Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-01-20
- The following extract we clip from the

readers n correct idea of the policy of president
Bonaparte in prolonging and perpetuating his
power.
The relations Of France to foreign powers are
eminently satisfactory. Her situation at Rome
continues unchanged, and the Pope still shows
constant solicitude for the happiness ofFrance
and the welfare OF her soldiers Important
measures are in progress at Rome, and active ex-
ertons are making for the formation Of on army
which will render possible the withdrawal Of the
troops from the States Of the Church. A preof'
has been given of the friendly disposition Of
France toward Spain, by Offering her the aid Of
the French naval forces TO oppose the audncious
attempt against the island Of Cuba. In spite of
all these satisfactory results, the President says
10 general feeling OF uneasiness is daily increas-
ing. "Every where employment is falling off,
wreichedness is increasing, and anti-socal hopes
gain courage in proportion rs the public powers,
now weakened, are approaching their termina-
ton" The Government, in such state Of
things, ought TO seek out proper means of con-
juring away the peril, and Of assuring the best
chances Of safety. Resolutions must be adopt
ed, which emanate from decisive act of sove-
reign authority. "Well, them" proceeds the
President 81 have asked myself whether, in
presence of the madness of passions, the confu-
sion Of doctrines, the division of parties, when
every thing is leagung together to deprive JUS
ice, morality, and authority Of their last pres
tige-whether, say we ought to allow the only
principle TO be shaken which, in the midst of the
general chaos, Providence has left outstanding as
our rallying point? When universal suffrage
has again appraised the social ediice, when it has
substituted right for a revolutionary act, ought
its base to he any longer narrowed? When
new powers shall come to preside over the des-
TIMES of the country is it not to compromise
their stability in advance to leave pretext for
discussing their origin or doubling their legiti-
macy? No doubt on the subject can be enter
tanned and without for moment departing
from the policy Of order which have always
pursued, have seen myself, to my deep regret.
obliged to separate myself from Ministry
which possessed my full confidence and esteem,
to choose another, composed also Of honorable
men, known for their conservative opinions, but
who are willing to admit the necessity of re-es-
tabishing universal suffrage on the largest pos
sible base. In consequence, there will be pre-
scented to you bill to restore that principle in
all lis plentude, in preserving such parts of the
law Of May 81, IS free universal suffrage from ,
its impure elements and render its application
more moral and more regular" The law Of
May 81, he says, was originally passed as n
measure public safety, and ofcourse now that
the necessity for it has passed away, the law it.
self should be repealed. It's operation, moreover
has gone further than could have been toreseen.
1t has disfranchsed three millions of electors,
two-thirds OF whom are peaceable Inhabitants of
the country. This immense exclusion has been
made the basis and pretext of the anarchial party
which covers its detestable designs with the ap-
pearance of right torn from it, and requiring to
be reconQuered. The law also presents grave
Inconvenience oSpeciollv in lie pnlicotion 70
the election Of q President. The constitution
requires that two millions of votes should DO
given for the candidate before he is declared
elected, and if no one receives that number then
the Assembly shall elect. The law changes the
proportion Of votes from that originally estab-
lished by the Constitution. The restoration Of
universal suffrage is urged, finally on the ground
that it will give an additional chance of securing
the revision of the Constitution The President
says he is aware that this proposition is inspr-
ed by his own personal interests, but he says
his conduct for the last three years ought to be
sufficient to put aside such an allegation. The
good of his country will always be the motive of
his conduct. He concludes by saying, that, "to
restore universal suffrage is to deprive civil war
of its flag, and the opposition of their last argu-
ment, it is to afford to France an opportunity of
giving herself institutions which will insure her
IepoSc, III VIII NC W UtSiOW OH Tue powers 10
come that moral repose which exists only when
resting on consecraed principle and an incon-
tesable authority" Immediately after the read
ing of the Message, the Minister read the project
of q law proposing the abrogation of the law of
May 81, 1850, and re-establishing the electoral
law of March Is, l849, by which all citizens 81
years old, and having resided six months in the
commune, are declared electors. The Minister,
on presenting this law, demanded urgency for
its consideration. A warm debate followed and
the urgency was rejected by large majority.--
The bill was then referred to committee, which
reported on Tuesday of the succeeding week.
The report was very explicit against universal
suffrage, and closed by advising that the bill DO
rejected at once, without passing even to n Sec
ond reading. The matter was then postponed
until the following Thursday On that day, af-
ter an animated debate, in which, by agreement,
the Republicans were represented by Nj. Michel
de Bourges, the motion was carried by vote
OF 355 to 34S--a majority of sepen against the
government
PRINTING OFFICES IN REPUBLIC.--We copy
the following paragraph from a letter published
in the Boston Traveller, dated Paris, December
3d. 1851.