New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-12-31
FRANCE.
A Narrative by a Member OF the National As
sombly.
From The London Tines.

which accompanied the TesOiutloh VI the Nd'oh"I
Assembly of France is from the pen OF a member OF
that boy, whose name IN the present state OF Una.
country it is Of course Impossible to disclose bh'
submit Important co cumens TO tse Jaigmen'
Of the world with entire reliance on tne bH.1n o.
saracy OF every detail which II contains.
particulars ale now hrst published oy 10 ~ 90
thent.c form, TO means any tobgef sA,Sp Al,
France of bringing he truth 10 tne slo"ieuso VI
the public The opinions are those OF me writer
the facts belong to the history Oh thesv Nihe'
SIP TIE ontnioo expressed By certain organs OF
the English press on the events which nave iSt o.;
CURED IN France has caused PAINFUL surprise 10
men who ike my self, preserve a steadiast attach
ment 10 tbe principles OF regulated liberty and
fixed res pee, Tor legality. We are grieved to re-
mark the purpose to which these observations OF
portion OF the English press are turned oy the new
Government, ard that any English writers should
seem TO applaud what ali hOhcst Frencnnen con
denim. II is for this reason tpat as witness oil
these events, wIsh 10 make them known 10 you IN
all sincerity, convinced as am that when English
men approve violence and oppression, 1t Is oAiy be-
cause the Truth is not yet before them.
Permit me TO offer some general reflections be-
fore entering into details
Louis Naooecn. IN order to endeavor 20 paate
in France and abroad the dudacous violation oil tne
laws which he has Just cOmmltted has caused re-
BORT 10 be circulated that ne only antlc Dated me
hostile measures Of the Assembly, when was cop
spring against himself, and that ne mac nos suuck
that body IL would have struck him. TINS sofs OF
defense IS no voye TO Us IN FRANCE eo a our ne
members OF the Convention, who sent each otner 10
the scafod, invariably treated their adversarles as
conspirators But In the present instance thls accu
sation as far as the majority Of the Assembly Is con-
cerned is without pretext, and can only pass cur.
rent among stangers ignorant oil the true course Oh
events.
No doubt history will have weighty charges to
bring az ainst the Legislative Assembly, which has
Just been illegally and violently dissolved Inc
parties of which that Assembly was composed iaiieu
10 come to an understanding this gave to the wnoie
t~rtv Fta
lev and finally eiscredited the Assembly, ana rem
dered II incapable OF defending either liberty or us
own existence. History Will record thus much ou'
history Will reject with contempt the accusation
which Louis Napoleon has preferred against us III
you do believe my assurances Judge az least oy
the facts-not the secrect facts winch coMd uis-
close 20 sou, but the pubic facts printed IN the
No niteur
In the month of August last the Assembly voted
the revision Of the Constitution by Immense ma
,ority Why was the revision OF the Constitution
desired Simply ~ legalze the reelection OF LOUIS
Napoleon. Was that an act OF conspiracy against
him
The Assembly pforogued itself soon after this vote
the Conssiis GeneraUr, invoked immediately alter
wards and principally consisting of Representatives.,
also expressed an almost desire for the
revision of the Constitution. Was that an act Of
conspiracy against Louis Napoleon
The Assembly met again on the AN OF November.
There was an Electoral Baw-that oil the 3lst OF
May--which the great majority OF The Assembly had
voted This law was unpopular, and 10 catcn toe
favor of the people Louis Napoleon, who han been
the first To propose and sanction tie law OF inc 5lst
Of May the year before, demands its abroganon, aud
proposes another law m a message insulting 70 tne
Assembly The new Electoral Law proposed by MIN
was indeed, rejected, but by majority OF 0nlytwo
votes, and Immediately aitefward the Chalnoer
proceeded, in order to comply with we Eresloeht
policy, 10 adopt in another form mos OF the changes
he had proposed. Was that an act OF conspiracy
against LOUIS Napoleon
Shortly atefwaTd a proposition was mace by me
Quesors to enable MS 70 place the Paruamen, III a
81 afon atta Ead anN 49, IL
Ieetly to cur assistance This proposition was, as
nobody can deny, strict conformity with the Con
was 10 define q" the means Of exercising a power
which the Assembly incontestaoly possessed New
ertheless from fear of a collision with the EXecp-
tive Power, the Legislature dared not assert thls
incontestable night. The proposition OF the 'lueS-
tors was rejected by large majority. was that an
act Of conspiracy against Louis Napoleon What
the Assembly was conspiTing, AID II Tenounced the
command OF the troops which might have defended
H. and made them over to the man who was com
passing It's rum And when did these things hap
peni fortnight ago.
