The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-11-22

The ELECTORAL LAW OF fkANCE.-in ne
Paris correspondent of the New York Commtr.
cial is of opinion, that unless the French as
sembly repeal the law which restricts the right
of suffrage, there will be another revolution
lie says.
think il extremely doubtful whether the
President will propose the repeal of The election
law, or, if he does, whether the ministry will
pursue its repeal with energy. On the other
hand, the monarchist parties seem determined "a
resist such a measure. The reunions of the
assembly majority, the journals in their interest
and the leaders, are for retaining the law.
Even the demagogicsl fraction Of the Legiti.
mists seems to have given up its pretensions OF
friendship to universal suffrage and to have raj.
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 10 the
provinces that there would be majority Of Reds
in the next assembly. The electoral law il,
therefore. for them n programme and bul
walk While this is the present disposition OF
the assembly majority, il can scarcely endure TO
the end Of the session. As that body feels its
end drawinv near, its members will be less and
less inclined 10 make themselves unpopular
the assembly will become either vastly more
liberal, or else, losing all hope, violent In the
extreme.
I consider civil war inevitable, IL the assem-.
bly, resist n maintaining the restriction Of suf.
frare. There is a cool and determined Spirit Of
resistance pervading all classes Of the republi.
cans, from Cavagnacists 10 Communists. Mod.
crate and temperate men say they will defend
20 the last the rights secured 10 them In the
constitution.
Il is a great mistake TO suppose the French go
about such things without weighing their i'm
portance. They are as deeply imbued with =
consciousness of their rights as the citizens Of
New York, and will go about defending them
quite AZ cooly. They are prepared to bear every.
thing with patience until next May; then, II 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
cf all the middle, southern and eastern provinces,
will put themselves In movement, calling TO them
the workmen Of the towns garrisoned by gov.
eminent. While the large towns will be IN the
hands of the monarchists, tie country will be oc.
cuped by the republicans When ] speak OF
peasants, I do not mean awkward pumpkins
armed with ptchforks, and other rural weapons.
but rough, hardy men--two millions Of whom
have passed through the army, and understand
discipline. The result il doubtful.
This determination Of the ultra socialist repub-
leans to fight is very general. CADET, who is
pacific, both by temperament and by doctrine, has
been forced 10 Weld The numerous workmen
engaged in building mp the " industrial sssocia-
ionsr 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
XII dred subjects. They confirm what ] have
said The United States merchants who deal
with France will do well TO bear this in mind; II
the electoral law is not repealed, there will be
general revolution next May.