The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-01-26

the President The functions Of senator are
Rsatultoas nevertheless. In certain cAses, and
for certain persons, the President will be au.
thorized To dtspose Of sum either by way OF
retiring penelon Of indemnity, n his pleasure,
for the benefit Of any member of the senate
the said sum in no case to be more than
30.OO0f of annual allowance. This arrange
msnt would appear to be sort Of compromise
between those who urged the allowance to all
senators OF 3O,OOOf, and III. de Montalembert,
who, with his political friends, absolutely op.
posed any remuneration whatever Of pecuniary
kind. The senate is the real pivot on which the
Dew political organization Of the State will
turn ts attributes will be very extended. Its
acts will be in virtue Of orgauic Senatus Con,
suttees--like the senate Of the year VIII
But this Senate, which had during fifteen
years shown itself the most devoted adherent of
the Emperor Napoleon, not rarely the instigntor,
and always the approver of his worst and most
imprudent measures, hurried with shameful
haste, but only when it was quite safe to do %,
TO pronounce his deposition, and that in terms
which history has not forgotten to record and to
stgmatize The Plcbiscits, which universal
suffrage has just adopted, sanctions with refer.
ence TO the Senate the principle proposed by the
President in his proclamation OF the I'D ult. 1t
is admitted that the Senate will be composed of
the most distinguished characters OF the country,
In order to give it weight in public affairs-"s
preponderating power, the guardian Of the fun
damental pact, and OF the public liberties"
With such a definition Of the second chamber.
the President may give to it all functions, with.
out exception, even those OF legislative char.
acter, which are, nevertheless, the general and
ordinary ones of the legislative corps.
The Legislative corps will be composed of as
many members rs there are cor munal arrondis-
sements in France. The French territory is di.
vided into departments each department is sub
divided into ACCOMPLISHMENTS, and each AKRON.
basement by sub-prefect. There is, besides,
a tribunal for each reimbursement In the same
manner each reimbursement will have its mem
Der Of the Legislative corps; and as there are
365 OF those subdivisions, the legislative body
will be composed Of the same, or nearly the same
number of members. The election of legislators
will be by arrondissement of which each will
be the delegate, or representa- chosen by par
tcular ballot, and by means Of direct universal
suffrage of the whole Of the citizens, as it has
just been exercised for the President himself.
The functions of the legislators, or representa-
tves, are proposed to be gratutous, and without
any exception Of The kind that have already
noticed with reference to Il o senate. The elect
ors will, therefore, be forced to choose such per.
sons as possess sufficient means to pass a con
siderable portion OF tho year in Paris. Under
the empire the legislators received salary of
10000 francs
The Legislative corps will be elected for five
years. at the end of which it will DO entirely re-
newcd The President will always have the
right of dissolving the Legislative body. In such
case new elections will take place, but the Pres
ident will not be obliged to convoke the new
legislative chamber before an interval of six
months. If the legislative chamber elected af.
ter its dissolution do not agree with the Pres-
dent, he can purely and simply dissolve it; and,
If it be his will to do so, he may govern, con
Jointly with the senate, during six months, the
senate being Professionally invested with the
powers of the Legislative corps. At the termin
alton of the year thus given to the President, he
may, should he think proper, make an appeal to
the nation, with the object Of obtaining still
more powers from universal suffrage, should he
require them, TO meet the difficulties of the sit.
nation. 1t is TO this that alluded in nv late
letter.
The legislative corps will discuss and vote
the laws. In principle, the sittngs will be pub
lie, but restrained. The number of strangers
admitted to these sittings will not be much more
than 3d. The journals are not to publish the
debates: summary of each will be drawn up,
published officially in the Moniteur, which the
journals may transfer to their columns
The constitution is silent on several questions
which in this country are regarded as constitu-
tonal and fundamental, but which are referred
for their solution to certain organic laws to be
made ut later period-such, for instance. as
the liberty Of the press, and the appointment of
judges, whose independence it would be desira.
bic to guarantee by rendering them not liable
to be removed at pleasure; the question of the
jury; that of the state Of siege those connected
with criminal jurisdiction; the question of the
liberty of worship, which compromises all that
concerns ecclesiastical discipline and the indie
pence of the clergy.
have already alluded to the question of the
press; it is stated that little or nothing is
changed in that respect; and the question of
previous authorization, and the unlimited right
of suspending journal, even when authorized,
is sti where it was when | last wrote. 1t is
thought that the right of suspension may be sp
piled only to such journals as are condemned by
a tribunal. But the silence Of the constitution
on the liberty of the press would authorize the
government to continue Professionally the present
is, the censorship strengthened by
the absolute right of suspension or suppression.
occupy the public mind. The University was
founded by the Emperor Napoleon in lSo7-s
Since then its organization has been modified,
and its regime been made "more liberal and
more philosophical" tits precisely to this latter
quality that objections are made and if those
who are hostile to its system of education pos
sess influence, its fall may be anticipated
In mentioning the above details relative to tho
new constitution, do so on the authority of
persons whom ! have found we'll informed on
other subjects. 1t will not be expected that,
carefully and secretly ms tire operation of forming
the constitution is carried on, / should be able
10 give all the provisions of that instrument, but
only some Of the more important points, These
general data may. in the process of reduction,
undergo some modification; the original idea
may yet be qualified or altered-not essentially.
however. But all doubts on that subject will
soon be at end as it is stated that the consti
tuition will be promulgated on Monday next, the
9Th inst. The subject will still possess interest
and any further notice may have to take oil
that act, will be the result of careful inquiry and
consultation with men whose opinions must al
ways have weight.