The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-12-01

About month ago, France thrown into agi-
iation by the announcement that Louis Napoleon
had dismissed his Ministers and formed new cab
met iThe act seemed imperial, and it was init
mated that this was step towards the monarchi-
cal authority for which, it is said the nephew of
the Emperor has so long sighed. Its natural that
Frenchmen, used as they are to the forms of the
constitutional monarchy anddoriving most of their
presidents from English history since 1885, or from
their own since 1915, should be disposed to regard
the conduct of their President as somewhat too ar
btrary and as approaching too near royal habits for
the good Of a republic And the dismissal or res
gnation of the Mi1isters-for their retirement may
be regarded either one or the other-is the more
remarkable, Louis Napoleon found fault with his
old cabinet because they displayed too trucking a
spirit to the conservative and reactionist parties
The real intentions and principles of Louis Ma
poeon appear so difficult to determine, and are so
variousy represented that it is hard to say wheth
sr the decision and energy he has lately shown are
destined to be useful or dangerous to the French
people The assumption of sole and entire respon-
sibility for the government of the country, though
apparently contrary to the letter and spirit of the
French constitution, may, il the principle be firmly
maintained and correctly carried out entitle Louis
Napoleon to the gratitude of all republican and lib
eral minded FrenohmeH. Many OF those who from
this side Of the Atlantic watched with anxiety the
proceedings Of the late Constituent Assembly of
France, were disappointed when they saw the doc
trine of ministerial responsibility engrafted on the
constitution. From the discussions in the chamber
it was clear that the republican members seemed
to regard this responsibility of the cabinet as re-
trenohment of presidential power But large pro-
portion Of Americans, especially of those whose
leanings are towards radical and extreme democra-
ey insist that President, like any other officer, is
more efficient for good and less powerful for evil in
proportion as you can fix on him the responsibility
Of his official acts
Every man can see, that you divide response
oih'y between two or more persons, anv enlarpe-
lnent OF their powers becomes dangerous and de-
srueHye to the rights Of those who trust them with
authority Ii mischief results from official action
'ne laut Is always, where the respousibiityis mo-,
so'e ana entire, shifted from one man to anotho-
ana the public is left in entire uncertainty as T., M
person 10 whom blame should be attached In .,,aI
state oil things 1t is impossible for elsctors -
! eide on the merits Of candidates ,,,bos. -,
conduct may be represented as reprebe,s;iJ. -
tact, the whole representative system, rssts -, a.,
individual and unequivocal responsibility az ~.
hee-holder to the electors who may have cbo.o,,
him Without such clear and well asoertaine5 -.
sponsibility, all democracy would in the end Nero
into arstocraoy and oligarchy.
Some of the friends of Louis Napoleon speak Of
him as man sincere in his democratic convictions
and much inclined to look for his precedents in til,
habits and history of the United States. If such b.
the case, the responsibility he recently assumed may
be considered as progressive instead of reactionary
Indeed, the conservatives themselves seem to be
aware that the conduct they so much complain OF
will really strengthen the party they are accustomed
to denominate socialist and red-republioan Hence
tits the Oreanists and Henry Cinqusts, devotedas
they are to the doctrine of royal responsibility and
Of ministerial responsibility who are most bitter in
their opposition to the late movement of the Pres
dent The more Louis Napoleon can make him
self felt in France, and the more he circumscribes
the action Of his ministers the less probability will
there be ola Bourbon restoration.
In ths United States there are indications OF an
attempt to increase the power Of the cabinet at the
expense Of presidential authority. Il will be curl
9up, Il at the very time the French republicans are
ising every effort to approximate the American
Practice the people Of the United States should be
ending towards the customs and laws tho French
e gradually iaTsakiag, The attempt haweyer, TO
he away power fSoR tho Pfagldess q ne Ualiad /
lslssl cad Give d % hls aehadaallsl adVlsRA W. !