Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-04-01

the rendering the representative chamber central point OF in
huence ard authority the fall of the ecclesiastical regime,
with its secular riches temporal power the freedom of the
press and than all and above all public opinion ever
N5ant 10 detect abuse authority and ever ready ode
mand mehoatlons the institutions oil the country But
with these great advantages there wanting calm, sedae
dspassiontte spirit of inquiry and habua attachment 10
certain general principles found by experience to be essential
10 the prosperity Of the country and which ought be placed
by this consideration above the conflicts OF party In
tica contests there passions enough awakened but the
struggles which from time 10 time carried on touch neither
the ounds of Government the institutions of
cety Our parties all from the same point, all recognise
the adaptation Of political institutions 10 our manners and
condition and he would be bold politician who should pro
pose any fundamental change in the system we have adopted
But in Fnnce there many paes each with marked DIFF
ences opinion, from the extreme OF uncontrolled monarchy
to that of the freest democracy 1t will be ecoected that
the spirit Of inquiry is checked England by that
Tor is institutions which springs out of past recoections
and which in these old countries enters often into the habits
OF the people, and be broken only by revolution, il
sill evident that il controls the public action and mpesscs the
efforts which made Moderation with character Of dis
cretion that often 10 degenerate into mdlty
difference But the French revolution made almost kaJua
OF large portion Of the social system Of France and fry
years have been spent in remodeng IT, building up and pull
ing down doing and undong in The associations
with the past have been thus oberaed and time enough
been Allowed substitute for these the convictions Of the
present. The absolute monarchy, the constitutional
chy the republic, the consulate, the empire the restoration
the monarchy OF july all have IN turn governed the Kingdom
and each has found advocates and opponents These rapid
and successive changes have produced their natural effects
upon the ardent temperament of the French peoples and where
polemca discussions lively and the liberty of the press
unietieed II not surprising that these have been follow
ed by the propagation OF every shade OF opinion and
panied by warmth, and may add bitterness of sentiment
which fortunately unknown in political dssensions
Minds have become sraLed the French say to point
which, with portion of the population, inconsistent
with the and saluay restraints OF the reest
Governments The supply aud demand of the necessary arti
cles OF life are in such equilibrium in Europe for the
the elements of production and throw employment
and into ideness and misery large class OF society and,
though this is generally the result of social rather than Of
ica causes, and the densey crowded state Of the Euro
pean nations would be inseparabe from form of
government, still the which feel the evil do stop
explain the but attribute the distress which from time
to time presses upon them to the operations of the Govern
ment, arising out of defective constitution vicious adj
mnistratlon. And these opinions are fortified and dseminat
ed by the opposition journals, which free COVE
prone TO throw upon the adversaes the burden OF all the rou
bes which affect their
II will be readily perceived that here are infammabe mate
ria enough explosion whenever the torch APP
Piled Sui the question remains to be solved why the King
personally obnoxious that his life exposed TO continual
dangers and this look back the revou-
ton of July and the effect it produced upon the various
parties which combined to achieve that great work.
The restored Government of the Bourbons met the fate
which 10 have been anticipated from family character
zeJ with justice than is usually found in antlhetca
sentences, where truth too often sacrificed point, hav
ing "learned nothing and forgotten nothing Their
queIabe puces and their studied ignorance of the feelings
Of the country they called govern after exile Of
twenty-five years. the prognocs well the causes,
OF their ultimate tall Their imperial predecessor had indeed
left them difficult task, had they been required fulfil
under happier auspices and with habits of thought in
unison with the circumstances of their position. His
50 brilliant that may well have dazzed bis countrymen,
and lett them united for mlder domination he in
deed wonderful and have been powerfully i'm
pressed than ever, since my arrival in France with the pod
gous force Of his characters and with the gigantic scope
well as with the vast Variety of hts plans have often ques
toned the old military Of the Hotel des Invadthose
living OF Jena and agram and Auserlz and Of
hundred other feas-respectng their General, Consul, and
Emperor, and II easy by their sudden animation
and by their narrative how proud they
any e incidents which had connected them with him. His
10 their guard fire. and his acceptance of piece Of their
campaign bread, constituted epochs their lives be
only with the los OF Of existence. satisfied
that circumstances have not been favorable appreca-
ton Of the whole character Of Napoleon the United
While be al the head Of the nation surveyed him
much through the English Journals and mbibed all the
preudces which long and bitter had engenefed against
him in England To be his military could not
be called IN question: but Of his civic talents comparatively
humble estimate formed have learned TO correct
this appreciation, particularly after heard, the hosptabe
table Of Gen Dumas-an early friend Of the United States
and who has since terminated his long and honorable
universally respected and amenteda discussion concerning
the comparative merits Of Louis the Fourteenth and Of Napo-
leon Legislators and administrators Those who took part
in this Interesting emneny qualified
events in the egns these best suited develop
their personal characters and still further mark those
ona institutions which have survived them BOTH and upon
which the genius Of the the other imprinted and
till that time that Louis Fourteenth occupied
high station in the opinion of the French nation. had
pictured hm-and such, think, stbe general estimate which
the AnaoSaxon school Of history has formed Of him-as
monarch imposing in his personal appearance magnificent
all his views and habits ambitious, rather from pride Of char
than from the spirit Of conquest passionate for praise
under the guise OF glory encouraging the arts to be extoed
by the artists and procamng himself the protector Of tera-
~ that he might receive their aduation. But
when heard vivid parallel run between him and the Empe-
and his claims to the appreciation Of posey urged with
force Of argument and knowledge Of history began
recognise my and have subsequently returned from the
illusion, if may call it. which concealed from the
characters Of two Of the most eminent the history
France.
had conversation not long since with retired statesman
heretofore prime minister and who active member Of
the Council Of State when the Code Napoleon, that lasting
monument of Legislative WISDOM under preparation and
discussion. He told me the Emperor punctua in bis
tendance at all the meetings. and careful the consideration
u the various subjects which occupied them evincmg
deu sagacy and great knowledge Of the intricate questions
embracing the whole circle Of human action which pre-
sentd for solution His zeal did flag during all the pro-
g's these abors, and there great freedom Of discus
son, being areny the desire OF the Emperor that oil the
important points should be subjected profound examination
aud fortunately Tor the character OF the work aud for the
are % the country the Council contained many qualified
ny hcu udcs habits, and talents 10 render these
dec worthy Of the general intelligence Of the age. asked
my informant bow the question Of acceptance rejection