Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-02-14

preference for the greater between two criminals
we shall never have any preference for the who
has misled the other. Lastly can il be believed that
if the Socialists had been conauerors thew would have
contented themselves with excluding from the French
territory temporarily forever those against whom the
general instruction OF 1852 was prepared Az for our-
selves and shall probably be alone Of that onnion
should have considered ourselves happy 10 have OBJ
tanned from victorious Socialism the treatment il receives
Let then, for ALL abandon the old path Of reyolu
ton and immortality in which sense and equity
forget themselves let accustom to see order
honored the hw obeyed and revolt hated chastised
let leave the transact our affairs freely
and courageousy and let not have the pretenson to
establish in saloons households and shops so
many Cabinet Councils. by doing should lose our
trouble and vanity. Louis Napoleon knows what
France wishes he did consult the Bourse cafes
OF Paris to make the ea of the I'd of December he
will not consult them to maintain its legitimate and salu
tary consequences His resolution is taken like that of
seven and half million Frenchmen who have given him
their powers and he will go, supported by public opinion
and the army-hat IS to say, supported by right and
forceto the end Of the policy which he drew up the
3lst October lS49 when he sad 1t is time for the good
to be treasured and for the wicked to tremble 4"
PARIS, JANUARY %, 1852.
| sent you this day last week TRANSACTIONS of the
new Constitution prepared by the Prince LOUIS Ma
PoLEoN for France, and Of the proclamation to the
French people by which it was accompanied, and
which may be considered as its preface That Const-
tuition will be integenty appreciated in the United
States. The sagacious and practical American mind
will promptly divest it of all specous pretexts and
pretcnces see through the fimsy wells by which the
autocratic principle which has dictated it is attempt
ed to be concealed, and sgnaze the artful devices
invented by never-faltering and INSCRIPTIONS
ambition to arrive at personal ends. | abstain from
comment. No remarks of mine necessary the
document itself being in full before you to
the extent by which the new Constitution falls short
of satisfying the want felt among all civilized
tons, in this middle Of the nineteenth century, Of
limiting arbitrary power by written constitutions
AS for comment in France, except in a favorable
sense, the thing is out of the question. The tongue
and the pen must be silent in France respecting
the Constitution, the acts of the Government, and
the persons Of Its principal members, they must
speak only to praise. There is now in Paris but
one journal that can be considered well affected to-
ward republican Government. 1t is the Steele All
the others of republican tendencies have either
changed their flag, like the Pays and the Presse,
hosting the imperial standard substituting theeagle
of the Empire in place of the Gallo cock, or they
have been arbitrarily suspended like the National
and the Republque, and their editors imprisoned
banished. The Steele avoids comment upon the
Constitution. 1t maintains dignifed but eloquent
silence upon all political subjects. 1t would not
surprise to learn ere long that some pretext has
been sought and this annoying silence made the
real ground of permanent suspension. Here are
portion of the remarks inspired by the publication
of the Constitution in the semi-oficial Consti
tutionaael and in the Pays The latter journal,
still under the direction of A. DE LA GUERoNNIERE,
one of the most pompous, pretending, and skilful
phrase-makers of France who has turned his polti-
cal coat to suit the altered times is evidently uneasy
1 in its new position Every of its political
tcles betrays consciousness Of it's shameful aban-
donment of principles lately professed, and seems to
Ideprecate the and contempt which its ter
giversation merits. The Constitutional says
'.The administrative system founded by Napoleon sur
ved him. and has been the only anchor of society in the
midst of revolutionary storms AS to his political
system, it did not perish under domestic commissions
which it, the contrary, had the effect Of preventing it
only fell under foreign invasion. What could be more
sensible than to borrow ideas of from the
who created the most practical IDEAS the most vgor
system of administration? Thus this Constitu-
ton has been generally compared to those which have
been founded very different bases and it has been said
that the latter in fields of battle,
nuals of political strategy calculated to besege the Gov
eminent and prevent it from governing The new Con-
stuton the contrary, opens field to the pacific ac-
vity Of citizens and gives the Government the
governing An article conceived in spirit Of foresight
has been the object of particular attention and of unan
nous APPRECIATION We alude to article seventeen which
yes to the President of the Republic the right of point
ing out by secret act the Of the citizen whom he
would recommend to the confidence and the votes Of the
people his successor This article has been consider
ed of security the nation it supplies in
some measure, the advantage of hereditary monarchy
without raising the objections which felt against that
regime III Is not an hereditary right conferred
IL is succession in idea not fatal and blind but optional
and decreed with dscernment by the people Presi-
dent of the Republic is taken from France when in full
possession of the confidence of the nation every thing
must not perish with him. He points his successor
and the nation has the of adopting the
dation."
! The Pays with which, be it remembered, in JUS
tice to him, that NJ. de Lamartne has dissolved all
connexion since the I'd of December) thus termi-
mates long and favorable analysis of the consttu-
/ ton /:
This constitution is it the best that we had right to
expecf Such is not the question to-day This const-
tuition exists II has been promulgated by virtue of
right the most ncontestabe which possible invoke
Doubtless it creates formidable authority But this
authority is that Of France in hand of
chosen by herself; of man who bears glorious
name, and who has revealed great character Louis
Napoleon Bonnpsrte has declared himself responsible be-
fore his country This responsibility which is insepara
bic from power and above which dictator can raise
himself does not alarm for the future for If it is the
terror and the expation Of the ambitious men who ruin
nations is the honor and grandeur of the chiefs who
save and preserve them !"
The ever-proper, and prudent, and digni6ed
Debats, late organ Of the Orleanist party, now the
organ of no political opinion thus expresses itself
upon the same subject:
''As announced, the new constitution appeared
yesterday in the Monsieur, preceded by proclamation in
which the President Of the Republic explains very frankly
the principles which guided him composing his work
Before the PRONUNCIATION could have considered that
there might be opportuneness in expressing our per
sonal opinions to what the constitution ought 10 be