Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-05-10
OPENING OF THE CHAMBERS AT PORT
AU PRINCE.

AU PRINCE.
We perceive by the " Moniteur Haitien y Of the
5th of April that this important event took place
on The 27.h of March, amid the most gorgeous dis
play of glitterng tnsel ever witnessed out of the
precincts of an amphitheatre. His Imperial Ma
jesly and suite, consisting of the Princes Of the
blood and all the grand dignitaries and nobemen
of the Empire, were robed for the occasion in mag
nifcent costumes of variegated hues, just arrived
from Paris, presenting altogether mos. imposing
and dazzling appearance. The toilette Of Fsustin
the First especially was perfectly stupendous its
way; and as he caracoled along on superb An.
dalusian steed, his jewelled chapeau covered with
feathers whose marvellous hues riyalled the gleres
of the peacock and of the rainbow, the patriotic
feelings of multitude Of ragged urchins who we're
following in his wake reached the highest pitch of
enthusiasm, and the welkin fairly rung with their
vociferous shouts.
At two o'clock in the afternoon herald at arms,
appropriately accoutred for the OCCASION announs-
ed to the assembled representatives of the nation
who also appeared in full costume, like the toged
consuls Of ancient Rome, the approach Of his I'm
perial Majesty. Soon after his Majesty, preceded
by the depu.ation which had been appointed to re-
ceve him, entered the chamber at the sound of the
drum, and, amid repeated fourishes of martial mu-
sic took his seat upon the throne; when, at a
given signal the legislative assemblage broke out
in loud . vivas" ]" for the Emperor and his family.
We learn from private letters however, that these
aviyas" of the chambers are merely looked upon
as matter Of Official obligation, and by no means
as indicative of the real sentiment OF those who
uttered them. Like the "moush-honor" paid to
Macbeth, which /" the poor heart would fan have
denied, but dared not" the reception which the
Emperor generally meets with from his subjects
clearly shows that he has no strength, except in
his position, and that no real regard is entertained
for him, either political OF personal.
Indeed, it is said that II his power were to be
wrested from him this very day he would be
trampled in the dust by those even who are now
loudest in their professions Of devotion to his pr-
cipes to his interests, and his cause. conscious
ness Of the existence Of shch feelings towards him
linked with a desperate determination to suseir
himself at all hazards, ire no doubt the causes
which have induced hin to shed SO much blood
Previous to his sudden aud unexpected elevation b
the chair of State, he was noted for certain milf
ness Of disposition, which amounted almost to ap-
parent imbecility; and il was imagined by those
who had been the chief coatrivers of his aggrandze.
ment that he would be amere tool in their hands.
Never were men more egregously mistaken in
their calculations He Had no sooner been trans
formed into chief magistrate than he at once
seemed to understand tR secret Vaccinations Of
those around him, and to devise means for getting
rid of them, which he generally does most effectu-
ally; for the moment he suspects he resolves to
destroy.
We have heard it stated on good authority, that
he lately remarked to an Individual with whom he
was conversing without restraint, "Iknow that
am surrounded by persons who are seeking my
overthrow; but they made me their mister without
any solicitation of mine, and their maser will re-
main, if have to use all the powder inthe arsenal
in shooting at the rascals." With suchsentiments
as these, it follows, matter of course that he is
not unfrequently merely blind instrumAnt in the
hands Of those who may succeed in winning his
confidence for purposes of prosecution, for the
qualification of private malice and for subserving
the most atrocious and detestable ends.
From the apparent earne sness of the proceed.
ings Of the Haytien Legislature, as we gather them
from journals up to the lst of April, it is difficult to
believe that the members are not fully impressed
with the importance of the duty they are called
upon to perform. But we are credibly informed
that the whole matter is perfectly understood at
Port au Prince to be solemn farce, and that the
decision of the aforesaid Legislators upon the grave
question Of national interest,"" communicated to
them by the Emperor, will also be communicated
to them by the same august parsonage, as soon as
the latter shall have emerged from that perplexing
state of uncertainty in which our last advices left
him. Should his Imperial Majesty incline towards
measures of peace, there is every to believe
that his faithful Senators and Deputies will yield
him most willing and conscientious support. In
the mean time we perceive that the discussion on
the Dominican question is to be conducted in Sc
cret the Legislators having been exceedingly en-
barrassed in consequence of request made by the
diplomatic agents at Port au Prince to be present.
which induced them to adopt resolution to sit
with closed doors; so that no satisfactory or re-
liable intelligence can be obtained of their pro-
ceedings.