The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-06-23
\THE REPU BLN.
MESSAGE OF PRESIDENT BONApARrl

We copy from the N Y. Evening Post, gives all of
il that possesses any interest TO American readers
ITO what says the President, . have pledged
myself in accepting the suffrages of the nation! To
defend society, so audaciously assailed to secure
wise, great, and honorable Republic; to protect
family, religion, and property to promote all pos
sbe improvement and economy; TO protect the
press against caprice and RIGHTEOUSNESS to lessen
the abuses of Capitalization to efface the marks of
civil dlscords and, finally, with respect to
foreign relations, TO adopt policy alike without
arrogance and without weakness Times and cir
cumstances have not as yet, allowed me to fulfil all
these engagements; but important steps have, new
ertheess, been taken in this direction. The first
duty OF the Government TO direct all Its efforts
10 the re-establishment of that confidence which
could not be complete without definite power.
The want of security in the presentand of faith in
the future destroys credit, stops labor dminishes
revenue, both public and private, renders loans I'M
possible, and dries up the sources of wealth."
On the question of finance he remarks Although
our commercial and industrial affairs have been
greatly restored the state of our finances is far from
satisfactory" The document then shows that in
lS4S the Government expenditure increased the
public debt by Sc sol 5000 additional renies. The
extraordinary expenses caused by the February
revolution have produced an increase of charges
which amounts to 265, 49S, 42Sf. According to the
budget, the year lS49 was to leave only deficit
of 25 OOO, 0O0f; but facts have not agreed with cal
culation, and considerable changes have arisen from
unforeseen circumstances. New taxes, the produce
of which has been valued at more than 80 900 00Of.,
have not been voted while, on the other hand, not
only has the tax on salt been reduced two-thirds,
but the revenue from the tax on letters has fallen
far below the amount expected, and the estimated
deficit will be equal to lS0,000,000f.
The President adds, that the abolition of the tax
on liquors has augmented the evil "Ihs state of
finance - he stdeeeryps cnnsld-
Grafton" In reference to the military strength of
the French nation, the document observes; Z" The
army, always faithful TO It's honor and It's duty, has
continued by its firm and unhinching attitude to
restrain the evil passions in the interior, and to give
abroad just idea of our power We have now,
altogether, under arms, 45l 900 men, and 3d. 54
horses We have l6,495 guns of every kind of
which 1910 are in bronze. Our feld-pieces
amount TO $780,
OF the naval power of France the President says:
Our fleet, which protects our colonies and makes
our flag respected in every sea, is composed of the
active sailing fleet, comprising 10 ships of the line,
rgates, IL corvettes, "a brgs, IL transports, and
"a light vessels; of the active steam fleet, COM
prislng IA frigates l3 corvettes, and "a despatch
boats. Besides the active feet, there are advanced
ships and ships In ordinary This reserve is ready
10 act on the shortest notice. Ii is composed of
10 ships of the line, Is sailing frigates, 10 steam
rlgates, steam corvettes, and mail steamers. To
man these vessels, there required $50 officers of
all ranks, not including cadets and an effective of
seamen not less than % 500.n
In reference to agriculture, the document pro-
ceeds:
Agriculture, that source of all riches, has re-
celved every encouragement which it has been pos
sble to give to 1t in short time Since the Doth
December last, twenty. one farm schools have been
created, and they form, with the twenty-five already
existing, the first degree of agricultural instruction
Others will be established. One hundred and
twenty-five agricultural societies, and more than
three hundred committees, have received portions
of the funds voted for the encouragement Of asri-
culture. BY decree Of the 2nd of April, lS49 a
special commission was appointed 10 inquire into
the question of agricultural colonies The desire of
the government was 10 find the most eficacious
of assisting the laboring classes by bringing
the working people IN towns to labor in the coun-
try, and following the example of other countries
10 utilize uncullvated lands for the benefit of the
poor. The accounts relative to the state of the
crops are very satisfactory tits consolaory amidst
all our trials, to see an abundance Of produce pro-
mise cheap markets for the people"
The.state of French commerce, as might be ex.
pected, is not satisfactory. The President remarks
1.-THE foreign commerce of France has increased
IN lS47, 20 an aggregate Of two milliards GA mil
lions, of which ,343 millions were imports, anc
1871 exports. Rudey tried by political events
the year l64S, as might have been expected, hai
The consumption OF road material has greatly faler
off That of metals has fallen from 9594l tons t.
45, 500 tons that of Goals from 2, $4,000 tons q
1850 tons that Of wool from l3S 900 qulntals
to 80, 962; that Of silk from 5000 10 6SS anc
so on. One element among Others will enable tc
Judge pretty nearly Of the variations to which oui
foreign commerce has been exposed in lS4o. Tha
is the receipts Of customs. In lS47 they produced
upon an average monthly, about IA millions. Dur
ing the months of January and February, 1913
they produced average of {, 700,000f After III,
month Of March, and for each Of the three months
following, they fell off, and produced no more on ar
average than about 100000. During the months
of July, August and September, the average in
creased to a lisle beyond 100000 and for tn,
months of October, November, and December, i
amounted 10 9000,0 900, or nearly double the amount
produced in the most agtated months of trial Or
the whole, the condition Of French commerce, seri
ously compromised during great part Of the yea
lS4S, was little improved towards the end of tina
crisis, and It has taken positively ascending march
since the commencement Of 1919. This Is result
which, IN ensurng certain advantages for the pre-
sent, appears TO be also a guaranty Of security TO
the future"
The most interesting portion Of the document Il
American readers has reference TO foreign affairs
and from this section we shall extract more a
length. The President says
at is the destiny Of France to shake the wort
WntUCNtE hlt ulONtrs anu w Ndiih ~ WHICH nhS DN
comes quiet Europe lays It's repose or It's agita
ton at our door. This responsibility imposes i'm
portant duties upon US; it dominates over our stu
alton. After the days Of February the recoil of on
revolution was felt from the Baltic to the MedItena
nean and my predecessors in Office refused 10 throw
France into a war Of which they could not see tn
end. They were right. The state Of civilization
IN Europe allows US deliver ones country TO tn
hazards Of general collision only when man ha
necessity and justice Enthusiastically on his side. 4
secondary influence, more or less speclous polltl
cal reason are not enough; nation like ours, II
does engage in a gigantic struggle, ought to b
able TO Justify in the eyes Of the world, either th
magnitude OF It's that Of ts misforunes
When came to power great questions were pend
ing throughout Europe. On the banks OF the Rhine
beyond the Alps, from Denmark to Sicily, we ha
our interests to protect, our influence to exert. b.
did this interest and this influence, for being ener
geticaly upheld, merit the chances Of Europea
conAsgratoR The question thus put was easl
answered. From this point of view France did, 1
all the foreign affairs which We are going 70 review
all that she could do for the interest OF her allie
without, nevertheless, appealing TO &c 'as' argu
rnent Of governments, viz: the force Of arms
After referring to the policy and conducl