Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-02-12


| FRMcHsEN TN my proclamation oi the I'd OF De.
eemoe, whF otag espaile1 TO you what, aesef
uing my ideas, were the vital conditions OF tho gov
etnmnt Ia France had not the pieleHslon, com
mon u these days, OF substituting personal theory
! OF I'M experience OF centuries. On the contrary |
souRh III the past Tor examples that might best be toll
them
hve thought il reasonable prefer the precepts OF
| eenla TO the specious dostrines OF men oil abstract
| idsas. have taken models the polite last utions
whcn already, at the commencement of this century,
uhoefanalagous circumstances have strengthened tot
leng society and raised France to lofty degree o!
prosperity and grandeur
hive taken models those institutions which, in
sead u being destroyed by the first breath OF popular
laion, were only overturned by the might OF all
| E1top coaesced against them.
| 10 enc word, said 10 myself. since France has
made progress during the last fifty years in virtue alone
OF the administrative. military, judicial, religious, and
| bnancal organization OF the consulate and the
pre-, WY should not we adopt the political Institutions
OF tina epoch?
| Creied by the same thought. they must bear the
same character ofnationality and practical utility
In hct, as recalled to mind 10 my proclamation, il
| Is es entail TO demonstrate that present state of
socieV Is noueht else than ranca degenerate by the
revolution OF 49, and Organized by the Emperor No
'hlng remains OF he old regime but great souvenirs
aau great benefits; all that organized under il
oesroIed ~ the revolution and all that has been
gahizei since the revolution and that still exists has
| Desn the work or Napoleon.
Ne no ongerpossess provinces, or states. or parlia
ma0n, or inendants, or farmers general, feudel
riehs or privileged classes holding exclusive possess
SION OF civil and military empoyments, OF different re-
| igioue jurisdictions
10 all such things so incompatible with its spirit
me revolution applied thorough reform; but ii oun-
ded nothing defnitive. The first Consul alone re-
laoisned unity hierarchy and the true principles of
| government. They are still in vigor.
linus, the administration of France was entrusted to
pfeecs sob.preects and mayors who substituted util-
| ny IN the place OF directing commissions. The ma.
gsracy was rendered firm, and justice more easy by
trom of ba ma.
ce OF me peace up to those OF the Court OF Casa
uon All this remains.
In the Same manner our admirable financial sys.
te' the Bank OF France. the establishment OF the bud.
GET the court OF accounts, the organization OF the DO.
ice, and our military statutes date from the above
mentioned epoch.
For the las, fifty years is the Code Napoleon that
mas adjusted the reciprocal interests of czens IL is
still the concordat that regulates the relations Of the
State with the church.
l. Lastly, the greater portion Of the measures which
concern the progress OF industry, OF commerce. OF lite
rature OF science, and OF the arts from the statutes of
the Theatre francals to those of the Institute OF France;
from the institution OF Pr,d homnes to the creation
OF the Legion OF Honor, have been fixed by the de.
crees oil that time.
1t may then be affirmed that the frame OF our go
cia editice is the work of the Empe ror-wbich has
stood hrm-reslsting his fall and the shocks of three
revolutions
Wherefore, since they have the same origin should
not his political institutions have the same chance of
duraton2
My own conviction has been formed for long
time, and Their efore it that submitted to your
judgment the principal bases of a constitution Dor
rowed from that OF the year VIII. Approved OF by
you, they are TO become the foundation OF our political
constitution.
Let us now examine its spirit
In our couptry-for the last eight hundred years
commemorative central power has always existed
koyay destroyed the great The revolutions
themselves caused TO disappear the obstacles which Cd
posed the rapid and Uniform exercise OF authority. In
this country OF Capitalization, public opinion has iuya-
good tba
chle OF the government; that, to write at The he ad
OF charter that The chief is irresponsible is TO lie
mentu) to pubic feeling. 1t is endeayo: to esab.
llsh notion which has three times disappeared of the
sound OF revolution,
The present constitution, on the contrary. proolaims
tina the oh ct wnom you have elected is responsible 10
you-tha be has the right of appeal to your SOVEREIGN
Judgment, in order that in grave {soleneAes) circun-
stances you may always be able continue your con
hdence IN him, 10 Withdraw il.
Being responsible his actions must be free and with
out hndrance. Hence arises the oh eation of his
having ministers who may be the honored and power
u auxllisries OF his ideas, bul who no longer form a
responsive council, composed oil JOINTLY responsible
members (nembreS solidaries daily obstacle to the
SPECIAL Influence OF the chief OF the State Council
the expression OF a policy emanatiug from the Cham.
oefs ana Tor that very reason exposed to frequent
changes which render impossible continuous policy
esprit dc sutte0 or the application of regular avs
tenn. ~
Nevertheless, in proportion to the holiness Of M
sllon IN which man is placed, and in proportion +
his Independence and to the confidence that the naoo
pie place IN HIM hle need of emil ghtened and con-
scientlous council Hence the creation of a CouncI,
OF State, tor the future the real (pe,iiabl) council OF
the government, the first wheelworS Of our new or
ganlzatlon-l reualoa of practical men Celebrating
projects OF law in special committees then d.,
Gu sing them with closed doors and without orato.i
cal osentatlon, Ill general assembly, next presenting
them TO the acceptatIon of the legislative bo1y
mus the government (ponpofr) will be tree in us
movements, and enlightened IN its progt IS.
NOW, what viii be the control exercised over the
Assembhes2
A chamber, which bears the title of "The Lea,la
tive Body" the laws and the taxes II il elsc
ted by universal suffrage without the ballot (sqns SER.
nm dc hSfe). The people choosing each candidate
singly, can the more easily appreciate his merit.
lie chambeti Is composed of about 26J members
hfsl guarantee OF the camness OF its deliberations
fortoo often it has been that in assemblies. The
MOBILITY and ardor OF passions increase in proportion
TO the number OF members.
The account OF the deliberations which is to infar,,
the nation OF It's affairs is longer as formerly
abandoned 10 the party spirit OF each Journal An ~
hcia publication, drawn up under the surveillance of
the PRESIDENT OF the Chamber will alone BE- authoriz
ed i'
The legislative body freely discusses the laws-
ADOPTS or REJECTS them-but does introduce those
unforeseen amendments which often derange The whol
economy OF system, aud the ensemae of the nriro;
tive project; and, for still stronger reasons il does moi
possess that parliamentary initiative which was The
source OF such grave abuse, and which permitted
every deputy to substitute himself at every turn in
place OF the government, and present projects how
ever unstHded or shallow.
The Chamber being longer in presence of the
ministers and projects of laws being advocated by the
orators Of the Council of State, the lime will moi he
lost IN VAN interpretations, IN frivolous accusations,
and in passionate struggles, whose sole object was to
upset ministries in order TO replace them
Thus: then, the deibe'a ons of the legislative body
will be independent, but the causes of sterile
will have been suppressed and sanitary DELAYS intro
duced into any notifications of The law The dppu-
ties (@,andatares) OF The nation will natlrely accom-
pllsh things OF importance.
Ano he Assembly will bear the name of Sonata
1t will b. composed Of those elements which in every
country create legitimate inf ienc-; such as an H.
TO the country,
The Sena,e is not-what the Chamber of Peers was
"a pale reflection of the Chamber of Deputies, re-
another tone. It is the depository Of The fundamental
compact, and oft public liberties compatible with
the constitution and it is solely with regard to the
great principles on which our society is based that
it examines all laws, and that it proposes new ONES 10
the executive power It ntervenes either to resolve
any grave difficulty which might ar se during the ah
-