Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1852-12-25
DEC. 25, 1852.
Gbc Dailn niroinian
Louis Nanoiecn's speech on Accept
ing the Empire.

ing the Empire.
The following is the speech OF the new EN-
peror of France, addressed 10 the ennie and
Deputies at St. Cloud on the evening OF DE.
cember lst when they announced to HIM the
result of the popular vote on the Empire
which was proclaimed the next day;
Gentlemen: The new reign which you this
day inaugurate is not founded, as many 9th
ers mentioned in history have been, on violence
conquest or stratagem; it's, as you have Just
declared, the legal result of the will Ola whole
people, consolidating during the calm that
which it founded in the midst of agitation
| am deeply grateful to the nation which
three times in four years has supported me
with lis suf1rages and each time has but aug
mented its majority To increase my power.
Bnt the more that power gains IN extent and
in vital force, the more need it has OF enhght'
ened men, like those who every day surround
me-of independent men, like those whom |
addross--to guide me by their advice, and to
restrain my authority within just limits, if ever
| could stray beyond them.
| take this day with the crown the name OF
Napoleon the ILL., because the logic the peo-
ple has already bestowed it upon me with ac-
clamation, because the Senate has legally pro
posed IT, and because it has been ratified by the
whole nation.
Does this mean that, in accepting this title,
| fall into the error attributed to the Prince,
who, returning from exile declared null and
void all which had been dorc IN his absence!
Such sentiment is far from my thought
Not only do | recognise the Governments
which have preceded me, butt IN some meas
ure inherit what they accomplished, Tor good
and for evil; Cor succeeding Governments, not
withslanding their different origin are each
party TO the acts OF their predecessors.
But the more readily | accept all that lor
50 years, history transmit TO Us, with Its IN
flexible authority; the less was 1t allowed me 10
pass over in silence the glorious reign oi the
head Of my family and the utle, regular al
though ephemeral, of his son, which the Cham
bers proclaimed in the last effort of their con-
ouered patriotism. Thus the title of Napoleon
ll1ss not one Of those dynastic and absolute
pretensons which insult both truth and com
mon sense; it is the homage pa'd 10 a Govern
ment which was lawful. and to W hich we are
indebted for the finest pages OF our modern
history.
Nv reign does not date from 1915; 1t dates
from the MON ent you communicated TO Tho
sufigraes Of the nation.
Accept, therefore, my acknowledgement M
les Deputies, for the eciat you have gwen to
the manifestation Of the national will IN making
it more evident by your verifying the yotes,ano
more imposing by your declaration.
THANK you, also NJ. les SENATOR'S, for hay
ing been the first to congratulate me, as yot
were also the first to embody the popular
wish.
Assist me, all, to establish in this l~nd ,haras
sed by SO many revolutions, stable govern
nen, whose basis shall be religion, justice, pro
bity, and the love of the less fortunate classes.
And here receive the oath, that | vii spare
no exertions to assure the prosperity OF oul
country; and that while maintaining peace
will yield in no point which concerns the honor
and the dignity OF France.