The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-07-20
Tbe Frenob Constitution.


We laid before our readers yesterday a summary |
of the new Constitution of the French Republic, !
az il has been adopted by the Assembly The task
of framing Constitution for a country just passed
through the ordeal of revolution and still agitated
by the various conflicting interests, passions and
animosities to which such crisis must give rise, is
not very easy of accomplishment. 1t requires
profound knowledge of human nature, an appreci-
alton of the evils of the past, and also of what may
be necessary to remove them in the future. There
are the waves of revolutionary sea to be iulled
into stiffness, different classes and interests to be
conciliated, and large portion of society to ele-
vate in position and condition. These are the du-
ties which have devolved upon the French Assem-
bly,, and the fruit of its labors is now before the
world. Time alone can determine whether it has
succeeded in producing Constitution which will
secure liberty to the people, while it improves
their social condition and prevents anarchy and
confusion.
In looking over the document attentively, it will
be found to resemble our Constitution more in the
names of its different departments than in any
other respects. In the first place, the President,
who elected by universal suffrage for four years,
is nothing more than simple executive officer,
whose duty it is, only to promulgate the laws and
DEGREES of the Legislature-having power also to
appoint his ministry and some other officers. lie
has not the veto power deposited in President,
but can only return a bill with his obiectons-ln
spite of which it may become law by the votes of
a majority of the Assembly
The next great difference is in tie Legislative
! department ofthe Government. This is to be com
posed of 600 members, including those from Algeria
and the colonies, and every member is to be con-
sdered not as the representative of the department
by which he is chosen but of the French people in
its universal sovereignty. In this see total de-
parture from the system upon which our Govern
ment is founded In fact the Constitution entirely
repudiates the federative system, and proclalms
France a Democratic Republic, one and indivisi-
Bile, as it was by that of 1892. This seems to us
great error There is already too much centraliza-
| ton in France and the great aim should be TO diff
fuse power instead of concentrating it. The de-
| partments always have been FESTIVE under the au-
thority of Paris, and it cannot be expected thai
they will be less so under a republic than mon
archy Yet this defect in the Constitution is one
which may and doubtless will be remedied in
time, by the will of the people; and it therefore
cannot be urged as an argument against the sta
blity of the Republic.
In the Judiciary department the President is
invested with the power of appointing the jue'
de premiere instance ct d'aPpei. The justice:
of the peace are elected by the people But the
feature which is peculiar to the French Con
stituton, is that which provides that, Society
must, by the productive and general means o
which it disposes, and which will be organized
hereafter, furnish labor TO all men in health whC
cannot procure it otherwise
In this we see some indication of the social ma
ture of the late revolution 1t is the first time tina
a Government has distinctly avowed the principle
that labor is its especial charge, and the object o
its especial protection. Many may question thu
expedency of the principle but it is certain tina
the French people are determined upon radica
reform in society, and the distribution of wealth
This Assembly having been elected only to estab
fish Government, viii not probably take an,
measures towards solving the problem; but tn
first efforts of the Republic under its Consti
tuition, will be directed towards that end. In tn
meantime, the world will look with interest, curl
osity, and admiration, at the first instance in his
tory of people attempting by direct legslativ
enacments to alter the form of society, and fix
upon different foundation from that upon whic
it has hitherto rested.
a.