The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-09
THE DAILY UNION.
EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENCE.
Correspondence Of the Washington UniOn.I

Correspondence Of the Washington Unionl
... PAns, April Is, 1916.
The debates IN the Chamber Of Deputies have
lost their interest, and turn on local topics en-
tirely unimporlant to transatlantic readers. The
nominal representatives Of FraDcs-thAt is, the rep
resentatiyes Of eapital-eonfne themselves entirely
TO specisliuss thai being now the acme of political
wisdom. To defend or assert a prineple--to follow
out a system, or TO look TO eyentualties which are
not likely 10 occur tomorrow, 10 deemed ylsiOna-
ry, and permitted only to such men as Michelet
and Guinet, 10 the students at the EooLs dc Meds
Gina. The only Two questions which involve any
serious consideration, debated during the present
session, were that of the conduct OF NJ. auizot
in the affair of Texas, and the laws, rather the
proposed change of the law, respecting therapeutics"
The first shook the ministry; the latter settled
by a simple appeal TO the majority Of the house,
and, Of course, settled in favor of ministers. No
ministry Of any other country had ever 30 many
disagreeable truths told and proceed on it, as the
% eSent none bore the infection with greater stoi
cism, or prouder CONSEQUENCES Of defeat
ing the opposition by sixty votes. The pro-
blem Of government seems for the present TO be,
in France reduced TO a problem IN arithmetic
and that in more than one respect; but criticism
this subject has become so common that ] refrain
from IL in my correspondence. The chambers WILL
think, be closed some where in July, and then the
contest If such it may be called will be carried to
the electoral hrns You will perhaps, ask me
whether there is any likelihood OF change in the
composition Of the next chamber; and my answer Is
No, most sssuredly none except in favor Of minis
tiers. Were the Oregon and Texas question now
to be debated over again, handsome majority for
the opposition might perhaps be returned; but un-
fortunately for the lasting interests Of France, there
10 nothing but appeal TO the material interests Of
the handful electors make them vote for change
of the status quo. All property TO- from It's very
ture, umid and opposed to changes IN which It can
for the most part only lose; and as the present
French chamber is merely the representative Of
money, and not Of capacity you must touch the
latons either Of commerce or manufactures in or
der to obtain hearing or carry your point.
The only way Of changing the composition Of the
chamber, il TO change the mode Of electing the
members by giving the liberal institutions Of France
a larger basis than couple Of hundred thousand
electors out Of population Of thirty-six millions
An electoral reform Is necessary but the opposi-
uon themselves have not the courage nscrbe this
great principle on their standard. There is, conse-
quently, nothing in the programme Of the opposi-
ton which touches the sympathies Of the people;
nothing that could create pressure from without
TO which the gentlemen within might be obliged TO
yield; popular elamor TO disturb the quiet dsposi
tion Of present affairs. The game Of the opposition
against the ministerial party is one for power only,
played on very small checker-bOard, with not more
than a convenient number Of spectators, who have
right to speak and advise IL is for this that
the opposition is more critical than creatiye-more
ready TO take advantage Of fault than to put for
ward new principle
Sometime in June, we are about to have a reu-
MON Of all the Prefects, or goody number Of them,
for the purpose Of consulting on the best means Of
insurins ministerial success at the ensuing general
elections, The friends OF NJ. Guizot are quite san
guine; and it is estimated by them that the ministe
rial gain may be as great thirty. Yet with all
this, M. Theirs bides his time patiently. He is yet
young man, and must necessarily be the successor
Of M. Gulzot, either heritor his opponent. IL
the present king OF the French prefers M Guizo to
him, the regent and the Duchess Of Orleans may
have prediction for the minister Of the lst March;
for M. Theirs stands at present isolated from all par
ties but in position able TO Join any Of them for
the purpose Of defeating all the others. He s as
were the chief Of the centre gauehsj the smallest
change will transfer him either TO the right or e&
ueme le, and he seems to be willing TO leave 1t to
circumstances WHICH Of the two movements he is
about TO elect. Ater M. Theirs, the leaders Of the
opposition but non-comrnissioned ofhcers-Ango,
Odon Barot, and GARNER Pages not excepted. 10
this manner Theirs commands the opposition in
spite of their dread Of him. as man would be elect
ed to act as captain Of vessel il he the only
man on board that understood navigation, and was
able to carry her into port. But the obedience en-
forced in this manner, is very far from creating
thusiasm, and is not borne by the power Of public
opinion. M. Theirs may deem this his best course
for the present. but l am very much mistaken
If no pcrsevere in il much longer. Whatever
personal concessions Louis Philippe may OBJ
tain from friend foe his great personal qualities
(which are indeed of the rares kind do not descend
the regent, and will require time for their develop
ment in the court Of Paris. That is the period for
which Nj. Theirs reserves his forces, and as have
reason TO believe, not in vain. Whatever motives
he may have for the extreme conservatism with
which he seeks TO obtain power, we Americans have
no right to find fault with him; for it would be inn
possible to define the relative position Of France
and the United States more fully and eloquenuy
than he has done, or to exhibit in a manner more
striking than he has done the great interests which
the mutual good understanding Of the French and
American people are sure to promote.
As regards the entente oordiais the affairs of SPAN
and Greece seem to give Great Britain some UNI
easness. Spain, since the forcible return of Donna
Christina, has been completely ruled by France,
though M. Guzot has shrunk from the official re-
sponsbility of such task The fact is his govern
ment has been any thing but successful, and is on
the point Of throwing that beautiful country into in
terminable anarchy. Narvaez, the military dicta-
tor, is again depossd, and Isturez in his place.
at the head Of the ministry, Spain, will admit,
was not matured enough for large political freedom
but the nrigues Of the courts of the Tuieries and
Madrid will not prepare them for it, Espartero
may have been hot-headed political partisan but
even such one is preferable to so ignorant and
sanguinary a wretch as the Duke Of Valencia. The
iatVer, hoWeNeI, was supported py rTahCei INC ior-
mer received at best but dubious support Of the
British government. II remains to be seen whether
the French influence will continue with the Came
rilla under the new administration.
M. Guizots language in regard to Greece, and
the deviation of his policy from that of Great
Britain, has quite astonshed some Of his friends,
who look upon it as sign Of returning independence
The Journal des Debas too, in defending the new pro-
ject Of law in regard to the navy, hints that, not
withstanding the cordial understanding between
England and France, the day may after all come
when the respective navies of these countries may
be called upon to act against each other. For this
purpose, France ought not to have less than twenty
four twenty-five ships of the line at sea, and
many more on the stocks, besides her complement Of
frigates and steamers. While these symptoms Of
French national feelings were observed in the
Chambers and the ministerial PRESS the sudden APP
pearance of Lords Brougham and Palmerston threw
the whole Partisan world into fever. What can
their lordshps' visits mean at this timel II is a
warning to ministers, or merely diplomatic recon-
NOTHING Of the ancient battle ground Their lord
ships were invited to dinner with select party at
the Tulleries, and were previously entertained by
NJ Guzot's particular friend, Princess Lieven. The
If tbo 1oto n Tbiore Ia