The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-11-26

THE ELECTORAL LAW OF FRAKcE-The
Paris correspondent of the New York Con. vat r.
cial, is of opinion, that unless the French as
sembly repeal the law which restricts the right
OF suffrage, there will be another revolution
He says
| think il extremely doubtful whether the
President will propose the repeal Of the election
law, or, ii he does, whether the ministry will
pursue its repeal with energy. On the other
hand. the monarchist parties seem determined 10
resist such measure. The reunions of the
and the leaders, are for retaining the law
Even the demagogica fraetion of the Legili-
mists seems TO have given up its pretensions of
friendship to universal suffrage, and to have rail-
lied 10 the common banner of resistance to
repeal. They admit the danger Of the law, but
say that with universal suffrage they are lost ;
that socialism has made such advances in the
provinces that there would be maj GRITTY of Reds
in the next assembly. The electoral law is,
therefore, for them programme and bul
waIk. While this is the present DISPOSE ion Of
the assembly majority, il can scarcely endure to
the end of the session. As that body feels its
end drawiny near, its members will be less and
less inclined to make themselves unpopular ;
the assembly will become either vastly more
liberal, or else, losing all hope, violent in the
extreme.
consider civil war inevitable if the assem-
bly, resist in maintaining the restriction Of suf-
frage. There is cool and determined spirit of
resistance pervading all classes Of the republi-
cans, from Cavaignacsts to Communists. Mod
crate and temperate men say they will defend
~ the last the rights secured to them in the
constitution.
1t is great mistake to suppose the French 60
about such things without weighing their i'm.
portance. They are as deeply imbued with a
consciousness of their rights as the citizens of
New York, and will go about defending them
quite as cooy They are prepared to bear every
thing with patience until next May then, if their
constitutional rights are not acknowledged, they
will assert them by force Of arms.
The movement will not commence this time
in the cities, but in the country. The peasants
of all the middle southern, and eastern provinces
will put themselves in movement, calling to them
the workmen Of the towns garrlsoned by gov
eminent. While the large towns will be in the
hands of the mOnarchsts, the country will be oc-
cupied by the republicans. When | speak of
peasants, do not mean awkward pumpkins
armed with pchforks and other rural weapons
but rough, hardy men--two millions of whom
have passed through the army, and understand
discipline. The result is doubtful.
This determination of the ultra socialist repub-
Iicans to fight is very general CADET, who is
pacific, both by temperament and by doctrine, has
been forced 10 yield The numerous workmen
engaged in building up the industrial assoca-
tons of this city will, of course. take part in the
struggle | have seen large number Of letters
from different parts Of the provinces, on this and
kindred subjects. They confirm what have
said. The United States merchants who deal
with France will do well to bear this in mind if
the electoral law is not repealed there will be
general revolution next May.