
would address the assembly, may ascend the
tribune. Seldom, however, have | seen any
of them taking that trouble. Generally their
few ideas have been delivered without moving
from their place. In personal appearance,
they differ somewhat from the members Of the
other house. The coats of each are gold
embroidered. They likewise present less
number Of juvenile heads and as for the mat
ter Of tumut and lively action, they are quite
tame in such comparison. Thenard, the
great chemist, attracted eyes by his shaggy
head of hair ; Victor Cousin, by his spirituali-
ty and airs of pertness; and long | looked
upon the worn and impressive features of
Marshal Soult. Looking is indeed the only
purpose for which, this winter, have ever
visited the Chamber of Peers. Had my OBJ
ject been hearing, should invariably have
come to be disappointed. Except the Mar
quis de Dreux Breze, there is hardly an orator
in the whole assembly. And as for interest
ing discussion, the enumeration of principles,
the development of reasons for this or that
policy, there has not, thus far in the session,
Il write upon the 10th Of April, 1887
been an occasion worth crossing the Seine to
enjoy. Until my recent experience, | had no
Just conception Of the political seroism OF the
French Chamber Of Peers. The present
opinions and feelings Of the nation, the wants
and progress Of society, have not therein
been, this year, revealed. There they sit,
three or four days of each week, listening to
tedious reports, talking lazily about bills be-
fore them, looking forward to the trial of Meu-
nier, Lavaux, and Eacaze, and then adjourn
ing How wide the contrast between the po-
litical importance Of this assembly and that
of the United States Senate or the English
House of Lords The daily political press
discusses none Of their proceedings, speaks
seldom of their men. When the political
progress of the week is summed up, little or
no allusion is made to that body. The min
listers are seldom in their benches there.
Had the Chamber Of Peers never been, by
the king, convoked in December, 1886, |
firmly believe that public feeling and public
knowledge would have been no other than
what they are at present. A report of one OF
their sessions is barrenness itself, and the
occasional news Of journalists about them Is,
that the affair of Meunier has been, by the
Peers, postponed to the latter part of next
week, or next month.
Where, then, shall we look for the present
politics of France! About what is this loud
political discussion Of the press! Where are
the ministers upon their benches When
may you see the great results, and also one
great source, of public opinionl Only at the
Chamber of Deputies. This is the sole ma
tional chamber OF France. Go, then, and
watch its fluctuations and its permanenccs, il
you would know in what corner sits the wind
of general feeling. Go there, moreover, il
you would hear Frances best orators and her
most stupid readers. Go there if you would
see the finest parliamentary hall in the world
and likewise assembled therein four hundred
o.l ca. x,;,o I,v, L. or, moro turbulent