The southern press., 1851-11-06
From the NJ Y. Herald.
Franee-Lsuis Napoleon and the Uslverssl
Suffrage Qucstien.

The letters Of our European corresp ondents
including the extracts from leading European
journals, which we publish this morning, thro "
considerable additional light on the ministerial
crisis in France. The President, persisting in
his resolution to abrogate the law of 1850, re-
strctng the right Of suffrage, had not only driven
his cabinet into resignation, but had created
Quite a sensation in the committee ofsperma-
nence, or of vigilance, of the nat onal assembly.
They had several sitiings on the subject; and
after debating the question whether they should
or should not Immediately convoke the assembly,
they resolved to wait till the appointed day, the
fourth of November. In the meantime, the
stand taken by Louis Napoleon on the suffrage
question, is the paramount topic 10 France and
on the continent
This is not only bold, but appears to be a
er-stroke of policy of President Bonsparte.
II smacks little of his UNCLE the great Napo-
leon, who never did things by halves. There
il no telling what may be the final result Of this
movement. Its immediate effect will be TO frus-
trate and throw into confusion all the parties and
plans of the various divisions of the assembly.
The success Of the project Of universal suffrage
will certainly strengthen Louis Napoleon among
the people, and it will doubtless exert favora
Bile influence for him, even among many who are
OpVOoc0 W utS 10 ootaDiiaitutut VI hc S"IhSs
tits q fact, also, that the popular sentiment Of
France stl cngs with something OF national
pride to the ideas Of splendor and glory associ
ated with the empire, while it recoils from the
historical feebleness, extravaganza, and brazen-
faced debaucheries of the old Bourbon monar-
chy.
Louis Napoleon then, exhibits no little de-
gree Of tact and sagscity in pushing the meas
ure of universal suffrage, at all hazards. The
resignation of the ministry is significant ofsome
determination. When it is said that coup fefat
is apprehended, it simply means that the French
President il suspected Of design to press the
measure of universal suffrage before the assem-
bly,, and, if necessary, against the assembly, to
the very point Of an appeal to arms. Hence
the alarm in Paris, and the panic which this an
ticipated coup detot has excited all over the con-
tinens But, should Louis Napoleon, in defiance
Of the assembly, advise the experiment Of uni
yersa suffrage in the Presidential election, even
without authority Of law, it is hardly to be sup
posed that the assembly would have the hardi
hood 10 resist the practice at the point Of the
bayonet On the contrary, it is only necessary
for the President to maintain his ground, 10 &C.
cure the snccess of his measure. The removal
Of the restrictions of 1850, would seem TO be
the most feasible and rational way of escaping
revolution 10 1852. The continuance of those
restrictions win, undoubtedly, be powerful po-
lical capital for the agitators, and especially OF
those ultra classes whose object is revolution
at all hazards, and not French, but Eu.
ropean revolution.
But there ia no necessity for n resort to civil
war again, in order to establish the French
government to the satisfaction of the people
The upper and the middle classes desire peace
Experience has proved to them, not only the
ruinous effects upon property and business re-
sultinQ from French revolutions, but the un-
certainty and insecurity Of French republics
erected upon the chaos OF government de-
stroyed, and organized by deputies from the
baFricadsa. They dread, therefore, the resort
10 revolution, ~ the worst Of al expedients