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

Tho New French Consultation.
We insert to-day the new constitution o
France, or the one which was extant at the sail
ing of the last steamer. Whether it will sur
vive until the departure of the next is uncertain
for the people Of Paris are very tickle As
for the great body of the people Of France out OF
Paris, they are about passive in politics as the
COssacks or Chinese. They vote themselves free
men or slaves, whenever called on by the mob or
the military of Paris with great facility OF aequ'-
escence, and by overwhelming ma;orities The
failure of free institutions in France is 30 total,
that no man of sense can expect their re-estao-
lishment within the next fifty years.
In this country there were many men who dis
trusted the success of the experiment which
began in February, l848. But there was per
haps not single man here who believed that
the failure would be 30 complete. There is no
parallel in history to the ease with which the
forms of free government were then estab-
lished, or that with which they have since been
overthrown. The event is so stupendous and
impressive, that il positively brushes all theories
of European liberty and all the creed of unlver-
sal liberty, equality, and fraternity. 1t is fact
which is worth all the essays, articles, speeches,
aud orations on the rights of man, that have been
printed and spoken for the last century.
Wedon't suppose that the revolutionary party
of France, or of Europe, or their sympathsers
here, will acquiesce. We don't think there will
be stability or peace. On the contrary, the evil
dence is, that resistance is almost as practicable
as submission. So we think there will be plenty
of both. But as for liberty, there don't appear
to be any element of hope left for it. There
is such an entire lack of moral principle, of good
faith, of information, of common sense, of
moderation, in the mass of European population,
that the maintenance of free government is sim
ply out of the question.
AS for this thing called the new constitution
Of France, constructed by that modern LycUR-
GUS, Prince LOUIS NAPOLEON, it is beneath crit
cism. 1t proposes to have legislature with one
popular branch, but reserves to the President
the right of appealing to the people against
their own esentatives--although they are
not allowed to pass a single law which he does
not propose to them, or even to debate that
And then, as for the Senate, tits composed of two
classes of persons, nearly all of whom he APP
points, and most Of whom he pays as he pleases.
But it is hardly worth while to waste words on
such a document.
The government of France il despotism
ahon1 b,, e,r flat, nh;
thrown in blood by the revolution of 1889. The
PRONUNCIATION of this constitution is very pro-
pery accompanied by DEGREES Of exile against
about one hundred of the most able and distin-
CATION Of crime Such is the work of man
who has just been elected by reported vote of
nearly seven millions and half of men, against
an opposition Of something over half a million
or nearly fifteen to one.
We have, however, no confidence in the &C.
curacy of the official returns of the late popular
vote of France. The total vote is too arge. In
the most excited Of our Presidential elections,
there never has been a vote polIed, more than
about half as large in proportion to our popua-
ton as this reported French vote. Aud it is, we
think, too absurd TO believe of human nature or
of French nature, that almost the total adult
male population of France should manifest
enough moral activity to go to the polls on
such an occasion, and yet that about fifteen
to one voluntarily voted themselves master
and yoke and very respectable chance of
dungeon and exile. This reported majority for
the French usurper is also oontradcted by the
fact that about half the departments of France
have been declared in state of seige or under
martial law; for there could have been no neeessi-
ty or excuse for such proceeding, if the vote had
been SO favorable Still the simple fact that
all effective opposition has been crushed in a
community of nine millions of men, by stand,
ing army of Iess than half million, is proof
enough OF the general submission, or approba-
ton, of the people in reference to the coup detat
And the doctrine of the actual capabty of men,
even of civilized men generally, for self-govern-
ment, is utterly exploded.
RAILROADS IN TEENE ssEE.--A bill has passed
both houses of the Tennessee legislature APP
propriating 100000 to the construction of
bridges on the railroad to the Virginia State
line, where it will connect with the Virginia and
Tennessee railroad. Another important bill
has passed its second reading in the Tennessee
senate, with every probability of its becoming
l., n ~ q nn Il,