Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-08-06
DEBATE IN THE FRENCH AS
SEMBIY

PARIS, July II, 1851.
There is a grand contest of prize ri1eshootng
taxing place at Geneva, in Switzerland. Every canton
mas picked out It's best men, and they have up by
thousands each with his best apon, his choicest pow
DER, his most accurately moulded balls, to this great
tonal fee. Something analogous is taking place
IN France ard Paris only it is intellectual strife in
which the champions OF all the parties mount in sue
cession the Parliamentary tribune, and brilliantly dis
charge their shafts OF eloquence and argument at the
mark ReUStOn that NJ. de Tocquevilie has erected for
the display OF their skill. II is difficult in spite of the
gravity OF the OCCASION to rid OF the impression that
| you are looking on at mere game mere exhibition
OF oratorical sharpshootng; for every one feels as he
looks that there is nobody to be killed that there is
even nothing TO be knocked down. that whatever skill
be shown by the competitors, however cribbed by the
balls of argum mt the target be- the result will not
be altered. 1t is kpown beforehand to whom the medal
will be awarded. Yes, just now in the midst
OF as magnificent Pariiame nary tournament as ever
off in any DELHI rative assembly, and vet the inter
est, the anxiety the thrill which should so naturally at
tend 1T are almost quite wanting. We can admire the
w.t. the brlIlancy the eoquence Of the orators the prec
sion with which they place heir>balls but we knew as
well on Monday morning, when the debate opened as
we will on Saturday evening, when it will probably close
| accurately, almost 10 man, what the vote will he
The devotion OF de Falloux, the splendor of Berry,
er, the chlvary OF Montalembert the conviction of
Cavagnac, the measured solemn satire of Jules Favre
the impetuous eloquence OF Michael, (de Bourges The
magazine nee OF Darmdrtlne, the brliancy and earnets
ness OF Victor Hugo, neither all together vii avail
to modify single VOTE | was present on Monday
when the debae was opened by de Faloux aud Cavaig-
have occupied the ibune and ALL with little evasion
except 1.-THE Bonapatsts, have declared the extent
to which they are in favor of opposed revision,
and why they are So Menalembert, one of the most
brilliant oratois of the Assembly, will take the floor
morrow as organ Of the Bonapartists Lam airline
has 1t at this moment friend Just tells me- the
gan ot--himsel. Victor Hugo will follow him.
This gentleman is the pride and honor of the Extreme
Lett. He is an excellent man, and believe dsnte-
rested PARROT. There few who sit beside him OF
whom would say so much regret deeply, but am
thei nHu how
operated upon him, 10 find him where he is. He is not
to be measured by the same rule other men.
Most OF the orators in favor OF the revision have
nrged, as their chief argument the probability Of lie
gal candidacy by NJ Bonapart YEAR, the possible
ty OF hs being nominated in spite of the constitution
revision should not open the door him. and the ex-
IRENE danger that free government would incur should
such an event be realized "My mind" sad M Berryer
yesterday, speech which friend and foe admit 10 be
perhaps the most able effort of his singuarly splendid
my mind is too much alarmed in view of the sua-
ton which the constitution is preparing for 1852 and of
the immense danger of Presidential reelection taking
place over The constitution But suppose that in its las
stude, in its lusionsif it still possesses anythe peo-
Pile, when the time shall come 10 elect its Chief Magis-
rae, excited by the echo which, in the humble dwellings
OF the people, still answers to this name of Bouapare:
suppose, say, that the people, in spite of the consttu
ton, which limits the duration of the Presidential au-
thory, should again with some millions of voices call
Louis Napoleon Bonapare to the Presidency ofFrance.
