The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-27
FRA NC E-P A RIS,
THE CONDITION OF PARIS AT THE LATEST MO-
MENTs-vOTE OF THE MILITARY. .
L.. L IL. IL.

Correspondence ~ Hle sNttO lOih Duuy 4 UnfS.
PARIS, MONDAY, Dec. 8, 1851
Having gathered nothing definite from the ru.
mors circulating in the street last Thursday
afternoon, could only add the postscript in
pencil tat matters were looking worse. AL.
though the fighting was then going on actively,
it was impossible to gather the particulars OF
the results. The difficulty in that respect was
almost as great on the following day, nor has il
altogether ceased yet. Considering the effects of
alarm, Of high excitement, of political prejudice,
and the fact that any one man could see but
little OF what was taking place along the course
Of the Upper BnulevardS, an 4 1T different points
in the abyrinthian district lying between them
and the river, the testimony Of eye-witnesses
must be taken with some caution. Other au-
thoriies are ,iliciaI-placards and the columns
Of journals devo'ed TO government A few
other journals that have crceped cut again ia
the last few days, hazard no independent COM
ments on the events of the week We have
beside rumors born of suspicion, of heated fiucy.
Of the father Of lies, growing as they 90 into
shapes of The widest avagance-Some,imes
however having something of probability or
plausibity about, and, rarely enough, few
grains Of truth. Some Of the London papers
have printed statements containing downright
falsties and Others in which the little reality on
which they were based, was all distorted. or
quite concealed by the il digested mass Of errors
built upon it,
The scene Of the fighting on this side Of the
river has already been mentioned. There has
been but little comparative disturbance on the
other side. The most important barficade was
! raised at the Porte St Denis other barbados
were raised in the neighborhood The attack
was IN de by the troops at o'clock on Thurs.
day afternoon, and did not meet with a prolonged
resistance. The crowds o. people on the Boulr.
wards, Bourse, NOuyelle, and Paissoniere. were
ordered to dispense and obcyed but while thty
were moving oil, shots were fired from the upprr
windows If houses on the Boulevard, Poisson.
ierrc. Mcntmairc aud, il il said, from one or two
on the Boulevard des ltalicns. The sodiery
Immediately fired at the houses and into the
crowd. OF necessity, innocent people were
| killed. Houses were entered by the military.
and there il abundant testimony 10 show that
people within doors were, al least in some In.
stances, charged with the bayonet. So far as
can learn, hOwevc-, this bulchery was very rare.
and in no case sanctioned by the presence Of
officers who speedily put a stop to il.
In general, 1t appears that the soldiers have
done as little needless harm Ms was consistent
with their brutal and brutifying professions.
The Coup dEtdt being struck, state of sic G
was the natural accompaniment. O position
being made to the state Of siege, powder and
shot put down The opposition, quickly and
effectively as possible. IL is idle to ak muskets
or mu,keeefs-whosc only virtue and vocation
is brute force to discriminate nicely between
innocent men and active opponents. Considcr
ing that the government had already done their
| Tuesdays work, the work was done wisely a ad
well am no admirer of the Tuesdays work.
but after that premise can admire the conse
/ quent energy and decision, the completeness IL
/ plan, and the thOroughness Of execution Of what
! has been done since.
Resistance on the part of few insurgents.
who are evidently not representatives of any
| portion Of the population Of Paris, Formidable Nv
numbers or organization, was quickly overcome
/ by disciplined army Of one hundred thousand
men. On Friday, the slight attempts 10 renew
the contest were effectuaIly put down early in
the day: but the sight Of closed shops. the for.
midable display of soldicry, the terror or sad.
ness on all coun'enances, weighed oppressiyry
on the sense. by night, large bodies OF troops
were MARCHED TO Their barracks, To the sound of
music, almost the first music that had beeo
heard during four days. Paris was stiIled-not
! tranquil. Not shout, not a voice raised above
the ordinary conversational tone was to be- heard
from the masses moving where circulation as
! permitted Policeman and military, except at
certain points, were nowhere visible. but no one
knew how near a listening, watchful Nouchard
might be, ready to report his words and gestures
Paris was sublued On Saturday, ihings re-
sumed nearly their ordinary external appearance,
40 far as the shops and markets were concerned
But the multitudes who came out to look at The
places TO which battle and death had riypn
new interest, seemed Of different race from
those who filled the great thoroughfare between
the Madelaine and the Bastille, few DAYS he
fore. French viyacity had given place to = more
than New England gravity. The people Of Paris
cannot be said to have taken part in the insur.
rection. The very few violent members of the
late assembly, who were active in the barbados
are not the exponents Of the republican or any
other party. The people were lockers on.
cannot lind any authority for the declarations