The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-10

Elysse. They will have the whole power Wit
respect TO the drawing up and publishing of tn
minutes of each sitting, and, an they are to b
removable at pleasure and sAlaried, it Ia not dill
fcult to see that they will neither publish no
record anything that nfy be disagreeable to tn
chief Of the State.
The council Of State will of course be devot
ed to the President The members are to b
paid salaries, but they are removable at pleas
ure, that the amount of independence whicl
they will show may be guessed ut beforehand
Already some Of the most devoted friends o
Louis Napoleon spoken of as having accept
ed places, such as NJ. de Cassablanca. Lefebvr,
Duruhe, Foricul, Bineau, Lacrosse, &C.. &c.
| 1t will be observed that the 3Oth and 3lst ar
tcles of the constitution put it in the power o
the Senate to falter the chief os tho State BY
opening the way to the foundation Of the EN-
pire. The Senate ia allowed to recommend
such changes as it may think necessary, and il
will, no doubt, not leave so important priv
ilege long dormant.
The present state of affairs will remain til
the beginning of May, when the Senate and As
sembly will be convoked The council of State
will be organized Immediately.
Constitution drawn up in pir,ue Of The power.
delegated by The French people 10 Louis Napo
leon Bonaparte, by the uote Of Dec 20 and 81
1851.
The PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIc:
Considering that the French people were
called on to pronounce on the following resolu
ton So
The people wills the maintenance of Louis
Napoleon Bonaparte, and gives him the necessa
ry powers to draw up a constitution according
to the bases established in his proclamation Of
December 2.
Considering that the bases proposed for the
acceptance of the people were:
l. A responsible chief named for ten years.
2. Ministers dependent on the executive pow
err only.
3. A council of State formed of the most dis
tinguished men, preparing the l.ws, and sup.
porting the discussion of them before the lepis-
lative body.
4. A Legislative body discussing and voting
the laws, named by universal suffrage, without
scrutin de lisie, which falsifes the election.
s. second assembly, formed of all the Illus
trations OF the country, power intended to act
rs counterpoise and guardian of the funda-
mental part and of public liberties.
Considering that the people has responded
alfirmatvely by 100000 votes;
Promulgates the constitution in the following
terms -
Art /. The constitution admits, confirms, and
guarantees the great principles proclaimed in
1889, and which are the basis of the public right
of the French.
CHAP. H-FoRMs OF THE co ERHMENT OF THE
REPUBLIC.
Art The government of the French repub.
liz ia fnr fap In d., AZ
poleon Bonaparte, the present President of the
republic.
Art. 8. The President of the republic governs
by means of ministers, the Council of State. the
Senate, and the Legislative body.
Art 4. The Legislative power is exercised
collectively by the President of the republic, the
Senate, and the legislative body.
CHAP. III-oF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC
Art g. The President of the republic is re-
sponsible to the French people, to whom he has
always the right to make an appeal
Art 6. The President of the republic is the
chief of the State; he commands the land and
sea forces, declares war; makes treaties of peace,
alliance, and commerce, appoints to all employs,
and makes the regulations and DEGREES necessary
for the execution of the laws
Art. 7. Justice is rendered in his name.
Art. 8. He alone has the initiative of laws.
Art 9. He has the right Of granting pardon.
Art 10. He sanctions and promulgates the
laws, and the senatus-consultus.
Art IL. He presents every year to the Senate
aud to the legislative body, by message, the
state of the affairs of the republic.
Art. H. He has the right to declare the state
of siege in one or several departments, on, con.
dition of referring it to the Senate within the
shortest possible. delay. The consequences of
the state of siege are regulated by the law
Art. l3. The ministers depend only on the
chief OF the State; they are only responsible
for The acts of the government as far as they are
individually concerned in them there is no joint
responsibility among them and they can only
be impeached by the Senate
Art. Ia The ministers, the members of the
senate Of the Legislative body and of the council
of State, the officers of the land and sea forces,
the magistrates and public functonaries, take
the following oath: swear obedience to the
constitution and fidelity to the President"
Art. Is. A senatus consultum fixes the sum
allowed annually to the President of the repub-
lie, during the whole continuance of its func
tons.
Art. IS. If the President Of the republic dies
before the expiration of his term of office, the
senate is to convoke the nation in order to pro-
coed to fresh election.
Art. II. The chief of the State has the right
by a secret act deposited in the archives of the
Senate, to point out to the people the name of
the citizen whom he recommends in the inter
ests Of France to the confidence of the people,
and to their suffrages
Art. lS. Until the election of the new Presi-
dent of the republic, the president of the Sem
ate governs, with the cooperation of the minis
tiers in functions, who form themselves into a
council of government and deliberate by ma
jority of votes.
CHAP Iv.--OF THE SENATE.
Art. 10. The number of senators shall not
exceed 100; it is fixed for the first year at 80
Art. 20. The Senate is composed-I OF car
dinals, marshals, and admirals 9 OF citizens
whom the President of the republic may think
proper to raise to the dignity Of senator's
Art. 81. The senators are appointed for life.
Art %. The functions of senator are ptatu.
itous; nevertheless the President of the repub
lie may grant to senators, on account of services
rendered, or of their position with regard to for.
tune, personal donation which cannot exceed
100000 per annum.