The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-07-13
Paris Correspondence of the Republic.

Paris Correspondence of the Republic.
The Proposed Iarss-C Close of the Session of TIE
Legislative Body-A Journalistic Hiatus-Far.
nished lodgings Of the Working Casses-T,oo
FaH Moons in Jaly-Riusrs S,ooien = The IVst
Weaher-Prospect of the Crops-Another Result
Of the Coup d. Etat-Bois de Bouiogns-M Material
Item in Pwchase-A Press Warned Punish
ment Of an Apothecary-An attempt to Poison
Tobacco Statistics- Restrictions The Press
Jenny Lind-Mr. Httlssmann not to Retmn--
International Conrenti-s - Compliment to an
american Artist. ..-
PAHIs, June %, 1852
At the date of my last letter the public were
just learning the governments intention of propos
ing sundry new taxes to the legislative body.
Those upon dogs, carriage', and horses, ! briefly
alluded to- In the fortnight which has INTERVIEWED,
public opinion has made quick work of these sug-
gestcd duties. When the bill made its appearance
it was found that tax on the manufacture of alco-
hol and on that Of paper was also offered for discus
sion. Never was there 30 unanimous outcry
against any public act as greeted the govern.
ment's plan Of levying duty on paper. The peo-
pie generally protested by argument and those di-
rectly interested by memorials, in which figures
and facts clearly demonstrated the monstrous err.
ror that the government was harboring. The pa
per tax was 80 unpopular-boing nothing less than
tax on intelligence and its diffusion, on bellies
that it was speedily Withdrawn, and with it the
fve-franc duty on dogs, and the sixty franc horse
license Carriages and alcohol went by the board,
too. The President covers bis retreat by pretext-
ing the little time that remains of the session. and
laying them over till the next term. But, for all
that, they arc none the less defnitively Withdrawn.
Now this episode comes just in time TO prove the
utility of the Legislative body 1t is true that this
body possesses initiative. but little indepen-
dence, and that it cannot offer amendments to q
government bill with any certainty of their ac-
ceptance. But they do possess a negative power
a very effectual Veto They are snag in the way
of party Legislation. Had it not been for the Cham
Der the taxes would have been decreed at once;
and tho outbreak of popular opinion, instead of
serving as warning, would have been a cry of
menace or resistance. 1t is always better to see
the breakers when they are still ahead. than to
hear them suddenly splitting asunder your keel.
IL is well for Mr. Bonapartc that he is not absolute,
and that ho has Get a few obstacles in his own
way. ~. .|- ~ ~
|, Yet it is quite common belief that he has been
endeavoring to render the Chamber unpopular, if
not ridiculous; and this belief is shared by por.
ton Of The deputies themselves. At the commence
nent OF the session little or nothing given them
to do; holiday succeeded holiday, and adjourn
mcnt followed adjournment The Chamber was
set of bills was handed to them for examination,
which of course they passed, every one forcsaw,
unanimously. They were thus set forth in the
ligh. of obedient truckers to the will of the sove-
reign. More lately they have made show OF
opposition upon the budget of expenses, and
this opposition they have embodied in a series
OF amendments all. of which the Council of
State have rejected. Their impotence is thus
signally illustrated. Daring the last week of
the term they have been overwhelmed with work,
| and as many of them believe, business has been
withheld, during the earlier portion of the time,
purpose to drive them, at the end, in view to
make them do their work in a hurry, and conse-
quently do it ill. Thus they may be represented
botchers, and bad bochers at that There per-
sons that believe that they will not be called to-
gether again at all. Bnt this is certainly prema-
ture. The constitution fixes no time for their
reassemblipg. il only limits each session to pc
rod Of three months, and stipulates that the Presi
dent, in he dissolve the Chamber, provide for
the election of another within six months. This
session, which commenced on the goth of March,
closes to day, the 2Sth of June
1t is generally supposed that the article Of tie
constitution reading thus: ''The ordinary sessions
of the Legislative body last three months" WAS ing
tended to read: "The ordinary annual sessions,
&c" Thus the Assembly would not come to-
erval of nine months will probably intervene.
The newspapers will be seriously troubled for mat
ter and topics of discussion; and are, in fact, al
ready go, by anticipation. For thirty seven years
they have been accustomed to be the daily echo OF
| the tribune; and they will be severely put to the
proof during nine months of stagnation. To 1.-Two
| nine months upon lie own resources, allowed
merely to Craze questions Of grave political i'm
| port, not suffered to probe them to the bottom
how will it come out of the trial? NJ. de Girardin
makes this inquiry without fear TO the result 70
bis paper; but he hints that some of the jour
| mails must die of inanition.
| The Chamber of Commerce of Paris lately APP
pointed committee TO make astudied inquiry into
the morale the means of existence and the general
habits Of the wo,k men of Paris living in furnished
lodgings, (garnis.) Their report lies before me,
and fromi gather many interesting facts. There
are 100000 individuals in Paris forming the work.
ing class-200, 900 men and 100 600 women. About
the tenth part Of these, 10000, live garni Only
| very small porton-a proportion almost map
preciabe--are married; IL 900 out OF the 80 600
live regularly by their work; 1900 upon the credit
allowed them for the time by the landlord; 10000
upon public charities, and 5000 the best way they
can. The conduct Of IL 900 is declared to be good;
OF 600 passabIe; of 1000 bad, and of 1000 very
bad. Journeymen masons, printers, shoemakers,
and tailors, are the most numcrous y-represented
trades. The houses occupi- d are 1880 in number;
of W bich 922 are set down decent, 95S passa-
bic, 40 as bad and $50 6lthy-wthout either
light or air, full of yerin, and rcdolent of suffoca-
ting smells; $4,000 tenants stay for some months
at a time, while about A. 900 shift their dens every
two or three days, having especial reasons for
avoiding the police, and therefore often putin g
t them off their track.
The garnis of Paris may be divided into three
clossss. The first are those kept by workmon, who
board and lodge other workmcn Of their own pro-
fcsson. There are five hundred such houses, oil
stories OF houses, occupied by three thousand indi
viduals. These the most uncxceptionab BILE class
and The mnsons The hest behaved Of all the oGn-
Y ditions'