Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-02-06
cerrespondenee besy.een DIE. 1Yelsser ana aIr.

Correspondence between MIR. Webster and MIR.
Rives.
We lay before our readers the following official
letters being part of a somewhat yoluminous CORES
pondence between the State Department and the
American Minister in Paris in relation to recent
TO the Senate by special message from the Presi
dent on Wednesday last
Mr.. RiUes to Mr.. Webster.
LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
Paris, December Is, 1851.
SIR The troubles which have broken out in the
departments since the presidential coup fetat of the
I'd instant have, it is understood, been almost entire
y suppressed. Not less than twenty five depart
ments have been successfully declared in state of
siege and put under martial law since that event.
and the whole number of departments in that
condition is about thirty out of the eighty-six into
which the territory of the republic is divided.
The public tranquility in this city has not been
disturbed in the slightest degree since my last de-
spatch. The government has, nevertheless
measure of precaution, dissolved and disarmed two
of the legons of the National Guards here and this
morning circular of the Minister of the Interior to
the projects of the departments is published, by
which the projects authorized their discretion,
to suspend dissolve the National Guards in their
respective jurisdictions to disarm citizens in whose
hands the possession of arms may not be considered
guarantee for the preservation order and al
ments to be made by the project, instead Of cleo
tions by the National Guards themselves. heretofore
practised. Instructions of the same minister to the
project of the police of Paris also published by
which that officer is enj Joined to take prompt and
vigorous measures for the execution of the decree
mentioned in my last despatch, respecting persons
placed under the surveillance of the haute police,
which applies equally to all persons convicted Of be-
longing or being connected with any society
Both of these classes of persons are required to be
| dioto 1ad mt iv Int
need be- from France and it is announced, in con-
necon with these orders. that the government will
have ready in fifteen twenty days, five vessels Of
capable of transporting to the penitentiary col
ony of Cayenne more than two thousand persons
These measures sufficiently mark the unrelenting
spirit in which the government pursues its system
ofrepression.
Since the I'd day of December presidential DEGREES
have taken the place of laws and the legislation
well as the administration of the country has been
| by the sole authority of the President.
To pallate, in some degree this appearance of
autocratic government, what is called commission
consultative, consisting as it is defnitivey constu-
ted, of one hundred and seveRtY-eght persons NAM
ed by the President has been organized under the
vice presidency of Monsieur Baroche, the former
Minister of Foreign Affairs. This commission as its
functions are defined by the decree establishing it,
is to give its opinion such projects of DEGREES in
matters of legislation may be submitted to it by
the President and is also to perform in general the
functions of the council of State as that body was
organized previous to the revolution of 1913 1t is
specially charged to up and verify the votes of
the people at the polls to be opened the Goth and
2lst instant, for the prolongaton and enlargement
of the Presidents powers, on the returns from the
departments.
| send you herewith the decree by which the con-
sultative commission has been defntively consttu-
ted, and which contains the list of all the names
which now compose it, embracing one hundred and
thirty five persons who were members of the Ma
tional Assembly, some twenty generals several per-
sons who have belonged to former cabinets of the
President, as we'll as the members of the present,
and few names belonging to the judicial magistra-
} cy. A former decree promulgated the composition
OF the commission, not numerous, but yet compro-
missing the names of several distinguished persons
who refused to serve upon it, some of whom notified
their refusal in terms of lofty independence proud
disdain.
In my last despatch mentioned to you that since
the late extraordinary events here had abstained
from appearing at the usual weekly receptions Of
the President, while the rest of the diplomatic corps
with the exception at that time of the representative
Y of Switzerland. had pursued different course
Since the date of that despatch the representative Of
Switzerland, under instructions from his government
has followed the example of the rest of the diploma
tic corps, and am the only foreign diplomatic
agent of any grade who has not attended the Presi
dents receptions since the revolutionary coup deta
y by which the constitution was overthrown.
In pursuing this course have taken counsel no
merely of the feelings and sentiments natural to thu
stances, but also of those higher considerations
y principle and duty which should control the conduc
e of public agent Representing, as the U. States d
before the world the great of free, popular
and republican institutions, it seemed to me that
would be in measure to betray that cause if
person intrusted to act speak in their shou
~ go forward with appearance of indecent haste
salute dictatorial power which had risen by vic
: lence on the ruins of written republican constitu
ton, however defective here On the other hand
the President having appealed to the nation to rat
fly his illegal acts, and pledged himself in the even
of unfavorahle decision, to surrender at once tn
he position he holds by tenure but that of force
he can have no just of complaint if the repre-
sentative of foreign power thinks proper to ava
the decision of the only rghtu tribunal in question
er of interior political organization, whose judgmer
st has been formally invoked.
-. These the principles which, in the absence
instructions from my government, have assumed
e' the proper guides of my conduct in novel and de
he cate situation rendered the responsible by til
o. opposite taken by all the rest of the dplom
to tic corps. trust they may meet the appreciation
those to whom alone l am accountable.
III have the honor to be, with great respect. vol
" most obedient servant, w. G. RIVES.
Mr., Webster to Mr.. Riues.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
In Washington, January H. 1852
SIR: Your dispatches have been fully received
IN to the Oath of last month. The movement made
re- the President of the republic of France on the
In IL