The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-12-23
Majority for Louis Napoleon, Emperor. ,547, IT'S

Majority for Louis Napoleon, Emperor Z ,547, IT'S
Immediately afterw ards the whole Corps LeSfs-
laif went to ST. Cloud en- costume, to announce the
result
Next day, Thursday, at one o'clock p. IN Ma
poleon made his public entry as Emperor into
Paris. brief Geographic despatch in the London
papers says his entry took place amid the acclama-
tions of the people, the National Guard, and tho
army. The formal procla ma ton Of the Empire
was made at the Hotel de Vile at ten q. m.
The following is the speech Of NJ. Billault, the
President or be Legislatf Corps, on presenting the
number of voses:
"SlRE: We lay before your majesty the soiemn
expression of the national will. In the midst Of
the ovatons which were decreed to you by the
popular enthusiasm, you showed no anxiety 10
assume a crown which was offered to you on all
sides, but desired that France should have time for
reflection; you wished that the supreme decision
by which a people, master of itself, disposes So
lemny Of it's destiny, should only be taken coolly,
and in complete liberty.
'.Your wish, sire, ID accomplished; free ballot,
secret and open to all, has been honestly exam M
ined. under the eyes of all. summing up 5000 600
of votes. 1t gives to the Legitimacy Of your gov
eminent the widest basis on which any govern
ment in the world has ever been established. From
the day when 900 900 votes, collected for you by
the government itself, which they called ysu to
replace, deposited in your hands the late VI the
country, France, at each new ballot, has mar ked,
by additional millions Of votes, the continued in
crease Of her confidence in you. without as
, within her neutrality-suspicious. her fstes as in her
votes--everywhere her feelings have burst forth,
from one end of the country to the other, focking
on your steps, fastening from all parts to salute
the man of their hopes and Of their faith, our peo
pie have sufficiently made known TO the world that
you their emperor the emperor chosen by the
people-and that you carry with you that national
spirit which, on the day marked out by Providence,
crowns new dynasties, and seats them in the place
of those which it no longer animates.
Taking shelter under an immense recollection
Of glory-under what 1t holds most precous-its
h Jnor abroad, it's security at home. and those i'm
mortal principles of 1889, the firm basis OF new
French society, so powerfully organized by the
emperor, your uncle-our Hation again ralses up
with proud love that dynasty of the Bonapartes
which sprung from him, and which was not over
thrown by French hands. But while preserving a
proud remembrance OF the great events Of war, it
hopes to find from you the great things of peace
Having already seen you at work. 1t expects from
YOU a resolute, prompt, and prosperous govern
Inent. In order to aid you in 1t, 1t surrounds you
with all itssympathes-it delivers itself wholly up
TO you. Take. then. sire-take from the hands OF
France that glorious crown which she offers you;
never has royal brow worn one more legitimate
or more opular"
To this speech the Emperor replied:
"GENTLEMEN: The reign which you this
day inaugurate, derives not its origin-as 50 many
others recorded in history have done-from VIC
ience, from conquest or from fraud. 1t is. you
have just declared it, the legal result Of the
will OF a whole people who consolidate in calm
that which they had founded in the midst OF agi
tations.
Il am penetrated with gratitude towards the nation
which three times in four years has suftained me
by ts suffrages, and each time has only augmented
its majority to increase my power. But the more
that power increases in extent and IN vital f1rce,
the more does it need enlightened men, such as
those who every day surround me-independent
men, such az those whom address-to guide Inc
by their council, to bring back my authority
within just limits, il it could ever quit them.
81 take from this day with the crown the name
OF NAPOLEON H., because the logic Of the people
has bestowed it upon me in their acclamations
because the Senate has legally proposed II; and be
cause the whole nation has ratified it.
-.Is it then to be inferred that in accepting this
title fall into the imputed to the prince who
returning from exile, declared null and void all
that had been done in his absence? Far from mt
be such O wild mistake. Not only do recognise
the governments which have preceded me, but
inherit in some manner all that hey have accom-
plished Of good and evil, for governm ents which
succeed one to another are notwithstanding diff
ferent origin, liable for their predecessors. But
the more completely thatI accept all that for NIFTY
years. history transmits to US with her inhexibl
authority the less it is permitted to me to pass
silence over the glorious reign OF the head OF my
family, and the regular, though ephelneral title o
his son, whom the two Chambers proclaimed in thu
dast burst OF vanqushed patriotism.
thus, then, the title OF Napoleon H. is not ont
of those .dynastc and supernnnuated pretension
which seem to bel an insuit to good sense and t
truth. 1t ia the homage OF q government WnlCI
was legitimate and 10 which owe the brightes
pagcs of our modern history. My reign does no
date from lSl5-it dates from this very momen
when you have announced to me the suffrages o
the nation.
"Receive, then, my thanks, Messieurs les Depu
fes for the sclat that you have given to the mani
festation OF the national will by rendering it NOR
evident by your supervision, more imposing b.
your declaratl ton.
81 thank you, also, Messisurs les Senateurs, 70
having been the first to address congratulations
me- as you were the fret to give expression to th
popular wish.
!.Aid me, all of you, to set firm in this land. up
set by 30 many revolutions, stable government
which shall have for it's basis religion, probity anc
love for the suffering classes
"Receive here my oath, that no sacrifices shall
be wanting on my part to insure the prosperity o
my country; and that, whilst maintain peace,
will yield in nothing which may touch the homo
or the dignity of France"
The city was illuminated in the evening, but tn
great fsies are put of till the coronation.
The Emperor would be proclaimed in all the de
partments on Sunday, 9Th instant
LIABILITIES OF RkILRoA Ds.--The heavy dam
ages assessed upon several OF our rait Dad: rocent
for injuries sustained by passengers, will be a cat
by may have some effect in preventing turtle
accidents Not a railroad in this vicinity has e.
capped. The New York and New Htven W.
mulcted in damages to the amount Of $4,000 Il
injuries sustained by MIR. Warrington in a collisic
Of the cars. Damages were recovered from Il
Harlem Railroad Company to the amount
$4,000, by Mira. williams. for the loss OF her HUI
band, who was injured on the track. The sum
$2,lO0 was awarded TO Mr.. Van Nance, for INF
~ I'LL.