Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-02-26
From the New York Express.
Louis Napoleon and Constitution.

In the preamble to his Constitution, Louis
Napoleon affects to give his reasons and
motives, in a lump, for promulgating the
document, of which he is the author. He
would have done well to continue giving
his reasons throughout, and TO specify, af-
ter each article, the particular train OF ar
gument which resulted in the articles adop-
ton. We can easily imagine what some Of
these would have been. AS
thus:
ART. V.-"The President of the Republic is
responsible before the French people, to whom
he always has the right IF appealing"
My ilIusirious predecessor, Sam Patch,
once said that some things might be done
as well as others; somebody else has said
that what bas been lone may be done again.
| have appealed once to the people, and
they absolved me from perjury, and acquit.
ted me of massacre. The supplemented
creatures will acquit me of any horror or
folly that it may fall TO my lot to commit.
ART. XIV.--"T The Ministers, members of the
Senate, of the Legislative body, and the Council
of State, officers on land and on sea. all magis-
trates and tunctionaries, will take the following
oath { / SDedr obedience to the Constitution, and
fidelity to The President"
ART. XIX.-"The number of Senators can
not exceed 140, it is fixed for the first year at
eighty"
ART. XXII.-"The functions of Senator are
gratuitous, but nevertheless the President may
grant, in consideration Of their services or small
fortunes, personal donations, not beyond, now
ever, $4,000 per year"
Thus such Senators as quietly obey my
will and do as | bid them, will receive an
annual salary, such as vote against me, or
oppose my inclinations, will get nothing at
all.
ART. XXXlII.--"In case of the dissolution
of the Legislative body, the Senate, upon the
proposition of the President of the Republic,
provides for all that is necessary for the main
~tenance of the government"
So that, in case | turn the Legislative
body out of doors, las | frequently shall do,
just to keep my hand in,) the legislative
right returns direct to me. For | suppose
that the Senate, as l have arranged it, is
nothing but myself multiplied by eighty, or
myself subdivided into eighty individual.
tiles"
ART. XXXVT.-"Th Deputies are chosen
by universal suffrage and by secret ballot"
Art. XXXII,-" The Deputies receive no
salary"
ART. XL-" Any amendment adopted by the
Committee Of the House, charged to examine a
bill, will be sent, without discussion, to the
Council Of State. If the amendment is not
adopted by the Council of State, it cannot be
submitted 10 the dellbera.ion of the Legislative
body"
Having claimed, in a previous article
the initiation of all laws, for myself. | de.
prlve. by this article, the Legislature of the
power of making any amendments to which
| do not give my appreciation.
. ART, KILL The President and Vice Pres
ldent Of the Legislative body, are. appointed for
one year by the President OF the Republic. They
are chosen from the members of the body. The
salary OF the President Of the Legislative body
Is fixed by a decree Of the President Of the Re-
t public"
So that not only appoint the President,
but fix his salary according to his merits.
II this is not getting a man under your
thumb, should like to know what is.
!, ART. XLVI.-" The President of the Repub-
!, lie convckes, adjourns, prorogues, and dlssoIves
the Legislative body"
ART. XLVIII.-"T The Councillors of State
! are appointed by the President of the Republic,
and revocable by him."