The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-06
Message of the French President.

| ms document was sent to the French Cham.
Der of Deputies on the 18th November and
was read from the tribune in that body by the
minister of the Interior
We extract the following:
The municipal authority, SO salutary when its
action frankly unites with that of the executive
power, has justly excited serious reproaches in
many communes. Four hundred and tw enty-one
mayors, and one hundred and eighty three deputy
mayors, have been dismissed; and if all those
who have still remained in their functions have
not been reached, if it is in consequence Of the
imperfection Of the law preventing il The Coun-
Gil Of State in order to remedy this evil, has al
ready commenced the examination of a bill TO that
effect; but it is difficult to reconcile municip al
franchises with unity Of action, the true force OF
the central government.
The National Guard, that useful auxiliary
against enemies at home and abroad, when it is
well organized, has but too frequently acted in a
sense contrary TO the object Of its institution,
and has compelled to dissolve it in 1853 towns
or communes, everywhere, in short, where it
presented the character of an armed celebrating
body.
The judicial authorities have worthily second
ed the government. The mag istracy has displayed
| great energy IN enforcing the execution Of the
laws, and in Furnishing those who violate them
In order to secure order in the most agitated
provinces, extensive commands, including several
|
widest powers confded to experienced generals
Everywhere the army has lent its cooperation
with that admirable devotedness which is peculiar
to II; everywhere, also, has the gendarmery full
| tlled its mission with the zeal deserving Of the
| highest praise. (Dersive laughter from the left
greeted this passage, but was answered from the
right by loud cries of g. tres bien tres 6ien! ~
The agitation in the country districts has been
much Gained by an end being put to that detest-
able propaganda spread by means of the primary
teachers. Numerous dismissals have taken place,
and the schoolmasters are no longer instruments
Of disorder.
The government has displayed indulgence as often
as It has been ableto do so without danger. Thus,
since the month of June, 9, 400 transported nsur-
gents have been set at liberty, and the public re-
pose has not been compromised; there remain
ly 4oo, who have been sent to Algeria. There
are, however, unfortunately, without counting the
transported Of June, 34s condemned political Of
| tenders IN the prisons ofFrance.
FINANCES.
| The line Of policy followed, has notably i'm
| proved our financial situation. The budget of lS4S
has been submitted to you, and has made known
to you the dehntive balance for that year. 1t
| might have been believed for moment that the
| budget or lS49, IN consequence Of unforeseen cir
cumsances ut the moment at which it was voted
would have imposed charge of about 800 ,000, =
000f. on the Treasury, Thanks, however, to the
progress of the revenues and To the economies eff
fected in different branches, this deficit it may be
affirmed, will be reduced by nearly 100 900 OOOf
| Everything causes us to suppose that the anci-
pated deficit in the budget Of 1850 will he sensiby
diminished, and that the equilibrium ANNOUNCED
for 1851 will be realised. The increase Of the in
direct continues; the first nine months of 1850
compared to the corresponding months Of last
year. give an advantage Of upwards of q, OOO, OOOf
The indirect taxes, of which the tariffs have not
been modified, and which figure for more IT, an
10000 O0Of. in this increase attest the resumption
Of business, and the amelloration in the condition
| of the labOrious classes.
| Peace and domestic order have borne other
| fruits; the funds deposited in the savings banks
| from Jam ], lS49, exceed the reimbursements by
So, 900 0QQf. OD The amount of the discount &C
commodation Of the bank, which had gradually
fallen to less than 100 900 ,OOOf., has risen, and
on the It'll of this month it exceeded l35, 000, 000f
| In suppressing the forced circulation OF bank
notes, you were right in counting on the re-es-
adjustment Of confidence. Events have fully JUS
| tilted this grave measure; the return TO the print
tive statutes has not reduced either the extent or
the Importance of the circulation. (2)
| III the customs have sustained some diminution
the difference arises from accidental causes which
| you know, and which are connected with salt and
colonial sugars but, on the whole, our inter ma
tonal commerce, after Il striking depression in
| lS4S, rose in l84a, by rapid movement, which
has since continued to progress. Abstraction made
Of the extraordinary import Of corn which took
l L,
both as regards the value of the merchandise i'm.
ported and exported, and the number and tonnage
| Of the vessels. (9
The collection of the direct taxes is effected with
remarkable exactitude. On the Both of September
last, third of the twehhs only was in arrear it
was much less than in the most prosperous pc
| RODS. (4.)
| These fortunate changes in the financial situa-
ton will have permitted us, from l649 to 1851
that is to say, in the space Of three years, and in
| spite Of the reduction Of several important taxes,
| to enrich the country with nearly 260, 0O0, OOOf of
public works, to relieve the lower classes of H.
censed traders, to remit 81 ,O00, 000f to agrcul-
ture, to pay punctually all the expenses of the
budget in deficit, and finally, to arrive, according
to our lively desire and firm hope, in establishing
a balance between the annual charges and re-
sources of the state, and these results will have
been obtained without requiring any extraordinary
recourse to credit, and without imposing any ex-
aggerated advances on the Treasury.
The country, let not doubt, gentlemen, is
acquainted with this improved situation. Every
one can see that the finances Of the State, which
| last year occupied one of the first places in the
anxiety felt by public opinion, at present very
| far from inspiring the same apprehensons. ]
| state with satisfaction this progress Ii is the
compense Of the good spirit OF the populations and
| Of the common efforts Of the Government and the
assembly; it will be an encouragement for all.
O) Amount of deposits to the lst
| January, 1S49 1876, 900 fr.
Ditto to the lst Of November 1850,
(not including the compensation
funds accorded to old depository 79,938,0 900
Increase -69, 1862 900
(2) Notes Of the bank and it's branches in circu-
| lalon:
On the 9Th August, 1850 500.l44, 300 fr
| On The 18th November, 1850 sol ATS, 400
(3) Commercial and maritime mo vement Of the
first nine months Of the years lS47, 1913, lS49,
and 1850.
Official value of merchandise imported and ex-
ported:
| SPECIAL COMMERCE.
ls47 1872 800 ,000(a) l849 9lO,195,OO0
IS4S Coy ,5l3,0O0 1850 939, $685. 900
| TOTAL NUMBER OF VESSELS.
ls47 $1,000 l,039(a) lS49 q, 4s6
| lS4S 17,152 1850 24,073
| TONNAGE.
1877 2,4S2 000(a) l849 1857 900
lS49 2,235,O00 1850 2,7S9,O0O
FRENCH VESSELS SAILED AND ARRIVED.
| l947 1858 lS49 Il 1851
1874 400