Baltimore commercial journal, and Lyford's price-current. [volume] (Baltimore, Md) 1840-1849, 1848-05-20
FRANCE-IMPORTANT.


The first of the following articles is from a Liver
poof paper which received by the Britannia, aud
would have been published last week had room per
mitted the second, from London paper to hand
by the Cambria arrived at New York last Saturday
night:
From France we learn that the grand national fcS-
tval celebrate the determination OF the and
the national guard took place announced the 2Oh
and concluded by grand military demonstration
the like of which has never before perhaps been it.
messed The whole of the forces under arms, CON
ssting of 800 900 National Guards and GardcS Mo
biles, and 5000 troops of the line, fell into rank aud
marched round the Bouevards and through the city
in military order, with drums beating and colors ny-
ing The procession took eight hours in passing any
given spot the line of march The greatest enthu
sasm prevailed and the most kindly dispositions were
manifested towards the troops, the National Guards
and the Provisional Government. Up TO the hour OF
post the greatest tranquility prevailed and there
probability OF that tranquility being interrupt
cd Ii is considered that this demonstration viii
strengthen immensely the power Of the moderate
members Of the Provisional Government.
The Monitucr publishes an important decree, levy
ing tax OF one per cent all incomes derived from
movable, immOva able or funded property.
Here follows the article by the Cambria.
After the extraordinary excitement in the Partisan
capital incidental to the prodglouS display of troops
and national guards which took place last week,
neighbors have subsidized into a calm. Notfewer than
10000 armed men assisted at the recent great specta
Gle Of nation al raternzation; and this demonstration,
with the introduction OF a considerable body of the
troops of the line the capital, have cOncurred in
maintaining tranquility. The Provisional Govern
did fail seize this grand opportunity
more, by Of public proclamation addressed to
the people, the national guards, and TO the army,
enforce its opinions. 1t declared that "order
guaranteed; the security aud independence OF the
tional representation secured'' and gave the
rance that 'family and private property sacred;
indus ppdI bt-
trust appears labor the property of the operative,
is created by government, surrounded by institutions
protective Of the rights OF the poorest and weakest
Fraternity will not be ceremony; it will be
the law" How far these declarations are in accor-
dance with the passing occurrences, our readers
determine.
On Sunday the great event of the elections immc-
diatey followed the spectacle of the Thursday pre-
vious; and fortunately, all the apprehensions
tanned of great disturbances during the progress Of
this formality have been fasified The voters have
performed their duties in Paris without any Interrupt
tion Of the public peace; indeed the quetncss which
walls, and the paucy Of actual voters compared
with the number Of real electors, would argue in
difference of public spirit rather than any vehement
degree OF PATRIOTISM one way or the other. As the
returns would only be complete Friday, in Paris,
shall have scarcely time to form deliberate opin
Of the general result of this election upon which
depends the future happiness of France and the gene
raj peace of the world In the meantime great COM
plants made of the open bribery and corruption
inseparable from universal suffrage. String endea
have been made by the authorities to prevent
abuse of the elective franchise: but many voters
have each procured, with apparent facility, no fewer
than eight tickets, emitting them vote as
many times, and as the Provisional Government is
charged with using secretly undue influence through
the army, and Louis Blanc and Albert through their
pensoned CURRIERS' unemployed, the purity of election
is not altogether immaculate free from suspicion.
The Prov isional Government continues its
traordinary system OF arbitrary DEGREES. Notwth-
standing its first pledge, "that system of taxes
should be imposed by the Prov iSonal Government:
that 1t belonged TO the national delegates TO decide
this point, and that opposite conduct on its part
would imply the boldest usurpationn spite Of this
decree has been issued, abolishing the tax on salt
which is to take effect on the LIST January next many
months after the National Assembly shall have met
together. in lieu Of this unqucstionaby obnoxious
and mischievous impost, they have imposed tax on
The rent OF apartments, &c, and also tax OF per
cent on all mortgage moneys whether on funds on
the land either held in trust, waiting the judgment
of the law courts Besides this serious income tax
aimed TO be levied on property, the Provisional Go
vernment seems resolved TO put out of the power Of
their successors, whoever they may be, to restore
matters TO the ante quo III any department. The
Judges have been removed from their offices, under
the pretence of their having administered the law
since 1880 with monarchia bias incompatible with
republican views.
The Provisional Government has also passed de- !
definitely aboshing slavery in all the colonies
and possessions OF the French republic. The decree
is to take effect two months after its publication in the
AN Is 10 granted 10 the slave
owners, the amount and form Of which is to be fixed
by the national assembly. All traffic in slaves is to
be nterdcted between proprictors from the date Of
the publication oihe Decree aud measures be taken
TO prevent the introduction olrcc laborers from Scnc
gal, at present contemplated by England from the
western coast Of Africa Now, with these DEGREES
issuing daily, after the other, scarcely leaving II.
breathing time 10 discuss the merits dement's Of
any one ofthem cannot but ask ourselves BY what
authority the Provisional Government ventures upon
such sweeping changes; and whether such arbitrary
ordinances are in accordance with any principle Of
representative government, and with their own de-
clared principles of acton2 The Provisional Govern
ment seem apparently resolved, cOue qui co,ttc, to
pass certain DEGREES. to render action work
of utter impossibilty. As anticipated, the rail
ways in actual work throughout France have been ap
by the siae and the of the shares
are to be reimbursed in five per cent stock, valued AT
the average price of1he last six months the shares
being appraised upon the same principle The untin
ished lines will doubt be seized upon also, but the
terms OF indemnifcation will be different, owing to
the unequal position Of the funds and property Of the
respective companies.
By our latest accounts il would appear that the
Government has TO the wise deter
muation to dsperse the German bands of marauders
w no are lowering the Rhcnish frontiers The
alleged reason is "becaUse Of its liability 10 cause