Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-06-05
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, /
FROM OUR PARIS CORRESPONDENT

PARIS, MAY ID, 1852.
Yours is perhaps the only correspondent OF the
American oress who will not commence his letter
of todav With an account of the military Sc of the
10Th ana 18th instant. Were it only to be singu-
lar should seek perhaps some other exordium;
and End Just at my hand subject which, though
Il NAV not possess the political importance Of
the fstes, viii be. more interesting to many of
YOUR readers / must have informed you in late
letters that the Prince President is making great use
politically Of the oath Of fidelity to himself which
he has incorporated in his new constitution He is
using it with double effect and for double ends He
is making all functionaries of all grades-ciwl, ju
dicial military, POLITICAL administrative, scientific
and literary--take the oath. Among the hundreds
of thousands, the many hundreds eff thousands, who
will thus repeat its form, he perhaps hopes that
there may be some who, in despite Of the almost
universal laxity of moral and political principle
prevalent here, will consider themselves bound by
OATH These he expects to make his own By virtue Of
IT'S obligations There numerous other functionares
in another Of the above enumerated categores who
bound by habit, affection or principle to one or the
other Of the fallen dynases, to the Rspabic would
hesitate to take the oath of fidelity himself and the
order Of things he has instituted These being in
cases rremoveabe he hopes to be rid of by voluntary
resignation There yet another why the Prince
President is making the whole functionayword take the
oath Of fidelity to himself and the new constitution
would wonder if this in truth the main
It is reason worthy Of that astute machiayenian policy
in which he has shown himself to be no adept He
knows that not in Thousand nf those who aota
ally take it will consider himself barred by its obligations
from attempting, soon as the favorable opportunity
shall present ITSELF re-estabsh the particular form of
government to which each may be personally politically
attached without any scrupe the of such
adjustment The Prince President would tbussecure him
self from reproach for his recent fragrant violation Of
his oath in eectng the coup fsta Of the I'd December
The illustrous astronomer FRANCOIS ARAoo finds him
self included in of the oath caegores announced in
late decree Of the Prince He is director Of the asro
nomical observatory at Paris Francois ARAGo is nOto
riously republican-an honest, moderate republican
republican of in the United States are repub
hcan. think have than alluded to him in
my letters to the Intelgencer perhaps the only poll
tcian in France against whom reviewing his whole pub
lie life, inconsistency be established The Prince
President wished to deprive the veteran politician Of this
honorable reputaona reputation honorable and unique
that which he has long since for himself as man
of science. 1t is to ARAGos letter. refusing take the
OATH that assign the place Of honor in my letter. Of
day. The Industrious astronomer, am happy perceive
preserves his integrity republican, and his excep
tonal political consistency. His letter possesses
count of the writer's reputation universal interest and
will am sure, be welcomed to your columns. 1t
that Sunday last the Minister Of Public Instruction
convened at his hotel all unctonares belonging to his
department in order receive from them the oath Of
obedience and fidelity prescribed by article fourteen of
the constitution BY first letter. addressed to the Min
lister the morning Of that day. ARAoo excused himself
from attending the solemnity upon the score Of i'll health
lam sorry learn this for that first letter would seem to
argue the part of the venerable and Industrious
ba.sx
unworthy Of the and Of his honorable reputation
That letter has not, however been made public. The
fault if was one speedily repaired On the
day MAY 9th) he addressed to the Minister second
note which appears in the following correspondence
"PARIs, MAY 9.
e"MoSsIEUR LIZ MIS1sTRE: The Government has itself
admitted that the oath prescribed by article fourteen of the
constitution ought not TO be required from the members
Of purely scientific and literary body Like the Institute
cannot say why the Bureau des Longitudes, astro
nomcal academy, in which, when vacancy occurs,
election TO fill it up is placed in another category
The simple circumstance would perhaps have suced to
induce refuse the OATH but considerations of another
nature confess have exercised decisive influence
my mind Circumstances rendered me, in lS46, mem
Der Of the Provisional Government Of the founders Of
the Republic. As such, and glory in it at present.
contributed to the abolition of all political oaths. Alta
later period, named by the Constituent Assembly
President of the Executive Committee; my acts in this
st-named situation too well known to the public
for me to have need to mention them here. You
prehend Monsieur lie Mnstre that in presence Of these
"reminiscences my conscience has imposed aresolu-
ton which perhaps the Director of the Observatory would
have hesated to come to. had always thought that
by the terms of the law, astronomer at the Bureau Of
Longitude appointed for e but your decision has
undeceived have, therefore Monsieur lie Ministre
to request you TO appoint day which shall have to
quit an establishment which have been inhabting now
for near half century. That establishment thanks to
the protection given to it by the Governments which have
succeeded each other in France for the last forty years
thanks above ALL Imay be allowed say kindness Of
the Legislative Assemblies in regard TO has arisen from
its ruins and its and be offered to
strangers model tits without profound sentiment
Of grief that shall separate from many fine nstru
ments the construction Of which have more or less
contributed il is not without lively appehensions that
shall behold the of research created by passing
into malevoent hostile hands, but my conscience
has spoken, and am bound to obey its dictates am
anxious that in this circumstance every thing shall pass
in the most open and in consequence hasten to
inform you Monsieur lie Ministre that will address to
all the great academies of Europe and Ameriea-for
have long had the honor Of belonging to thema cruar
TO intimate my removal from establishment wi which
my name had been in sort identified, and which
for me second country desire IL TO be known every
where that the motives which have determine
ton have nothing for which my children blush.
owe these explanations above ALL to the 6rstrate sard
who honor me with their friendship, such rs Humboldt
Faraday Brewster Melvin SC. Il am anxious also that
these usrous personages shall not be uneasy concern
ing the great change which this determination OF mine
will produce in my existence My health has withoutdoubt
cannot have passed part Of hslfe going from mountain
peak to peak in the widest districts Of Spain for
the purpose Of determining the precise figure OF the earth
in the irbosptable regions of Africa comprised between