The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-23

Al
jacquelin:
considering that, in every nation, the feeling
Of the Legitimacy Of its political institutions, and
the confidence in their strength and durability, are
the fundamental conditions OF the security, gran
deur, and prosperity Of the country; considering
that this feeling does not exist at the present day in
France, and that, in consequence Of that situation
the future is everywhere full Of incertitude and
peril; considering that the government must find
in its origin the moral power which assures respect
for the principle Of authority at home and the just
influence of France abroad
cart. l. The nation must be consulted on the
form of government which is TO be dehnitively
tablished To this end, on the first day in the month
Of june the general votes for the election OF the
President TO take place in the form prescribed
conformaby to the dispositions on the electoral
limits.
Art q Each elector is TO present bulletin, on
which shall be written of the two words, ''mon-
archy" or republic"
"Art g. Should the majority be in favor of re-
public, the result is to be proclaimed from the tr
bune of the Legislative Assembly by the President
of the republic.
the result is to be proclaimed by the President of
the Legislative Assembly. In which only, on
the first Sunday in July, 1850, the nomination shall
Assembly invested with the full powers of the nation
cart 8. The President OF the republic shall
maintain the executive power until the Constituent
Assembly be defntively constituted
for, and adopted unanimously; the members of the
Mountain receiving the announcement Of the result
with the cry Of "Vive la R6publique!' The As
sembly then rose.
The two government bills against the press and
the clubs were discussed in the bureaus of the
Assembly on Saturday.
M. Baroche, the new Minister Of the Interior,
justified the measures by the examples of the pro-
,visonal government, the government of General
Cavaignac, and the succeeding government; and
by the present more serious nature of the danger
The license Of the press is beyond all bounds.
Univ haa haer1 IA and haS.ll
menaced by the bad portion of the press, which
dictates its will to the masses of the people like an
autocrat Society cannot save itself, and must be
aided Confidence and Cancellation have been tried,
and have failed; the evil must be attacked boldly
and by all the permitted by the constitution.
M. Mole said that the press might be regarded
as a lucrative commerce and as an immense politi-
cal power: in the frat sense, it should contribute
its proportion to the charges imposed on every
other species OF industry in the other be subject
ed to the same government surveillance with every
other political power. The tribune of the National
Assembly itself is guaranteed from excuses by
pressive measures contained in its own rules.
courageous and moderate press has arisen in the
provinces since the journals have been freed from
all charges; and this press has rendered, and con-
tnues to render, great services to the cause Of
der and society. 1t would partly be injured by the
sacrifices demanded of i; but the application of
the principle. of augmenting the purchase money
might in its case be moderate
M. Theirs supported both laws political laws !;
and as one among several remedies, for no physi-
clan is satisfied with ono remedy. They would
render more difficult the circulation of bad publi-
cations, of detesable productions against society
as, for instance, those that proclaimed that the
Great Book Of the State should be burned, and the
bank pillagcd. II is absurd to say that the laws of
September did not save the monarchy of July
The laws of September produced good effect
against the republican party; they reduced it to
impotence. 1t was at much later period, and
owing to other faults and causes, not now the mo-
ment to indicate, that the monarchy of July fell.
General Cavaignac opposed the laws. Conscien-
tiously believing that society when menaced has a
right to defend ITSELF he had conceded to the govern
ment larger powers than he himself took when in
power; but he in the present state of things
necessity for aggravating repressive legislation
He would consent to a suppression of the clubs for
as long period as il necessary; but demanded a
due respect to the right of electoral meetings.
M. de Lamartine opposed the laws on the press,
not as laws Of vcngeance-for he thought their au-
thors had no such intention-but rs s'sumptuary
laws" which would be ruinous and unjust by Gre
ating pecuniary privileges, and yet be inefficient
for attaining their end. The evil alleged is after ALL
a sort OF dream, nightmare, momentary mad
ness very limited in extent, which Processes to ef
feet with few words the work of ages The source
Of that radical socialism in certain portion of the
population-a portion less numerous than was sup
posed-is ignorance; and the remedy is cnighten-
ment, discussion, reasoning, through the channel
of the press With respect to clubs, he was ever,
and is now, opposed to their permanent existence,
as incompatible with every form of government,
except in revolutionary periods. No people, and
tuition without being every three months exposed to
be excited to sedtion and constantly conyulsed: A
choice must be made between the republic and the
clubs; his choice was in favor of republic Of order.
The chairmen appointed by the bureaus are for
the greater part favorable to the measures.
The committee the budget have made their
report. Forty millions of francs have been saved
on the ordinary expenses, and forty -four millions
on extraordinaries; and no further retrenchment
could be safely made. Notwithstanding these re-
auctions, the committee frankly admits, that "the
budget of 1850, examined in a normal point Of
view, is not balanced The permanent resources
must be increased; and the present labors must be
regarded by the government as only the first step
towards better state of things, which it will be
the duty Of the government to render real in 1851
by an "appeal to the tax payers" and ga recourse
TO the articles Of general consumption"