The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-12-27

come favorable 90 a continuance OF his power.
These views seemed indicated by statistical facts,
showing diminution ofcrinle, and general im-
in all the Industrial and social interests
of the country The great desire Of France is
with the blessings which this alone
can secure. II was strongly argued that Louis
Napoleon offered the best hope of this amid the
clashing projects oflogitimacy and socialism
Ii is true that several formidable difficulties stood
in the way of the President. lie had been gen
orally reported, before bis election, as imbeciie,
raah, and profiigate. Wren established in Office
he did not disguise bis intention TO connect his
policy with continuance of his power. lie had
come in upon wave OF revolution, and had sworn
fidelity to democratic consttution-yet he sent
an army to suppress the Roman Republic, and as
scented TO an emasculation Of the fundamental
right Of suffrage AT the same time the several
portions OF the Assembly, agreeing in little else,
combined to embarrass his administration and To
defeat his plans.
Under all these disadvantages, Louis Napoleon
gradually rose in the estimation OF a large portion
Of the people The charge of imbecility gave way
to conviction that he possessed high degree OF
administrative talent His sad but kindly smile
won favor, and happy tact, as well in manner as
in seizing occasion and incident for gracious .
words and deeds, gathered around him a host oil
personal friends lie, well American
politicians, knew the charm which fingers around
military achievements, and he had the art 70 make
the rays on Napoeon's brow shine Relatively upon
his own. Thus, by a succession Of skilful
maneuyres, he won the army, the church, and
substantial portion of the citizens Of France.
His position was strengthened by the incapacity
of the Assembly TO unite in any scheme ofactlon or
policy. They were broken into five parties OF
nearly equal numbers, each insisting with fatal
pcrtinacy upon its special candidate, OF its special
systegn. at last they found solvent, which melted
them into sort OF homogenity. This was hostility
10 the President. Then came the game of sharps,
and the plot of the play drew near to its denou
nent.
la this state of things, bill brought in TO
give command OF an army to the questors, or guar
dams of the Assembly, and " is said that plot
was formed to arrest the President. He believed
this, and on Monday, the 2lst November, be had
his horse saddled and was ready to mount at
moments warning, and place himself at the head
OF the troops. Overawed by his state of prepare
ton, and the exposure of the scheme, the Assembly
drew back, and the quesor bill failed by hun
drcd and three votes.
Another measure now brought forward in
the Assembly, consisting of bill making certain
acts of the President, which he supposed to
mediate, reasonable, and grounds of impeach-
ment. The two hostile powers had gone thus far,
and mutually aware that each stood upon the brink
of the Rubicon, they paused several days, looking
one another in the face. The President, we shall
see, was busy in preparing, and the Assembly in
plotting The energy of the one and the faulty of
the other must excite admiration,
On the evening of Monday, the lst December,
was at the Presidents reception, at the Efy5ee.
The rooms of this little palace were all crowded..
though not over five or six hundred persons were
present. Three tourths we're military men; and
the predominancc of martial insignia, gitterng
upon stalwart FORMS cast before my mind the cha
dows of coming events. Still, must confess that
did not suspect that, before the sun should dawn,
the men around us would transform republican
Franco into military empire.
The general aspect of the scene was not gay,
though brilliant lights sbone over fair women and
brave men. There was music, dancing.
The President himself, usually grave and impassi-
bic, had touch of that sealed and stony look attr-
buted to Napoleon on certain occasloDs--a as if
the soul was too intensely centered within to
a r Illumination.
smiled, and his manner, usually gracious, was cold
and reluctant.
In the crowd noticed considerable number OF
Catholic priests several decorated with the cross OF
the Legion of Honor The plump and happy ply
siognomy of the Pope's nuncio controsted strange
ly with the thin spiritual features OF the Able La
cordaire. The tall, bent form OF Lord Normandy
seen moving in the mass, his countenance
wrcatbed in smile suitable to him and the occa-
sion General Magnan, commander-in-chief OF
the army of Paris, athletic parsonage, six feet
in height, conycrsed rapidly with several oiticers
and shot the chances OF his small black eye rest
lessly over tho crowd and through the shadows of
the ceiling. Some thirty ladies, sparkling with
jewels, and still brighter glances, graced the as
sembly. Half of these were our countrywomen,
and well sustained the fame of American beauty,
even though their rivals were the Countess Dcmi
doff and the Princess Mathde.
A few ice creams few glasses OF groseillc and
water were handed round The pageant lasted for
hour, and at ten o'clock the visitors entered
their carriages, and dispersed to their several
homes. How impatient must have been Louis
Napoleon and his cQopcrators for this hour of re-
lief, of darkness, and of enterprise. Little sleep
had they that night. AT four O'Clock in the morn
ing, Changarnler and other dreaded leaders OF the
opposition arrested, and the citizens crept
forth, they posted up at the Of the
streets the DEGREES which dissolved the Assembly,
declared Paris in state of siege, and placed the
destiny of France in the hands of Louis Napoleon.
DECEMBER 4, Thursday morning.-I shall not
attempt to give you full details of events which
have occurred within the last two days. few
rapid sketches must suffice. AT ten O'Clock
Tuesday was informed of the revolution ] went
forth, and on reaching the Boulevards, noticed cvi-
dent traces of excitement Knots of people were
gathered close and thick around the corners where
the DEGREES posted up. Men and
walked ncrvousy along the pavement. shopkccp-
stood at their doors, and chamber maids and men
in dressing gowns gazed wistfully out OF the up
per windows. The Boucvards were crowded
with multitude, running toward the Place de la
Concordc, which faces the Chamber of Deputies.
They met and turned back by troops already
posted, as If by magic, at the point OF danger.
The great thoroughfares of the city were soon alive
with people--chefiy men, but with considerable
mixture of the other At eleven, azure tide
of blouses came sweeping down from the faubourgs
ST. Antoine, st. Denis, and those democratic and
socialist quarters. These walked leisurely seemed
in good humor, and puffed generously at their
cigars and pipes. Indeed smoking seemed almost
universal Never, in day, did SO thick and
wide cloud Of tobacco smoke ascend to Heaven
from this city on Tuesday.
At twelve O'Clock the martial array, extending
right and left and in front of the Chamber of De-
putics, most imposing There contin-
uous line of infantry, attainabe at a glance,
stretching out for mile along the southern quay
of tie Seine. At the same time troops were CON
stantly arriving from Versailles, ST. German, and
other places in the vicinity. Bristling columns,
without music, proceeded sulenly along the Boulc-
wards, and squads of dragons clattered through
the Rue dc Ia Paix, the TANKS Of their horses king
with foam, in evidence of the haste and distance oil
their ride.
The morning passed in the excitement of Won
DER mixed with admiration, at the success and
perfectness of the coup d'etat. Many dissenting
heart was still occupied, if not seduced, by the
cleverness of the plot and the nicely of it's cxecu
ton. As night closed in mems minds began to
assume the gloom of the hour. long train of
hotsemen, however, patroled the great thorough
fares, and the people retired early TO their homes.
The night passed in quiet, bat the morning Of
Wednesday gave signs of a different feeling
The people, submissive TO the iirst stunning blow,
and perhaps caught by Louis Napoeon's soft pro-
Iniscs Of universal suifrance and republicanism,
had now reflected They saw Paris in a state of
siege; the whole city IN tho grasp of military
power; the press nearly silenced; uIockery OF suf
frage rendered to them the point of the ba yonet