Gentlemen, tell you, it this should occur that all
lost hold that he must be something more than hui
man nature in that situation he did not imagine that
he had perfect right to brock down all obstacles, and
overturn Constitution and Assembly; for there would
be The nation placing him in his individuality and
above every thing'
A voice on the Left. eve would resist"
81 M. Berger. You would resist I do not doubt it
You would resist here in this hall during The week
that would remain to you after this unconstitutional re-
election You would maintain the struggle; and what
civil war in France. But you imagine a more re-
doubtable one than this? The Parliament party and
The President party Would you pc, peuate yourselves
IN order TO prolong the struggle? Would you declare
yourselves long Parliament Would you have-yes,
you would have the energy, for you are patnotic-but
you would thus yourselves violate the constitution
thus upon all sides, by the Nation, and by the Assem-
bly,, would the constitution be violated; and that is
contest commenced for the support of the constitution
Yes, do shrink from this prospect"
| M. Berger then makes pathetic and powerful
speech TO the house 10 vote revson and concludes with
an earnest adraton addressed to all parties respect
the constitution religiously and to cause it to be
peeed by all parties in case The legal maiorties should
not be attained. Upon this subject he hardly less
explicit or less in earnest than M de Tocquevile him
self in his report All the Legitimst orators notwih-
standing the reports which have been in circulation
touching their disposition to support legal reelection
OF III. Bonaparte, have declared themselves with much
dlstlnctness against that course.
1t has been long Ance have witnessed so much ami
mallon asnow daily prevails in the neighbourheod of
the Assembly. The entrances beset at an early
hour OF the morning; and instantly upon the opening oil
the doors al the places assigned to spectators
Bouevads this week al the extraordinary prices Olive
six and eight dollars each.
=. Let me hasten to render act of justice to the
French Assembly, which do with the more alacrity
it rarely affords the opportunity OF paving TO it d
compliment of he kind l was much struck on Mon
day with s calm, dgnitied, and truly senatorial de-
meanor Not single unb' coming interruption the
part OF the Montagnards, though they listened to
some crue truths from the mouth of M. de Faoux
and very lew rom the Right elected, by the repeated
and formal epunciauon BY General Cavaignac of his
lntOler of he nh
This conduct is assured all parties persist in
throughout The debate. am sorry to feel constrained
| TO say that believe Gen Cavaignac has taken this
ground less from conviction than from unacknowi-
edged motve-the desire acquire popularity and in
1uence with the Extreme Left. IIe knows this doc
time to be in favor in Ihat quarter. He knows that NJ
de Girardin lost his election before the constituency OF
Paris because he expressly refused to place the existence
OF the pubic above popular sovereignty, independent
OF and superior TO m"Jores. Cavaignac is candi-
date tor the Presidency next year, and he knows his
chance 10 tie utterly vain unless he cone late TO
some extent he Extreme Left, which remember and
will ever re member against him the days OF June, 1913.
can IN no other way account for heresy of this
egregious character being admitted by mind ordinar
ly so severty Logical and correct in Its conclusions
as that OF Gen. Cavagnac.
Gen. paraguay dHilliers has resigned he command
OF the army of Paris, upon the preex that the const
tuition opposed itself to his being longer invested with
that command 1t Goes truth; but that provision
has been often elud' d that is imposs Bile to
consider its allegation in any other light than pre-
text There was some other ofwhch the pub
lie is not vet
Gen. Casellane, commandment chief at Lyons was
summoned 10 he chief command in Paris. But he has
returned to Lyons upon the pea hat he liked Lyons
nuch, and Lyons nked him much, that they could
not bear to separate. Some Indignantly insinuate that
the General would not accede the exgences of the
President and therefore returned to his command in
the centre OF France. l do not believe that we Know
the whole truth with re gard to his little episode The
question OF the command OF the army OF Paris has,
however, been set at rest Tor the present by the nomi-
nation OF Gen. Magnan. The decree appears in yes
terday's Monitem Gen. M. has long been signaIized
one OF he most devoted generals of the army to the
personal policy of M. Bonaparte. He gave in his re-
sgnaion as member OF the Assembly the day before
his appointment. This leaves a vacancy in the re-
presentation OF the capital Paris will therefore be
again agtattd ere long by popular election.
Louis James DagueIre, whoee great invention has
iamarized his nan throughout The civilized world
and made it immortal died on the 10Th instant at Bre-
on-the MaTne, near Paris in the sxtythird year of
hIa He member of the nfH