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

minutes of each sitting, and, as they are TO be
removable at pleasure and salaried, it is not diff.
fcut to see that they will neither publish nor
record anything that may be dissgreeable to the
chief of the State
The council of State will of course be deyot.
ed to the President The members are to be
paid salaries, but they are removable at pleas
ure, so that the amount of independence which
they will show may be guessed at beforehand.
Already some OF the most devoted friends of
Louis Napoleon are spoken of rs having accept
ed places, such as NJ. de Cassablanca, Lefebvre
Durufe, Foricul, Bineau Lacrosse, &c, &c.
1t will be observed that the 30th and 3l,t ar
ticles Of the constitution put it in the power of
the Senate to flatter the chief OF the State by
opening the way to the foundation Of The EN-
pre. The Senate is allowed to recommend
such changes as il may think necessary, and it
will no doubt, not leave so important priv
ilege long dormant.
The present state Of affairs will remain till
the beginning of May, when the Senate and As.
semtly will be convoked. The council of State
will be organized Immediately.
Constitution draWn up in virtue of The p0,0ers
delegated by me French people 10 Louis Napo
leon Boaaparte, by tte uote Of Dec. 20 and 81,
1851:
THE PRESIDENT OF THE Republic:
Considering that the French people were
called on to pronounce on the following resolu.
ton -
The people wills the maintenance of Louis
Napoleon Bonaparte, and gives him the necessa-
ry powers to draw upo constitution according
to the bases established in his proclamation OF
December g.
Considering that tho bases proposed for the
acceptance OF the people were:
/. responsible chief named for ten years.
2. Ministers dependent on the executive pow
er only
3. A council Of State formed Of the most dis
tnguished men, preparing the lws, and sup
porting the discussion of them before the legis,
lative body.
A. A legislative body discussing and voting
the laws, named by universal suffrage, without
scruttn de isle which falsifes the election.
5. second assembly, formed of all the Illus
tratlons OF the country, power intended to act
as counterpoise and guardian of the funda-
mental part and ofpublic liberties.
Considering that the people has responded
afrmatiyely by 100000 votes;
Promulgates the constitution in the following
terms -
CHAP. |.
Art. ]. The constitution admits, confirms and
guarantees the great principles proclaimed in
l7S9 and which are the basis of the public right
of,the French.
CHAP. IL--FoRMs OF THE GO EMINENT OF THE
REPUBLIC.
Art. 2. The government of the French repub
lie is confined, for ten years, to Prince Louis Ma
poeon Bonaparte, the present President of the
republic.
Art. 3. The President of the republic governs
by means of ministers, the Council of State, the
Senate, and the Legislative body.
Art. 4. The Legislative power is exercised
collectively by the President of the republic, the
Senate, and the Legislative body.
CHAP. Iu.--oF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC
Art 5. The President of the republic is re-
sponsible to the French people, to whom he Las
always the right to make an appeal.
Art 6. The President Of the republic is the
chief Of the State he commands the land and
sea forces, declares war, makes treaties of peace.
alliance. and commerce, appoints to all employs,
and makes the regulations and DEGREES necessary
for the execution of the laws.
Art. Z. Justice is rendered in his name
Art. s. He alone has the initiative of laws
Art. 9. He has the right of granting pardon.
Art. 10. He sanctions and promulgates the
laws, and the senatus-consultus.
Art. IL. He presents every year to the Senate
and to the legislative body, by a message, the
state of the affairs ofthc repgblic.
Art. II. He has the right to declare the state
of siege in one or several departments, on con-
dition of referring it to the Senate within the
shortest possible delay The consequences of
the state of siege are regulated by the law.
Art. 10. The ministers depend only on the
chief of the State; they are only responsible |
for The acts of the government as far as they are
1,oll Luz -,oA al. 81
responsibility among them, and they can only |
be impeached by the Senate.
Art. IA The ministers, the members of the
senate Of the legislative body and of the council
of State, the officers of the land and sea forces.
the magistrates and public funciioraries, take
the following OATH " j swear obedience to the i
constitution aud fidelity 10 the President"
Art ID. senatus consultum fixes the sum
allowed annually 10 the President of The repub. |
lie, during the VIII lie continuance of IFS func.
tons.
Art. l6 II the President Of the republic dies
before the expiration of his term of office, the
senate is 10 convoke the nation in order to pro
coed 10 fresh election
Art. II. The chief of the State has the right |
by secret act deposited in the archives of the |
Senate, TO point out to The people the name Of
the citizen whom he recommends in the inter.
ests ~ france 10 the confidence OF the people, |
and TO their sUfrages.
Art. l8. Until The election Of the new Presi- |
dent of the republic, the president of the SEN
ate governs, with the cooperation Of the minis.
tiers in functions, who form themselves into a |
council Of government, and deliberate by ma |
jority of votes.
CHAP. Iv.--oF THE SENATE.
Art 10. The number Of senators shall moi
exceed l50; il is fixed for the first year at so.
Art 20. The Senate is composed--I Ofcar.
dinals, inarshals, and adnirals; 3. OF citizens
whom The Prcsiden. of the republic may think
proper to raise to the dignity OF senator's.
Art. n. The senators are appointed for life
Art. %. The functions of senator are cratu.
itous; nevertheless, The Pre- ,idcnt of the repub |
lie may grant 10 senators, on account Of services
rendered, or Of their position with regard TO for.
tune, personal donation which cannot exceed
80 000f per annum.
n Tho nroe;Ja,t IL H.