The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-21
Paris Correspondence OF the Republic.

Crystal Palace the Champs Elysees- install
IatiOn Of Cardinal Madame Laborde- The
Prisoners Competition Of the Chamber of Dep
uties The Copper Currency Reports Of Lfgis-
iatiDe Proceedings-A Feis 4dbandorled-Artists'
Exhibitions Dramatic Inteligence-An Aypoint,
meat in the French Navy.
PARs, April s, 1852.
The last steamer carried out intelligence of the
cessation of the dctatoria regime and of the in
auguraiion of the Chambers. II would be useless
for me to return to this subject You will have
read tho speech OF the President; you will have re-
marked the dignifed protest of Cavaignac, Carnot,
and Henon, against the present government In their
letter to the legislative body communicating their
refusal to take their seats and the oath. Neither
this Chamber the Senate have az yet transacted
any important business, unless except rather
signiGcatvc vote Of the former body rejecting the
Presdcnt's suggestion that they should wear their
official costume when in session. They voted not
to wear the livery prescribed, except on State
sions. This ia not the first time that the question Of
costume has been debated III French assemblies.
In 1888 discussion upon the subject which
lasted three days, and in which M. de Lamartine
of the principal speakers. The livery was
then, as now, rejected The members Of the pres
ent Legislature citizens drcss the occasion
of their first private presentation to the President
at the Elysec.
The passage Of the Presidents discourse, in
which he aasorts his own Discrimination to assume
the imperial insignia, Ia very generally construed
a skilful manGuvre on his part to seem to be
forced, against his will, to declare the empire in
after having restored its institutions in fact.
For it is evident that if in the first provincial out
break the occasion of any local disturbance that
may be laid to the door Of conspiring parties Mr..
Bonapartc is to place the crown upon his brow, as
measure of security, it is evident that he need
not wait long for such a consummation Heaven
knows that there elements enough of disorder
in this country, and that skilful police easily
foist any violation Of the public peace upon any
party they please, and cause it to rebound to the
advantage of whomevcr political necessities aug
gest. If the President desires and contcmplates
the restoration of the empire the very easiest way
to effect it will be that to which he has alluded in
his inaugural. In fact, the ball has already been
set rolling, with view to prepare the public
mind, by the journals that have the reputation Of
being inspired from headquarters. Thus the Buls-
tin de Paris declares:
"The empire will speedily be restored to US, and
not by the personal ambition of the President but
by the folly Of his enemies"
What transparent, pellucid stratagem! If in
tho course of some weeks or months il is made to
appear, by series of arrests, by discoveries of I'M
foreground conclaves, by seizures Of gunpowder,
seo+et correspondence and other explosive mate
rails, by the stoppagc of letters at the post Office
and emissaries at the barriers-ali of which the
Prefect of Police do at twenty four hours no
tice-the existence of Legitmst Orleanist
league is thus shown, of necessity, to require Of
the President the execution of his Threaten the
fufilmcnt of his threat, as you ikc-we shall GER
tainly have right to say that from the beginning
it WAS an ably connected stratagem that at the
moment when Louis Napoleon seemed to be the
most sincere, then was he the most willy and n.y.
pocritical; when he appeared to be the most disin
tcrcsted then was he the most selfshly ambitious
when he seemed most to be speaking the simple, un
vanished truth, then did he most prevaricate; when
his lips told of a satisfied ambition, of contented
purpose, then was his heart the most bent on pur-
suing still higher mark, by rambling, tortuous
path. j extract passage from the Steele, which
clearly shows the with which the President
may yet become emperor, and at the same time
secm positively 10 make sacrifice of bis own per-
sonal incinatone:
at was remarked says the Steele, "that before
December the head Of the executive power SEEM
cd to avoid using the word republic; but at preeent
Nj. Louis Napoleon Bonaparte speaks with euogium
of the republic, declaring that it ought TO be pre-
served, as a form of government which menaces
no and treasures all IL cannot he denied that
this opinion in the mouth Of the President Of the Re
public acquires quite another value. Too jealous
crnmcnt. had announced the approach proc la
ton Of the empire; and some had even entererinto
details Sulative to the coronation. These rumors
the President of the Republic has thought fit to
tradict a solemn occasion, and it was in order to
give more force to this contradiction that he spok c
well of the present republican institutions A
declaration OF this Importance would certainly be
calculated TO rcassure great number OF minds, II
the President OF the Republic had non made the
maintenance Of the republican form Of government
dependent on certain conditions. II parties remain
quiet, II nothing troubles the repose In which we
now live, the President will be satisfied with his
prevent title and power; bat If a stone, thrown nc
enc knows whence, should wrinkle tho surface OF
the water, adieu to the republic! In that case, be
will again appeal TO the people to grant him
other title and imperial powers No doubt thai
menace, suspended over the country, would DO o
nature TO force the most turbulent parties 90 re
main at rect, If parties were reasonable. But j
they reasonable they would TO be par
tics Great opinions can alone wait patiently; par
ties die II they do not agtate. We do not certain
ly want to accuse any one; but what, some FINE
morning, in the midst Of general tranquility, is Il
hinder an abor,ive attempt being made on ono o
our frontiers, proving the folly impotence o
parGess Certainly, France would not be the &C
complice Of such an act and yet all France woulC
bear the penalty OF IT, since she would be suddenly
deprived Of form Of government considered n
present marvellously adapted TO her character an'
wants Beyond any doubt, the government hn
not taken into account the foil bearing of such
phrase il did not perceive that it was by II open
ing vnst field to all kinds Of intrigue, TO all poiti
cal passions, and that the prospect of a change de
pending 60 small matter is not calculated 4
reassufe mems minds and tranquillize general in
tcrests."
The Senate on Saturday held extra session
for the purpose of deciding upon the annual salar
dotation Of the President, in virtue Of the FL
teenth article Of the constitution. This was fixe
ut twelve million france or two and half inillio
dollars year, together with the right to occup
the following palaces and royal residences: TIL
Tuieries, the Louvre, tho Eysee, the chateau
Fontainblcau, the chateaus Of Compiegne, Men
don, and Pau; tho palaces Of Versailles Friavot
and So. Clouds and with the exclusive privilege
hunting in the forests Of yersoillcs Fontanb lear
Campicgne, Marley. and ~. German. These ar
nearly the exact immunities enjoyed, and this
the precise sup annually granted to Louis Philip
for his civil lis; There was slight circun
stance, however, in Louis Philippe's favor. Tn
care and keeping Of the gardens, woods, &c, Wa
at his charge, and their products, and the profit,
there we're any, were his. Hereafter the State is
pay the expenses of the maintenance OF the palace
and their dependencies, and to reserve for iise