The southern press., 1851-07-29
HAvAsA, July a. 1851,
F+o,. the WtitRer Il 6maitks IiBass, July l2th.
The Freneh Republic.

IWD BEOmSM kVHU~eASs
M de Tocque0ilIs's Report Relative 10 the Re
VISION of the Constitution.
There can be- no doubt that the report Of NJ.
de Tocqueviile is one Of the most important
State papers which France has produced for
some time past. 1t is very elsborately drawn up.
II recites that numerous body Of the assembly
calls for the revision Of the constitution and
then plunges into the whole question of revi-
sion, monarchy or no monarchy, republic or no
republic, dwells upon the horrors which will en-
sue il there should be no government when the
powers of tl,s Legislative assembly and the Presi-
dent expire. in May, 1852. The simultaneous
extinction of the two powers, and all it's fatal
risks, are pointed out; and the danger Of the
crisis is represented as more deplorable on ac-
count Of the Capitalization OF the government.
After very philosophical discussion OF the
rights of all parties, the people, the aristocracy,
and the sovereign powers of all degrees-M. dc
Tocqueyic arrives ut the conclusion that the
only way to avoid mischief is to delegate the
power to constituent assembly, rntettered in
every way Whatever. The reporter dwells ut
great length upon the principle which guided the
election Of the President in America; and
shows that even there, where the office il less
important, the election is less direct than the
mere choice Of a representative of u legislative
assembly. The mob, in fact, would vote only
for the name which they knew. The constitution
once infringed, every guarantee would be lost.
NJ de Tocqueville accordingly recommends a re-
vision of the constitution, but ut the same time
wholly precluding the candidature Of Louis Ma
poleon, the Prince de Joinvllle, Ledru Rollin, or
other parties. His observations condemnat0ry
of the policy and practice Of Louis Napoleon
and the people on the Elysee, is Of the sternest
character, and in our opinion, quite conclusive
againt their making head against the predomi-
nant feeling OF the assembly In point OF fact,
however ably M. dc Tocqueville's report Is
worded, it is very evident that he considers it
hopeless that the Legislative assemblywill resign
its powers to constituent assembly, and the
upshot Of this much discussed report will be,
that nothing will be done, but that in August
the assembly will adjourn without coming to
any definite determination whatever; and we
still cling to the opinion that matters will remain
in slatu quo. NJ Oiilon Barrot, when the re-
port was read in the committee, tried to weaken
its effect in that point which especially insisted
upon the maintenance of the law,s against
evesy adventurous usurper. He fenced in his
speech, insisting that the circumstances of the
country might require some illegal proceeding.
But however Odillon Barrot may quibhle, the
plain fact is, that the report is fatal to all kinds
of SC bernes having for their object the overthrow
Of the republic; and our opinion is confirmed,
that the assembly will prevail against the in
trgues Of all the various plotters against the
republic, especially against Lon Napoleon.
The following is summary of the report OF
NJ de Tocqueville to the French Legislative as
sembIy He begins by stating that 233 mem
bers Of the assembly call for the revision of the
constitutions; and then examines whether the
constitution be essentially defective. He selects
az the main vices of this charter, the system of
electing representatives by the scrutin de se, or
balloting according to prepared list of candi-
dates. He then dwells upon the incessant
provocation to conflict between the two powers.
The reporter next examines the opportuneress
of revision, and states that the objections of
NM. Gaze and Cavalgnac on this point had been
set aside by the committee, which did not deny
the danger, but insisted on the essity of
amending the constitution. Fhe fatality of the
simultaneous extinction of powers is pointed
out. This deplorable coincidence might have
been averted, had the Presidential election taken
place, as was first intended, in May. l849. The
crisis is pointed out ore perious in country
where the authority is centralised. He ar
rives at the conclusion that the only regular way
of preventing an unconstitutional dictatorship is
to delegate all the powers to constituent as
sembly The reporter then adverts TO the SUI
prise of February, and the deep alarm thst per-
vades society, lest change should lead to
socialism He dwells on the increased hazards
to which the country is exposed from the divided
state OF the party of order, and from the direct
election Of the chief of the executive power by
universal suffrage. Even in America, where the
Office of Presidents is SO much less important, the
election is less direct. The ignorant people wi
vote naturally for the only name they know. M
de Tocquevlle then enters upon the most i'm
portant part of his report, and, after having
pointed out the probability Of an unconstitu
tonal reelection, proceeds to lay down rules for
the guidance of the sovereign assembly under
such an eventuality. The constitution once in.
fringed, every guarantee ia lost. Who would
dare to say that the assembly ought to suffer
the country to be dragged afresh in The career
Of revolution and adventure! Could it tolerate
| the abuse of power to prepare an nrconsi
tutional caudidature Would not this lead t
| open and violent conflict between the two great
powers! In this struggle, of course, the xssem
bIy would triumph, but perhaps at the price o
giving the supremacy to the socialists. 1t wa,
difficult to set any issue to the status quo but
usurpation, anarchy, rnin of the republic, or de-
struction of liberty. The committee had pro
nounced for total revision. The question o
whether the form Of the government should be
open TO change is adroitly evaded. The com
miitee neither imposed the republic nor recon-
mended monarchy. But thought the assembly
might, without exceeding its limits, recommend
ns the safest course, adherence to present insti
tutons. On one point all were agreed. namely
that If the constitutional majority could not be
obtained, the constitution should be invariably
and universally obeyed.
| WINES AND SpIRITs-From the annual ac
count presented to Parliament Of the importa
lions, &c. from abroad Of wines. spirits, &c. j
appears that in the year ended 9th January
1851, e.3043I2 gallons Of wine were imported
Upon 6,684,668 gallons duty had been paid
I,745,7ls gallons had been exported as mer
chandise, and 6.437,2 gallons had been re
tanned for home consumption, after deductins
the amount exported subsequently to the pay
ment of duty. The wine retained for home
consumption was principally Portuguese anc
Spanish, 2Sl4979 gallons being retained from
Al l.. a. ga g. n ~ Ill