The New York herald., 1851-08-03
SgNECH OF M RERRYER,
On ts,S Revision OF the Frenc n Constitution


the speaker who has Just add.s'aoI you My phys
icaI strength anu lay inte,lcctdl' faculties would
not, perhaps, enable lac TO do so but sezlng 10
ats generality the vast auge Fhich has been dis
play ed before you see violent Doustion against
all the pact Of the country :, Wo1ld seem tnat if
We attach to those obscr"aiiofs all the Importance
which they merit il We weigh lhe gravity of them,
If perceive the bearing % tue euIptions which
they give rise In th1 hcIrts OF tIuse TO whom they
are addressed--it wSnid seem that tench oiviliza-
tion, VII ich has lasteo 20 iops lud such pro-
gress, would only have been continual, an inces-
sant combs against the fundamental rights of So
ciety, blind ana iucessaDt tyranny against the
great mass OF the people-such would be tho history
OF the past profound sensation shall not touch
on the different parts OF the Hon gentleman's
speech, except on the points which bear more di'
rtc'ly on the great question submitted to our de
nDeration. In the uiscusson even OF your questio
L know, and cannct forget, that tue Legislative
Assembly has not the right determine and to pro-
claim what changes may be made IN the political
institutions which low govern the country. The
Assembly has only one wish express | must, Ia
the 1lst place, state what part my friends and my
Eei have taken IN the preparation OF this discussion.
We did not even demand that the wish for revision
should be expressed: we presented no proposition
10 mat effect But when the word revision was ut
tered, when it was spoken o., could avoid seeing
that those who demanded tn. revision responded to
a sentiment! Could We be blind to the necessity
OF that revision which was called for by the
country, and demanded IN petitions more or
les regular! j say, that il impos 5lbe
Tor US 10 misunderstood that tbai demand re-
sponded TO want Of tho country. !. was imposing
Tor us, for IL vas signed by hund-ed and thirty
three members of this Assembly. What was the
line OF conduct we pursued! Could we, VINO are
convinced of the defects aud dang Of the present
institutions, refuse TINS appeal! What would have
become OF the honor, the good failh, and the sim
Gently OF the royaSts, il We had done SO. (Iear,
htar.) Yes, We supporte the revision; but il was
not merely to salts our ideas to the best future
OF the country 1t was not only 60 gcatify afec-
tlons and our interests; but we threw a glance on
the situation of the countr y. Two great dangers
appeared TO us TO threaten it. Three years siac,
We saw men, driven by the tide of events on the
runs OF interests and of governments, procaiming
the republic, as a dyke raised III haste to preserve
france from the torrent Of anarchy. We never OPP
posed the proposition OF that republic; we never
exclaimed against that efOrt, made in u moin 9nt of
teyeIish excitement; protested against it,
We united ourselves, under all forms, t. those
men Whu showed resolution t. save France from
the tempest; TO those men 10 whom We have con-
stantly and loyalty lent our cooperation. But we
cannot but see that this laborious effort Of three
years, the junction of all the conservative forces
has not been too much to avert the danger; and
that 1t has been necessary TO be ready on the
breach at every hour, and at every moment. Aad
what is the danger to which we find ourselves 90
posed! IL is that when THIS Labor OF resistance
against the elements ot dissolution is necessary,
the constitution has pointed Cui moment which
we now approach, when all tue puJ.ic powers will
be suspended, and when the tyrrent, which We
dread, will only meet with uncertain aud hesitttng
ones. | say that this Is a DAGGER with which
Frame is pre-occupied This peril is not the only
one; IT gives rise to another which is not less great
Livery mind is alarmed at t1e lis which rs pre-
pairing, and the country has n ached moral state
which makes iae fear that ~ may be led astray rs
to the remedy to be applied 20 the evil, and a 20
the resource 70 which eiiorts should be directed
do not bring any accusation az aiast che cha lcter
OF ny fellow citizens; God forbid ,hat should TO so,
but 3there that cannot admit that after 90 year,
IN whoa ali sy stems, and all form, of government
have been in turns tried, established end oyercome;
when all the Illusions of generous minds have by
turns fallen beneath the power OF facts tho zeal for
Abe public welfare does not any lolgsr aaimate the
heart Of the people. i am not unjust, and | can
understand that these events VI stxty years may
have altered the French charactgc. WHAT, then,
n oy happen in the country II may be that i.
