Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-06-28
FROM OUR PARIS CORRESPONDENT.

PARIS, JUNE 9, 1851.
The excitement of last week, originating in the
coup de fete of M. BoNAPARTE at the banquet Of
Dion, has subsidized before the importance and great
interest of the question of Revision Of the Const
tuition. We have been favored with much new
light upon this subject since the date of my last
and, is the all-engrossing topic of the moment
it will form the almost exclusive subec OF to-days
letter.
The committee OF the Assembly, to which is TO
be referred all projects for revision, to be COM
posed of fifteen members, chosen one by each Of
the fifteen bureaus. These bureaus are sort of
standing committees, into which at the commence
ment of the session the members Of the Assembly
are equally divided by lot. On Friday and Satur-
day last there were no public sittings of the As
sembly. Members were expected to convene in
their respective bureaus, and proceed after discus
sion to the election by ballot Of one Of their num-
Der TO belong to the committee Of revision. De-
bates in the bureau, upon interesting occasions,
are always reported for publication, not in the Off
cial Monieur, but in the various dailies of the city.
The results of the bureau nominations have sur
prised all persons and the discussions which pre-
coded them, marked as they are by unusual cam
dor, explicitness, and bolcness, throw much light
upon the subject but do not at all tend 10 diminish
anxiety in contemplation of the crisis upon which
the country is entering. The committee is COM
posed of eight members favorable to revision, and
seven opposed to it. Perhaps, it is not quite GER
tain the report Of the majority in favor will be sup
ported by nine Enthusiastically not by more.
Our old and highly-esteemed acquaintance, DE
TocoUEvILE, was chosen on the committee of 6f-
teen by his bureau, after speech the most notable
portions of which you will read below, and doubt
less with much satisfaction. II is worthy Of his
high reputation for sagacity. have noticed in
him since his return to the Assembly manifest
inclination to the Right, as Of CAvAIGNAc, LAMoRI-
| cIERE and certain others to the Left. The little
band of moderate republicans is breaking up, and
its members taking position under one the other
of the two great principles, democracy and despot-
| ism, which are in presence. M. de Tocqueville's
withdrawal to the Right is not as you will perceive
by his subioined remarks, SO decided yet as that
Of Gen. Cavaignac to the Left The evidence of it
tllnow is entirely of negative character. He never
appeared in the tribune, and almost always since
his return to Paris he has declined voting upon all
questions on which his votes would tend to fix his
political position in the House. He is yet upon
the very outskirts Of the camp of despotism, and |
have no fear that he will ever enter it very far He
will never sympathze with the spirit that prevails
there; nor consider it for himself or for France as
other than refuge, sad but necessary one, from
evils which would result to society from the defni
tive triumph of the prevailing forces which make
up the strength Of the opposite camp. M DE
TocoUEvILLE said:
81 am inclined to vote for revision, but do not attempt
conceal the fact that enter upon this path with many
fears am asonshed at the Of the who in
this country take the initiative in Of this character
perceive in this instance that the who in the
habit Of expressing much alarm for the FUTURE and the great
of provoking crises, that taking the lead and boldly
assuming the responsibility Of revision Now, what rev
sion The terrible crisis that this country has ever
been called to meet. Perhaps sick enough will
examine this point Directly to make it necessary that this
heroic remedy should be administered but assuredy it
very bold practice Have the who moving in this
matter reflected well upon what formidable thing is to
intenogate the day the entire nation, not upon
measure but upon the choice Of Government
ITSELF upon the constutve principles Of society Has such
operation taken place peaceaby among great Peo
pie And even il this has been witnessed in cases,
does not the peculiar state of parties in country increase
the danger for in extraordinary degree There
men who please themselves with the belief that the assembly
Of revision would be nominated in spirit Of determined
action against existing institutions It may very we'll happen
that these would be found have been decevng them
selves What is the composition Of that majority which
for the three last years has saved the country from anarchy
II made up Of Moderate Republicans who understand the
republic differently from the Socialists and the Mountain,
and Of men regreing desiring the monarchy but pro-
oundy divided the particular monarchy to be selected
In an ordinary election all these fractions Of the moderate
parties may be made act in Moderate Republicans
Imperass Legtimis Oreanists may agree in the choice
Of But when you put to vote the very form Of gos
ernmsn its dentve FORM they be made to agreel
This is extremely doubtful And if it should turn out that
they could not agree what would happen then Without
any doubt the red candidates would succeed in great
Der Of departments convinced will not say of the
probability, but Of the possibility Of this result that
psed that revision should not be asked for by the Mountain
Why is it, then, that inclined 10 vote for revision-I
who, upon conditions, would wish to the triumph Of
the Monagnards For two reasons, which will give with
hesitation The first the state Of public opinion The
immense majority appears to desire revision. II is not the
petitions that make believe this. do determine the
state Of public opinion by this false testimony They may
deny in the tribune, but certainly Messeurs the Ministers
who with in this bureau at present will not deny that
at this very moment throughout France, all public func
onaries, from projects to mayors, busy furnishing
models for petitions and obtaining signatures Mo- what
satisfies me that public opinion is in favor Of revi-
sion is, not the petitions, but what upon casting
quick glance the whole country. remark general
estessness and unease universal and instructive aspiration
after and looking for Of change to be operative in our
situation If these signs do not deceive and II, in fact
the majority wish revision, such wish may rightly be
allowed to influence conduct In country, and in
this age single individual acting alone, separate from the
mass can effect but little good. To tell upon society man