Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-08-14
BURLINGTON HAWK-EYE.
French Politics.

The constitution Of France provides for the eli
gbility of the President of the republic as can
ddate for reelection, only after an interval OF
four years. Louis Napoleon has however con-
ceived scheme of revising the constitution with
view Of rendering himself eligible as candidate
for the next presidency as soon as his present
term of Office expires. This scheme is proceed
ing rapidly through the forms Of legislation in the
National Assembly. But as the signs are just
now, Louis Napoleon is not likely to reap the
benefit of the change. The petitions in favor of
revision do not exceed million, or just about one
sixth of the legal voters of France. The friends
of Bonararte and Imperialism, hoped for three
millions, and no doubt used the whole patronage
of the government to increase the number OF pc
titioners.
There is in France sturdy band Of moderate
republicans, headed by Cavaignac, pledged to re-
| sist to the death any attempt the President may
make to extend his power one hour beyond the
| constitutional term Of his office. Cavaignac
doubtless desires to enter the list as candidate
| himself, and he and his party will oppose all eff
| forts to change the constitution so as to make
Louis Napoleon eligible for another term. The
constitution will, without doubt, undergo thor
oush revision, but it is by no means certain that
| the particular provision which stands in the way
| of the present incumbent will be touched.
There are so many parties existing at this time
in France, that it is difficult to conjecture even the
probable result of the effort to amend the const-
tuition, and still more the result or the election for
the presidency next year. The different parties
in the national assembly of course have their ad-
herents out of it. The Red Republicans and So
cialists will unite with Cavaignac aud his friends
10 resist all schemes for the extension of the pow
er of Louis Napoleon; but farther than this they
will not go; Cavaignac is too firm friend of Or
der, and was too active in the suppression of the
instruction under the Provisional Government.
to receive the support Of the ultras and destruc-
tives. The oaly party favorable to the extension
of the power Of Louis Napoleon are the Imperi-
| alists, and those adherents of older and younger
branches of the Bourbons who suppose that the
transition from the Republic under Napoleon, to
a monarchy under the young Duke of Orleans, the
grand son of Louis Philippe, under the Count
| de Chambord, the grand son Of Charles Tenth,
| will be natural and easy.
The contest in the assembly, will, it is likely,
| be between the friends Of Louis Napoleon, and
the friends and followers of Cavaignac, in which
the monarchists will look on ready to take advan-
| tage Of whatever may promise success to their
schemes. land ardently hoping that the people, tired
of their ythins ,namei the republic, will glad
| " return to the Throne of their ancient love.
The freedom and independence Of France has
many friends in this country; and if constituent
assembly is called TO remodel the French constr
tuition, Republcanism here will anxiously watch
its deliberations with a hope for the establish
ment of French liberty on firmer basis than the
one on which it now rests.