New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-02-17
Proclamation of Louis Nano,eon.

accoruihg 10 my ideas, were the vital conditions
OF Government in France, had not the preten-
sion, 80 common in these days, of substituting
personal theory for the experience of centuries
on the contrary, sought in the past for exam
pies that might best be followed and consulted
the benefits that resulted from them.
have thought it reasonable to prefer the
precepts OF genius to the specious doctrines Of
men OF abstract ideas. have taken as models
the political institutions which already at the
commencement of this century, under analogous
circumstances, have strengthened totterine go
c1ety and raised France to lofty degree of
prosperity and grandeur ~
have taken as models the institutions which,
instead of being destroyed by the first breath Of
popular agitation, were only overturned by the
might Of all Europe coalesced against them
In one word, said to myself, since France
has made progress during the last fifty years.
in virtue alone OF the administrative, military,
Judicial, religious, and financial organization Of
the consulate and the empire, why should not
we adopt the political institutions of that epoch
Created by the same thought, they must bear
the same character of nationality and practical
utility.
In fact, as recalled to mind in my procla-
( nation, it is essential to demonstrate that our
present state of society is nought else than
| France regenerate by the revolution of 's9, and
| organized by the Emperor. Nothing remains Of
| the old regime, but great souvenirs and great
1 pChOhbo- dil tldt Wds prRdu1Eeu unuer III was
| destroyed BY the revolution, and all that has
| been organized since the revolution, and that
still exists, has been the work Of Napoleon
| We no longer possess provinces, or states, or
parliaments, or intendants or farmers general
or feudal rights, privileged classes holding
exclusive possession of civil and military en-
Payments, or different religious Jurisdictions.
10 all such things, so Incompatible with it's
spirit, the revolution applied a thorough reform,
but it founded nothing defnitive. The First
| Consul, alone, re-established unity, hierarchy,
and the true principles of Government They
are still in vigor.
Thus, the administration of France was en-
trusted to projects, sub-prefeets, and mayors,
who substituted unity in the place of directing
commissions. The magistracy was rendered
trm, and justice more easy, by the clear defni-
ton of attributes from those of the Justice of the
peace. up to those of the Court of Cessation ALL
this remains.
In the same manner admirable financial
system, the Bank of France, the establishment
Of the budget, the court of accounts, the organ
ization of the police and our military statutes,
date from the above mentioned epoch.
For the last fifty years it is the Code Napo-
leon that has adjusted the reciprocal interests
of citizens; it is still the concordat that regu-
lates the relations of the State with the Church.
l Lastly, the greater portion Of the measures
which concern the progress OF industry, of COM
1
from the statues of the Theatre Francois to
those OF the Institute of France-tron the insti-
| tuition OF prnd honmes =" to the creation Of
| the Legion of Honor, have been fixed by the
| DEGREES of that time. ~ ...-. .
fl 1t may be affirmed that the frame of our So
S cial etlitice is the work of the Emperor-which
has stood firm, resisting his fall and the shocks
| of three revolutions
IL Wherefore, since they have the same origin,
ShOu1I his po1itinal inst tufj how al
same chance of duration
IL My own conviction has been formed for a long
| time, and therefore it was that I submitted to
f your judgment the principal bases of Consti-
tuition borrowed from that of the year VIII.
/ Approved of by you, they are to become the
| foundation of our political constitution
Il Let us now examine it's spirit
IL In our country-for the last 800 years monar-
D chicai-the central power has always existed
Royalty destroyed the great vassals. The rev.
0lutions themselves caused to disappear the OBJ
stacles which opposed the rapid and uniform ex-
ercise of authority. In this country of central
ization, public opinion has invariably attribu-
/ ted every thing, good and evil, to the chief OF
r | the Government so that, to write at the head
| of Il charter that the chief is irresponsible, is
! to lie (mentir) to public feeling. 1t is to en-
. 1 deavor to establish a fiction which has three
0 times disappeared at the sound of revolution.
II The present Constitution. on the contrary,
proclaims that the chief whom you have elected
Il is responsible to you-that he has the right Of
2 appeal to your sovereign Judgment, in order
J, that in grave (soleneiles) circumstances yor
e may always be able to continue your confidence
e | in him, or to withdraw it.
+ Being responsible, his actions must be free
J. and without hindrance. Hence arises the obli
q cation of his having ministers who may be the
o honored and powerful auxiliares of his ideas
but who no longer form a responsible council
af 1u ,barS/ /,ps
i bres soiidaires), daily obstacle to the specia
influence of the chief of the State, a Council
the expression of policy emanating from tn
| Chambers, and for that very reason exposed t
I frequent changes, which render impossible
'e continuous policy esprit de suite), or the ap
plication of a regular system.
a Nevertheless in proportion to the loftiness {
N position in which man is placed. and in proper
h, tion to his independence, and to the confdenc
at | that the people place in him, is his need o
re enlightened and conscientious counsel Henc
rs the creation of Council of State, for the futur
Mt the real (uerita6le) council of the government
k the first wheelwork of our new organization
ed reunion, of practical men celebrating PROJECT
~ of law in special committees, then discussing
n them with closed doors and without oratoriea
v ostentation, in general assembly. next present
q ing them to the acceptation Of the Legislative
re body.
nd Thus the government fpouvoifJ will be fret
in in its movements, and enlightened IN Its pro
r. gress.
of Now, what will be the control exercised owe
d the Assemblies
4. A chamber which bears the title of ''Th
TO Legislative Body" votes the laws and the taxes
he 1t is elected by universal suffrage without tn
mo- ballot (sans Secfutin de RSte). The peopl
ID choosing each candidate singly, cap the NOR
ne easily appreciate his merit.
" The chamber is composed of about 260 mem
he bers-a first guarantee of the calmness of it
ae deliberations, for too often it has been seen tha
N in assemblies the mobility and ardor of passion
lie increase in proportion to the number of mem
ID bers.
lie The account Of the deliberations which is t.
" inform the nation of its affairs is no longer, al
st formerly, abandoned to the party spirit of eacl
lie journal, An official publication drawn VI
i under the surveillance of the President of tn
a chamber, will alone be authorized.
as The legislative body freely discusses the laws
tie adopts or rejects them-bnt does not introduc
m those unforeseen amendments which often de
at range the whole economy of system, and tn
er ensemble of the primitive project; and for still
:" stronger it does not possess that parlia
mentary initiative which was the source of sucl
he grave abuse, and which permitted every deput,
ba 10 hStltuTp himself ot f1rp folorn n