Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1852-12-11
The French Empire.

the end OF the mOnt1, we may expect the WlOle
of the scenes in the farce of the plebiscitum to
be played out, and nothing left to do but to
send for the Pope, and have the Imperial dia-
dem placed on the brow of Louis Napoleon.
The Senatus- consuhum adopted by the Sen
ate consists of eight articles:
Art. /. The Imperial dignity is re-estab'ish-
ed. Louis Napoleon Bonaparte is Emperor
under the name of Napoleon iii.
Art. 2. The Imperial dignity is hereditary
in the direct and legitimate defendants Of
Louis Napoleon Bonaparte from male to male
by order of primogeniture to the perpetual eX-
clusion of females and their descendants.
Art. 8. Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, if he has
no male child, may adopt the legitimate chill
dren and descendants in the male line of the
brothers Of the Emperor Napoleon |. The
forms of adoption are regulated by a Sena!us-
consuhum. If, after their adoption, male chill
dren should be born to Louis Napoleon, his
adaptive children cannot be called on to succeed
him until after his legitimate descendants. The
adoption is interdicted to the successors of
Louis Napoleon and to their descendants.
Art. 4. Louis Napoleon regulates, by an Or
ganic decree addressed to the Senate and de-
posted in its archives, the order of succession
to the throne in the BoEaparte family, in case
he should leave no direct, legitimate, or adop-
tive heir.
Art. 5. In default of 4 legitimate or adaptive
heir of Louis Napoleon Bonapate, and OF the
successors in a collateral line, who shall derive
their right in the above mentioned organic de-
crees, a Senatns~consuAum, proposed to the
Senate by the Ministers formed into a Council
of Government, united to the Presidents of the
Senate, of the Legislative Body, and of the
Council of State, and submitted to the accep-
lance of the people, names the Emperor, and
regulates in his family the hereditary order from
male to male, to the perpetual exclusion of fe-
males and their descendants. Until the moment
when the election of the new Emperor is con-
summated. the affairs of State are to be govern
ed by the ministers in office, who shall form
themselves into Il Council of Government, and
deliberate by a majority Of votes.
Art. 6. The members of the family Of Louis
Napoleon Bonaparte called eventually to the
succession, and their descendants, of both SEX
es, form part of the Imperial family. A SenM-
us-c0nSuhum regulates their position. They
cannot marry without such authorization of the
Emperor. Their marriage without such autho-
~rization entails p%rivation of all hereditary right,
as well for him who contracts it as for his de-
scendants.
Art. 7. The constitution of the 18th of JAM
uary, 1852, is maintained in all provisions which
are not contrary to the present Sen0tus consul
tum; there cannot be any modification made in
it, except in the forms and by the means there
in prescribed.
Art. 8. The following proposition shall be
presented to the acceptance of the French peo-
pie, in the form determined by the DEGREES of
the I'd and 4th of December, 1851: sThe peo-
Pile wish for the establishment of the impe-
rial dignity, in the person of Louis Napoleon
%Bonaparte, with the hereditary right in his direct
descendants, either Legitimate or adaptive, and
give him the right to regulate the order of sue
~cession to the throne in the Bonaparte family,
as provided for by the Senatus-conSuAum of the
of November, 1852"
NJ. Mesnard, first Vice President Of the Sem
ate, on presenting the above Senatus-consuhum
to the Prince President, addressed him as fol-
lows:
Monsigneur-When a great country like
makes its voice heard, the first duty of
the political body to which she addresses herself,
is to listen and reply. Such were the ideas of
your Highness in calling for the meditations of
the Senate on this vast movement of public
which has manifested itself with so
much ensemble and energy. The Senate under
that this striking manifestation is justiied
at the same time by the immense services which
you have rendered, by the name which you bear
and by the guarantees which are given to the
future by the greatness of your character and
the wisdom and irmness of your mind. 1t has
understood that, after SO many revolutions,
France feels the want of putting her d~estinies
under the shelter of a powerful and national
government, which, only holding to the past by
the souvenirs of her glory and the Legitimacy
of her origin, now again finds in popular sane
the elements of its force and of its duration.
The Senate glories, Monseigneur, in being the
faithful interpreters of the wishes and senti~
ments of the country, in placing in your hands
the Senatus; consuhum which calls YOU to the
The Prince made the following reply:
Messieurs les Senateurs-I thank the Senate
for the readiness with which it has responded
to the wishes of the country, in celebrating on
the re-establishment of the Empire, and in
up the Senatus-consultum which is to
submitted to the acceptance of the people.
When, forty-eight years since, in this same pa
lace, in this same room, and under analogous
the Senate cam to offer the
crown to the chief of my family, the Emperor
replied in these memorable words:-"My spirit
will no longer be with my posterity from the
lay when | shall cease to merit the love and the
confidence of the great nation" What now
most affects my heart is the thought that the
spirit Of the Emperor is with me, that his ideas
guide me, that his shade protects me since by a
solemn proceeding you come, in the name of
he French people, to prove to me that | have
nerted the confidence of the country. 1t is
Tot necessary for me to tell you my constant
~ore-occupation will be to labor with you to
the grandeur and prosperity of France.
UThe Emperor Solouque, like other sover
'igns, has a chosen body guard attending him.
A French traveller, much interested in obsery-
ng this famous band, noticed that each officer
pore on his head-dress a glit,ering badge, which