and the different officers of State sent mp - The
Assembly by the Conseil dEtes. Observe, taat thl'
proposition did smanate from the Assembly, that
the Assembly had no right, by law 20 refuse 10 en-
feTtan 1t. The bill was, therefore, brought up, ou
tho Committee to whom II was referred showed al
once that It's disposition was concasory. The pro.
visions OF the bill were rendered more mid, and
Abe discussion was To be deferred in order to AVOID
the dspeasure OF the Executive Power. Were
these the actions OF enemies and consplra,ors And
what was happening IN the meanwhile All ne
journals VIGOROUSLY paid by the President, 0Suted
the Assembly day bs day IN tne coarsest manner,
threatened II, and tried by every means to cover It
with unpopularty.
This is history-the truth OF history. The acts OF
which speak are the last OF the National Assembly
OF France, and defy our adyersarieS 10 find any
other facts to oppose them. Tha, an Assembly Of
$50 members mag have included In that number GER
tain consprators, 1t would be absurd 10 deny. But
the maaifsst truth, proved by It's acts IS that The
majority of this Assembly, instead OF cOnspirng
against Louis Napoleon. sought for nothing so much
~ 10 avoid quarrel with HIM that 1t carried aus
moderation io3aTd nm 20 the verge OF weakness.
and ITS desire Of Cancellation 10 degree OF pushis-
nimity That is the truth. on may believe my
assertions for participated IN none ot the passions
Of itspartes, and have no reason either 10 hiuer
or TO hate them.
letus no " proceed 10 examine what the Assembly
did ON the 2d OF December and here cease To ex
press any opinion merely relate, as an actual Wit
ness the things saw with my eyes and heard WIKI
my ears.
When the Representatives of the people learned
on waking that morning, that several OF their col
Leagues were arrested, they ran TO the Assembly
The doors were guarded by the Chssseurs de Vn-
eennes, corps of troops recently returned nom
Africa, and long accustomed TO the volenceS OF
Aigerme dominion, who, moreover were stimulated
by a donation of 81. distributed to every soldier
who was In Paris that day. The Representatives
nevertheless presented themselves TO go IN, having
NJ their head one OF their Wee Presidents NJ Daru.
This gentleman Was violently struck by the SOLDIERS,
and the Representatives who accompanied him were
driven back at the point of the bayonet Three Of
them. Nj. de Tahouet Euenne. and Dupatc were
slightly wounded. Several Others had their clothes
pierced. Such was the commencement
Driven from the doors OF the Assembly, the d. pu.
ties retired 20 the Marie OF the 10Th aondiSsem
They were already assembled 10 the number of
about 3t0, when the troops arrived, blocked up the
approaches, and prevented greater number of Rep
rcsentatives IRON entering the apartment, though
no one was at that time prevented from leaving II.
Who, then, were these Representatives assembled
AT the Marie OF the ION reimbursement, and wha,
did they do there Every shade OF opinion was rep
resented IN this ex,emporaneouS Assembly. But
eighttenths OF its members belonged to the dferen;
Conservative parties which had constituted the ma
l0rity. This Assembly was presided over by two oi
its Vice Presidents, M. Yitet and NJ. BenoSt dAZy
m. Daru was arrested in his OWE house The fourth
Vice President the ilsstrious General Bedeau, had
been seized that ming IN his bed. and handcuiied
like roboer. AS for the President, NJ Dupin, he
was absent, which surprised no one, as his coward