The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-05-24
Frnnoe nnd hcr Poll,,cnl Prospcc,..

BY the arrival, yesterday morning early, of the
Cunafd steamer, from Liverpool, we have been put
inpossession ofour and journals from
allparis of Europe, the material passages of which
will be found elsewhere in our columns this day, at
great length, and commanding much interest. In
reference TO France and her singular and evervary-
ing political prospects, the information which will
be found in our columns sdecdedly interesting and
calculated TO cause deep reflection with every
friend of rational progress and democratic insiitu-
tons. Among other passages, our readers will
find the great speech of the French Minister,
in the National Assembly, when he developed
his new electoral law, proposed in that body, which
is intended TO curtail aud restrict the electoral
franchise Of the French people to a very extraor-
binary extent, throughout all the Departments.
We have, ALSO furnished 10 our readers the va
rious English and other commentaries upon this
great project, all Of which tend 10 throw more or
less light upon the new position in which the
French republic will be placed by the probable
passage Of the law in question.
The new movement in the National Assembly. 10
cursi the electoral franchise over ell France
seems to command the appreciation Of the President
OF the republic as well a. of great majority in
the legislative body. In the expectation Of It's pass
age in the form in which it has been presented all
p1obs BILE effect It's provisions may have in the cleo
iora list, in the approaching elections. The lowest
estimates make the curtailment to be not more than
10000 votes but others say that positively. over
3.oO0.Co0 Of yosrs will be excluded under the opera
ton OF the law. Probably. the truth lies between
the two extremes Two millions will very likely
he struck of from the list Of the constituency Of the
French nation. which numbers eight or ninc mill
La
not affect the Pesceablc progress and future destiny
Of the French republic, provided il were probable
that the policy which dctited the law ended with
Is enactn ent But when we look back for the
last twenty or thirty years upon French legislation,
we cannot resist the conviction. that IT this law
should 20 into successful operation. in a year or
two the same policy which produced the curtail-
ment Of one or two millions Of voters would bring
about another exclusion by other laws, reducing at
las, the whole electoral list Of the French repub
ic to one or two millions. II il well known that
he same course marked the policy of the elder
dynasty Of the Bourbons. az well as Of Louis
PHILIPPE. The electoral list during the reign Of
Louis Philippe, for all France, was hardly more
than 10000.
In Great Britain, the entire constituency Of the
three kingdoms is less than a million. With such
constituency, the arstocracy have no difficulty IN
maintaining their position. and stopping at once
every movement which may look in the least de- |
gree towards the formation Of republic, or any
thing like II. II Is no douh, the purpose and policy
ofthe present government Of France, a. also Of the
majority Of the National Assembly, to reduce the |
constituency Of the French republic to the same |
numbers, and same quality, as that which charac-
terizes the English nation, with the view and ex.
pectatien. no doubt. that such constituency will