Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-07-30

tory and thought that "if there was anything
wrong in the trade, it was that Texas had got
little more than the country was worth; but as he
acted only in the capacity ofagent of the people
that responsibility must rest on their consciences
Texas, he said, had but ella m to Santa Fe, ant
the government of Texas, from 1888 to 1871, hat
weakened that claim by offering, in substance tt
treat with New Mexico as foreign power" Tex
as after all then, made pretty good bargain in the
opinion of Gen. Houston.
FRANCE-DE TOCQUEVILLE'S REPORT
When the last steamer left Liverpool, M. De
Tocqueville's report upon the revision of the
French Constitution was the al-absorbing topic
of conversation in Paris and London. The fol-
lowing is given as summary of tie report:
IN. De Tocquevle begins by stating that 233
members OF the Assembly call for the revision of the
Constitution; and then examines whether the Constiu-
ton be essentially defective He selects as the main
wees OF this charter the system of eecng representa-
lives by the scrut.n de hste baotmg according to
prepared list of candidates. He then dwes upon
the ncessan provocation to conflict between the two
powers The nextexamines the opportuneness
ofrev!sion, and states that the objections of MN.
Baze and Cavaignac this point had been set aside
by the committee, which did not deny the DANGER but
The fatality OF the simultaneous extinction of powers
IS pointed out. This deplorable coincidence might
have been averted had the Presidential election taken
place, as was first intended, in May, ls49. The crisis
is pointed out as perous in country where the
authority is so centralized He arrives at the concu-
sion that the only regular way of preventing
sttuona dictatorship is to delegate all the powers to
Constituent Assembly.
1.-The reporter then adverts to the surprise of Fsbru-
airy, and the deep alarm that pervades society lest
change should lead to socialism. He dwels on the
increased hazards to which the country is exposed from
the divided state OF the party of order, and flom the
direct election OF the chief OF the executive power by
universal suffrage. Even in America, where the office
OF PRESIDENT Is so much less important, the election is
less direct The ignorant people will vote naturally
for the only name they know. M. de Tocquevile then
enters upon the most important part of his report and
alter having pointed the probability of an unconsti
utiona reelection, roceeds lay down rules tor the
guidance OF the sovereign Assembly under such an
eventuallty The constitution inrnged, every
guarantee is lost.
Who would dare to say that the Assembly ought to
suffer the country TO be dragged aesh in the OF
revolution and adventure? Could it tolerate the abuse
OF power to prepare unconstitutional canddature?-
Would this not lead to open and violent conflict be-
the Assembly would triumph bat perhaps at the price
OF giving the supremacy to the Socialists 1t diff
hcu to set any issue TO the statue quo but usurpation
anarchy, ruin of The Republic, or destruction of lber-
ty. The question of whether the form of the Govern
ment should be open TO chance is adroitly evaded-
he committee neither imposed the Republic nor re-
commended Monarchy. But it thought the Assembly
might, without exceeding its limits recommend as the
safest course, adherence 10 present institutions On one
point all were agreed; namely, that if the constitution
a. majority could not be obtained, the constitution
should be invariably and universally obeyed."
This report u.s. of course, the subject of news
paper commentary in London, and the Express
says that, judging from the tone of the journals,
as much interest is felt in the maneuvring now
going on among the politicians of France, by the
English as the French public,-a circumstance
not to be wondered at, when the peculiar rela-
tons of the two nations are considered.
What little repulicanism there is still to be found in
the present system OF government in France rem,rLs
the Express hnds but very little ENCOURAGEMENT the
hands OF the British press. The Times for example,
never lets slip an opportunity to decry the few remain
ing features OF Napoleons administration akin to re-
pubcanism, doubtless with the commendable design of
deterrlng The happy people OF Great Britain from ever
essaying the experiment of setting up Commonwealth
hems Ives, instead of monarchy. One is a cheap
form Of government, the other dear one; but the
Times andt the politicians and publicsts who 'hink with
the Times. are forever contendng that life and property,
law and ORDER are Infinitely more under the one
man or one woman power, than under the admnistra-
ton OF republican governments SO that, in lifelong run,
the monarchlcal principle Is The better one, after ALL
Special pleading, This, that may have weight at
home among an nsu lar people, certainly among
intelligent Amarlcans, nor intelligent Frenchnen even.
To WHERE Is properly or lie more secure, or law and
order on tlrmer basis, than they this moment in
| the United States of America And if they are not
80 In france at this day. is only because the republic
can principle there is not fully and fairly deveoped
as It Is on this side of the Atlantic.
We note this tact here only to show that the recent
TRADES OF the Times against America and American
institutions are occasionally divided with France France
being about the only country Europe where there
disposition 10 give the democratic principle trial at
least lnnumerabe difficulties have been in the way OF
that trial SO ar but we shall not surrender the hope
that the principle OF Liberalism is rooted firm enough
IN the hearts OF the masses TO enable it ride out The
storm which at present threatens TO engulph it,
1t thing that any nation in Europe brought
to think OF repubIcanism; much less practice it. That
OF Itself 10 great victory over the mondchical idea
that has ruled there for the past fifteen hundred wears
Whatever her present practice may be, none will DENY
that France at least clngs to the aspiration that one Of
these days her republic will be great and as prosper
| Gus, and permanent as our own. The ambition
pertldy, and corruption OF her public men may do and
doubtless will do much TO impede the early realization
OF that aspiration but time and experience, and the
good example we hope TO keep setting her here will 90
far to correct her errors, and show the headed
po icians and expermen ass, with which she is now
unfortunately cursed, that the only true basis Tor stable
and prosperous republic is found in the morality nel-
gence, and general education OF the people. This idea
OF democracy very faint one in France yet, but
il her statesmen be honest and wise il will ere long OBJ
tain more general recognition.
LUCKY EDITOR The editor of Southern
PuPcl, DellS dDOut " start oii q ioluio III search
OF health and subscribers introduces his "sub'
to his readers in the following terms:
During our absence our paper will not suffer,
but, on the contrary, will probably be much bet
tered. Our better-half, who has been pronounced
by competent Judge "the smarter man of the
two,u' will have jurisdiction over its columns. She
IS staunch Democrat, and decidedly opposed to
the new innovation on female costume; and our
only fear is, that when we return our readers will
insist upon our going again"