The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-25
ruv nrRATy IN THE FRENCH cHAMpER

THE DEBATE IN THE FRENCH CHAMBER
II is in the debate III the Chamber OF Deputies,
which arose out Of the comments IN the message OF
the President of the United States, upon the course
of the French policy, that the sentiments of the
government and of the different parties in France
towards this country is made most manifest. We
\ gave on Saturday our views of the speech Of Mr..
Guzot as we found it in the correspondence of the
European Times The report which we find in
the Chronicle is more perfect; but our view of II
is entirely unchanged 1t still appears to US weak
and i'll reasoned.
Our readers will not fail to contrast the speeches
of Guizot and Theirs, to perceive the vastly su-
perior comprehension, wisdom, and craftsmanship
OF the distinguished leader Of the left M Theirs,
we are persuaded, speaks tho sentiment Of France.
NJ. Guizot echoes the prsdilectons of the relgning
dynasty. The one is the voice Of nation--the
other, in comparison, is the whisper Of a clique.
Theirs expresses a permanent national feeling and
conviction Guizot, in the hands Of Louis Philippe,
straining every effort to keep the "cordia. under
standing" between the French and the English courts
This same cordial understanding" can scarcely
continue. Even now It shows the signs Of APP
preaching dissolution. The amendments TO the rO-
ply Of the chamber to the queens speech, proposed
in succession by M. Berger, M. RemurSt, and
others clearly indicate the ant:-Britlsh feeling Of
France. In war between England and America,
Englnd would find no ally in her hereditary enemy.
English statesmen and English journals betray a
consciousness Of this, to say the least Of it, in the
uneasness with which they regard the actual and
If he
llshment.
| CHAMBER. or DEPUTIES-J.N. 20
| The president took the chair at haEpast one, but
tho attendance Of the deputies slight that II
past before the business Of the sitting could
| be commenced.
NJ. Theirs minated a desire To speak. | rise
said he sooner than would otherwise have wished,
in consequence of the speech made yesterday by NJ.
! Ledru- RollIn, though net to answer IL. wish TO
call the attention Of the house to a subject, in my
opinion much more important than mere miserable
personal questions. STILL II is impossible for me not
to say a few words on the long diatribe which you
heard yesterday In listening To the speech of the
honorable M Ledru Rollin, would have thought
that ! was sitting, not on the opposition, but upon
the ministerial benches. | might contest to a Ger.
tain point the right of the honorable member to de-
mand explanations from one who is no longer min
lister, and who, when he left the ministry, submitted
his conduct and his acts to the judgment Of their only
|
contest with any the right Of discussing them
without measure and without justice. |, in my turn,
demand the permission Of the chamber TO say few
words on my opinions, and the political position /
occupy IN the country. From the perod-now toll
erably remoe-that consecrated myself to the ser.
vice Of my country, have never ceased to be the
partisan of the constitutional monarchy; but that
monarchy is not practsed as, in my opinion, it
ought to be. II ought to resemble think, more in
France what it is in England-the only form, in my
opinion, which is fitting for great and enlightened
nation. When | perceived that it departed from
that model | entered the ranks of the opposition.
But, Notwithstanding this dissent, have always
remained firm in my constitutional principles Of
duct. | can well understand not being understood
by nj. Ledru- Rolin. | congratulate mys~lf on it;
for the day that should be Of accord with him on
this question should fancy that had merited the
dstrust which he has endeavored to raise up
amongst my friends against me. have never sup
posed that 1t was possible TO realize n the wild
lmaginings Of parties. o. this point my line OF
conduct has always been undertaking; and when
behold certain men attacking me, | congratulate
myself upon the circumstance, well convinced that
they who attacked me formerly still regard me
their enemy, and consequently | have not devlated
from the conduct | then determined to adopt
| Should any one demand on what conditions joined
the left, let him read the Moniteur, and examine
the reforms demanded at the time by the left,
and the left CENTRE and then say if there did not
exist neutral ground on which we could unite.
When the dynastic left openly broke with the frac-
ton which M. Ledru Roln represents-when be-
lieved that this union could be useful accepted it,
because it appeared to me that the country might
therefrom derive considerable advantages. Hear,
hear, from the left centre | trust the chamber
will now permit me to drop these unhappy disputes,
and to approach the question which 1t IS my inten-
ton to submit to its consideration. | choose this
question, becauge in my opinion it is at present the
most important and the most urgent one; | mean
our relations with America. Gentlemen, you know
that Texas has been recently annexed to the United
States and that has been done to the great dspleas
ure of England, and in spite Of the French cabinet
| You know that the French cabinet has publicly
sisted that annexation, and it appears to me that
that resistance has produced in America great de-
gree of irritation and dissatisfaction towards France.
IF | am to judge by the words of President Polk in
his message, our relations with the United States,
without ceasing to be pacific, will no longer be suf-
fcicnty amicable. The following is the language
of that official document: at must not be forgotten
that annexation was obtained in spite Of the inter-
vention of the diplomatic agents of the European
powers France even, our ancient ally that coun-
try which has a common interest with us in main
tanning the freedom Of the seas, has sought to pre-
vent this result. We ought to rejoice at having
triumphed over British and French intervention in
such an energetic and efhcacious manner" do not
take upon myself to be either the judge or the aPo-
ogist of these words. | only wish to make known
the actual state of our relationsX With the American
in language Of which acknowledge the dignity; but
he has replied with a certain degree of haughtness.
Thus, in fact while we exchanging with Eng
land words marked with the closest intimacy, we
exchange words with America which, though very
polite, evidently contain rcbuke. regard this as a
misfortune. You know that great misunderstood.
ing has arisen between England and America. |
hope that this misunderstanding will have a happy
termination; but in 30 serious a situation the con-
duct Of France ought 10 be circumspect, and |
fear that it has not been sufficiently so. What
makes the thing still more serious is the theory
put forward by the minister of foreign affairs on
this subject; | think his theory an aggravation
of the fact itself 1t consists in saying that
there ought to be an American equilibrium,
which should constitute US the surveillant, and that
we should watch with jealousy the increasing gran
deur Of America. Such conduct would be in any
case improper, but in the present circumstances it
would be particularly 30. ! am about to call the at
tenon of the chamber to the subject, not for the
sake of opposition, or to make distinct PROPOSE
tion but solely with the object of correcting the
ideas of the government on the subject if can be
done pnrst admit that | hive rood hopea for IL