will 90 what il finds the most corvenient and TIC
most easy; that it may choose the transition the
Iess egisted, the less volent, that which will
cause the least conmot ion. IL may happen that II
will take what now exists, and that msy continue
IL ar longer or q shoTser Pe.iod, and that, ia
order 10 avoid anarchy, II may precipitate itself
into violation Cf the constitution, .ud itself lead
TO the misfortunes which it'wishcs 10 avoid How
ever much may dread the INVASION Of our social
enemies, do not less fear an un constitutional re-
election of the present chief of the executive
government. Gentlen en, have long career to
20 over. AT the commencement was anxious to
shorten my discussion cut, very anxious to respond
to the attention which you give me, feel that the
range Of the subject increases, and beg you 1t to
pronounce a hssty judgment on the different parts
of the speech which | pronounce, aud not to ex-
tion them. repeat, VIC never demanded the TO
vision, but when once il was called for, the royal
lists, through feeling of honor aud Of lrsnknes.,
were bound to support u.
NJ Mior--There are, then, royalists herel
Nj BERRIER-Does that rus p-i.e you
On the Lef,-Speak sIaGk.
M BERgYEE-lt is not exclusively from interest
In principles that re act bd. from the perlous
together Of asseu big 'ssessed Of all the powers
of society is ind.sI cnsable. rne revision having
been demanded. il wouo have bees s I'd ,ient, IL
seems TO me, TO have given only the general mo-
tyes for IL. But honorable members 20 farther,
and desire to foresee the results The Hon. NJ
pates. With great authority he has soucT to r-ove
how closely conscquC noes are conncctet prIaCr
Michel fde Bourgcs) has stated vhit i. antici-
pies. We do not require sny wa voice to be
fully aware Of that-reccnt facts have sufficiently
convinced US oft. do not wish to accuse any one;
but, when We see principles opposed to principles,
may be permitted to show what conseq aences
the principles which we opposed have pro-
duced on the masses These Principles received
their frst Interpretation on the i''h Of May, when
the sanc1lry Of the laws iJatei, and they re-
ceiyed their conscqu IN the terrible days Of
June, which cost us IN blood Ard you, in
spite Of the separeton lich you have wished to
make between the future sud the past, in order to
remain In thai arrow circle, see wnat are thu COO
sequences O. these principiesl Itlcar, hear We
have heard yuu pay homage 10 the remembrlnc
Of the most detestable OF bad days, t1 men, 10
times, and w a period WI n the moral feeling OF
the whole world has cursed In saying this, d.
not fear beng taxed with any exaggeration in say
ing, that you have spoken of 6ne " who in four
teen years, committed more Grim . in unhappy
France than ali the passions, all the amb,ion and
all the peisersity Of the human mind, have been
able TO perpetrate In fourteen conturics-(loud
applause on tho rgnt)-and have you, with your
grea, and lively Imagination, had any th Jugh, Of
othersi Has u occurred To You that there might be
Ia this Assembly sons or ~ phews frionjs OF your
yictimsl Have you thought that il is TO a nation
the ost impetuous in passion, bvt ALEC tho most
humane and the moet noble when calm, that you
addrces the language yeu make use of (IIear.
hear) But, afterwards, you sad to us, 81 made my.
self did so, also ] am plebeian, as you are.
approach the people as you do mix viii them
ne you do. aid them ut least as much as you
dol know them, and do them justice They will
not yield to your fatal excit ttions-thcy will in
tcrrogatc the souvenirs Of their brethrenthey will
calculate what misery, suffering, and shame thcy
euppOrtgl whom yon Werc THAR foora..a..,