The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-06-06
NO. 179.
FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE.
PARIS, May lG, 1850.


PARIS, May iO, 1850.
To he Editor Of the National Era:
We are now, ny dear sir, in the current Of a
whirlpool which seems to be hurrying this un-
happy country irresistibly to civil war. A single
day only may be between .us and the commence
ment Of bloody scenes The wild passions of
marty were never more fierce. In the Assembly,
opposite orators hurl at each other the most
abusive epithets. Minister Baroche rails like a
fishwoman Of Bilingsgate, and receives a reply in
the same strain. The newspapers are occupied
with discussions of the propriety and expedency
of civil war. What will sll this result int |
dread looking at the future. The Administration
seems determined 10 provoke an insurrection ct
Paris, which it is well prepared to suppress
Every engine is put in motion to effect this.
Provocations and insults in the Assembly the
proposal of law to exclude from one-third to
one-half of the voters the daily arrestation OF
the sellers Of opposition journals; the repeated
seizures of the same journals at the post Office; the
indictments of editors, publishers, and printers;
the unheard-of outrage Of the prohibition issued
to M. Boule, the printer Of the Voir dS Psrpls
RepuJlique, and Esicfdte, to exercise his trade ;
the evident determination of the Administration
to destroy these opposition journals at all hazards
:. -, 49,, t,-,s->-y>- -------,.-
members Of the legislative majority to remove the
seat of Government to Versailles; the menaces in
the Presidential papers Of comps Petat; the propo-
stions in the same to annihilate the Constitution
and make NJ Bonaparte President for life; the
false alarms of insurrection and conspiraoies
spread by the same the direct challenges to civil
war; the insulting and irritating speeches Of
General Changarnier, Project earlier, and others,
all lead directly, and are no doubt intended to do
80 to civil war. What Other means could be taken 10
prOuO&e one
The Government feels itself strong enough to
suppress the instruction. The forts around the
city are filed with ammunition, and fully fur
nshed with cannons; millions of bomb. shells and
cannon balls have been stored up; one hundred
and ffty thousand men have been concentrated
on Paris II the republican party can be made to
fight, it will be put down, the chief imprisoned
the Constitution reversed, and Bonnparte made
President for life The republicans DO not wish
to 6ght-but will they be able to avoid it, This
is sad state ., ,nilsgs, which must $3.50 s3S ~
some way But let us turn to the examination of
the principal measure Of the reaction.
THE LAW AGAINST SUFFRAGE
As this law will be the battle-ground of parties
for some time to come, and may be the prime
cause of another revolution, it deserves more
particular notice than that devoted to it in our
last The jesuitical manner in which it is framed
makes this more necessary 1t avoids all mention
of its own object, and seems to be aimed only
against vagabonds. In one clause, and the lead
ing one, the broad principle Of universal suffrage
is declared for all domiciled for three years in the
same place The true character of the law is to
be seen only in the clauses specifying the nature
of the proofs to be produced by the person wish
ing to vote. Only five kinds of proof are to be
admitted
l. Inscription on the tax-list
2. Written declaration Of parents that the son
has resided three years, without interruption,
under Tie paternal roof.
3. Written declaration Of masters or patrons
that servants, or workmen, have worked for them
three years, residing IN the same honse
4. Proof of holding public office.
5. Proof Of serving in the armies.
The ones marked and are unimportant as il
regards the number of persons affected. Work.
men rarely live in the same house with their en-
ployers, or grown up sons three years with their
fathers The true operation Of the clauses is to
give each father or master the privilege Of send
ing his sons or servants to the polls, but this is
left entirely to him. for there is no way of forcing
him to make the written declaration.
Number secures to the Administration the
votes of its subordinates.
Number secures to the soldiers of three years
standing the right to vote But soldier who has
served two years and half after living the same
time in a commune, would have no such right
The clause is left ambiguous so as not to alarm
the army, but this will be the Interpretation put
on it. Another clause provides that the votes Of
the army are to be mixed with the others, and
kept secret from the public.
The only voters, then, will be the functionaries,
civil and military, and the tax payers.
How many taxpayers are there in France
lie National, in discussing the law, gives the sta
tstics on this point II gives list of the depart
ments, and opposite the name of each, places in
one column the number of voters on the lists at
the last elections; in second, the number OF
persons inscribed on the poll-tax list and in a
third, the number deprived Of the right Of suf-
frage by the electoral law. give you part OF
the table