Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-01-27
THE UNITED STATES AND FRANCE.

THE UNITED STATES AND FRANCE.
In the SENATE on Wednesday, message was
received from the President of the United States.
communicating to Congress report from the De-
parinent Of State containing copies of the cor
respondenoe between that Department and the
Minister Of the United States to Paris respecting
the political change which took place recently in
France; which was referred to the Committee on
Foreign Relations and ordered to be printed
The documents are Somewhat voluminous (says
the IntelgencerO hence we have selected letter
of Mr. Rives, dated the 18th December, 1851,
aud letter of Mr.. Webster, dated 18th January,
1852. as follows:
1fr. Rues TO Ifr. IE'e5ster
LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATEs,2
PARIS, December IS, 1851.
SIR: The troubles which have broken out in the
departments since the Presidential coup aetat OF
I'd instant have it is understood, been almost entirely
suppressed Not less than twenty-five departments
have been successfully declared in state Of seige
and put under martial law since that event, and the
whole number of departments now In - condition
about thirty out Of the elghysix which the ter
ritory Of the lie public is divided.
The public tranquility in this city has not been dis
ufbed the slightest degree since NV last dcspach
The Government has, nevertheless. as a mea sure
OF precaution dissolved and Gisarmed two of the Lee
glons OF the National Guards hare; and this morning.
circular OF the Minister OF the Interior the Projects
OF The de partmeHs Is published by which the Pre-
ects authorised at their discretion to suspend or
dissolve the Na'lonal Guards IN their respective u-
risdiciloaS TO dlSdrm cltzeps IN whose. hands the
possession OF arms may not be considered ss pusy-
snty fer the preservation OF order; and also TO ell
vacancies among the officers by appointment to be
made by the Project instead of elections by the Ma.
tonal Guards themselves, as heretofore practIsed-
Instructions OF the Minister the Prefec OF The
Police OF Paris also published, by which that Of
nd Iiun
ures tor the execution OF the decree mentioned in
my last despatch respecting persons placed under the
ly to all persons convced of belonging 10 or being
connected with any secret society Both of these
classes of persons are required TO be Immediately ex.
PEELED not ony from PARIS, but, il need be from
France; and 1t IS announced, In connexion It'll the Sc
orders, that the Government will have ready in fifteen
o. twenty days, five vessels OF wac capable of trans
porting TO the penentlary colony of CAYENNE more
than two thousand persons. These measures sufi-
Gently mark the unreenting spirit in which the Gov
eminent pursues its system of repression.
Since the I'd day of December Presidential DEGREES
have taken the place of laws; and the legislation as
we'll as the administration OF the country has been bv
the sole authority OF the President
To paate in some degree, this appearance of su.
tocratic government what is called commission con.
sultatve consisting as 1t Is dehnitivey constituted Of
one hundred and seventy eight persons named by the
Pesdenthss been organized under the Vice Presidency
OF Monsieur Baroche, the former Minister OF Foreign
Anas FMS COMMISSION as its functions defined
by the decree establishing it, is to give its opn ion on
soch WQietS OF DEGREES IN matters OF legislation as
may be submitted to 1t by the president, and is also
to PERFORM IN general The functions OF the Con,lc of
St0te as taa body was ganizsd previous to the re-
volulion OF 1913. 1t ia specially charged to sum up
and verify the votes of the people at the DO lis TO
be opaned On he20h and 2lst instant for the prelon
CATION and enlargement OF the Presidents powers on
the returns from the departments.
send you here it'll the decree By which the consul
!ative ssiou has been definitely constituted and
which contains the list of all the names which now
compose 1t, embracing one hundred and ty-ve per.
soma VINO We're members OF the late National Assem-
bly, some twenty generals, several persons who have
belonged TO the former Cabinets of the President as
well as all the members OF the present, and few
names belonging to the judicial magigtracy former
decree promulgated the compost on OF the comm sson
not SO numerous bat yet comprising the names of se-
verai distinguished persons who refused 10 serve upou
It, some Of whom notified their reiusual in terms OF
lofty independence or proud disda in
In my last despatch L mentioned to you that since
the ia'e extraordinary events here, had absained
from appearing at the usual weekly receptions of the
PRESIDENT, While the rest OF the diplomatic corps with
the exception that time of the representative of
Switzerland had pursued different course Since the
date OF THAI despatch the representative of Switzer-
land, under instructions from his Government, has
oi owed the example OF the rest of the diplomatic
eorps. and am the only foreign diplomatic agent
OF any grade who has attended the Presidents re-
cepons since the revolutionary coup d'etat by whch
The Constitution overhrown.
In parsung this course [ have taken counsel not
inesaly OF the feelings and sentiments natural 10 the
bosom CT an American citizen uader such circumstan-
aad eay which should control the conduct OF public
agent. Representing, the United States do before
tue world the great cause OF Free popular and repub
lican institutions, it seemed to would be in
come measure 10 be ray that if person entrust
"a TO act or to speak IN their name, should go forward
with any appearance OF Indecent haste salute die
taonal power which had risen by violence the ruins
Of written republican constitution, however deec |
tive, here On the other hand the President having
appealed to the nation to raify his Illegal acts, and
pledged himsef in the event OF al entavorable dsci-
Sou TO surrender the position he holds by
no tenure but hat al force he have no just cause
OF complaint if the representative of foreign Power
thinks proper to await the decision OF the only right
ul tribunal in questions OF interior political organiza-
ton whose judgment has been formally invoked
these are the principles which, in the abseace OF in
structions from my Gcvernment, I have assumed as
the proper guides of my conduct ia move and deli
cate situation, rendered the responsible by the |
opposite course taken by all the of the diplomatic
corps trust they may meet the appreciation OF those
to whom alone am accountable.
have the honor to be- with great respect, your most
obedlent servant, w. C.~RIVES.
Mr Webster to Mr.. RiUes.