Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-02-18
THE NEW FRENCH CONSTITUTION.

we have already laid before our readers this pre-.
ciouS document, which seems to be gwGs; copy oil
an ou constitution imposed the country by the
Grand Emperor. The nephew Of his UNCLE" in
III" exeHPanatory proclamation, bases his scheme of
government upon the fact, that France has been
"a centdIlzlng counry'-and he carries this idea
10 It's utmost limits, for he makes the whole power of
Inc State converge to single CENTRE the person of its
chiet; VINO Is not only invested with pow
ers under the Constitution, but placed above it and
made It's Judge and executor. He tells his crouching
VassaIs that " the present Constitution has fixed on
~ what 1t was Impossible to leave uncertain. 1t has
not enclosed within an impossible circle the destiDies
OF great peoples it las left change margin suf-
cleny wide to allow, in great crises, other of
of revoutons.''
What does this mean. but that there is a margin
suthcleniy wide" to change the whole plan of gov
eminent, aud Introduce the titles belonging the
Empire or the most absolute form of government
bret summary of the chief provisions of their
not bed Constitution, may not be uninstrucive. 1t
Is sufficient 10 name hem in order to draw down the
denunciaton of every friend of we'll regulated
stitutional government. The President Gas says the
| New DIRK Evening Post, whose abstract adopt,)
takes no oath to observe the constitutions though the
form OF an oath is provided for the officers who
py all the other departments OF the government. He
has the right to appeal to the people whenever he
chooses and what he means by that he has already
shown by one example. If he should ever find this
constitution in his way, he may abrogate it any
moment, and, at the head of army, order mock
election, by way OF ratifying form of govern
ment which better pleases his fancy. 1t is remarka-
Bile that this proclamation should speak fcentraliza
ton, as the great feature that is to distinguish the
new order OF things, at a time when Capitalization
has become, TO the common understanding of all men,
but another term for despotism-a implying that
the people completely Invested of all agency in
the ad nnistraon of public affairs, even of local
nature.
! TO do this scheme Of government justice, it
contains nothing even in show, disco rdant with the
tyranny it proposes to establish. No shadowy pa
geant OF liberty, if except the mockery of elecng
a pretended representative assembly, is set up TO
amuse the people. This constitution makes pre-
tence of allowing freedom of the press, freedom of
speech, trial by jury exemption from arrest, except
by due process of law. The Senate consists of mem
bers appointed BY the President who hold their pla-
ces for life.
II the President should nd a majority of this body
Intractabe, he may make ne" appointments and thus
change the majority at his pleasure If he desires to
purchase the vote OF any member, the Constitution
empowers him 10 allow that member yearly salary
OF 900 frances out Of the pablo treasury, as CON-
pensation for his services. The Senate has power
of annuing laws which are contrary to the Consti-
tuition, but constituted is, with this liberal pro-
vision for direct venality, it is certain to become the
mere instrument of the Presidents will in this as in
other respects.
| The Ministry are the mere agents of the President
and they improbable only by the Senate in 9TH
words, improbable at his pleasure. The Council of
State is made up of persons medatey dependent
on the President, and to obey his caprces. He
appoints them with salary of twentY-fv thousand
francs yearly, and takes away the office and the saa-
| ry whenever any of them may happen to dsplease
him. Its principal business is to draw up the pro-
jects of law, which he may desire to lay before the
Senate and what is called the Legislative body.
The Legislative body is to be kept conveniently
SMALL that it may be the more easily managed. 1t
has original powers it can receive no petitions
from the people; it only discuss the projects OF
law laid before it, and Sanction reject them;
it cannot amend Them It can neither add nor expunge
any provision. In small body never to be com
posed of more than $50 meubers 1t will not be diff
cult for the governmene following the example of
Louis Philippe 10 corrupt sufficient number TO Sc
cure perpetual majority.
l.. however. the Assembly should prove refractory
and begin to discuss the laws in disloya temper.
it may be dissolved in a moment and election
ordered. If in the new elections any Of the depart
ments should give evidence of disposition to send
representatives. not acceptable to the President, he
may declare the department in state Of seige.
Meantime the debates of the Legislative Assembly
are to be virtually private. Whenever any question
arises in which il is desired by the government that
the discussion should've kept from the public know
ledge. any five members may require that the As
senhIy shall resolve itself into secret committee.
The debates are never be laid before the public eye
by The PRESS bare journal OF the proceedings drawn
up by the President of the Assembly, creaiu re OF
the Government, indebted to il for his appointment,
is all that is be published.
The election of this body is all the part which the
people are permitted take in the affairs of the gov
eminent. They simply allowed to send to Paris
of men whom no substantial power is con-
eIred and whose slight agency in public affairs the
government is furnished with means OF confronting
at its pleasure.
In word, as the London News says, the new
French Constitution is a complete Dictatorship. 1t
is the most audacious of humbugs, not deigning 10
take the trouble cover with even decent veil Inc
nskedness of iespotism. All that it attempts is not
temper arbitrary power. but to associate and Imp
cate with it all those notable capable men who
consent barter independence for office, and who
submit the despots livery in return for liber
~ TO shaIe with the dictator the spos OF the State
No honest or upright will take an office under
such mock Constitution and if a sufficient number
of Frenchmen of education and capacity be found to
do so. all say is, that they Will stamp lnde
bile disgrace upon France, without adding 10 the du
rability consistency of government which Is an
anac.lro.sm the age, and disgrace to the country
in whose history il must survive an lndebie hu-
initiation. !
So long the Dictator maintain the control OF
the military power. he may keep his central desPo-
ism from crumbling pieces-but We cannot believe
that the French people have lost all their spr-have
become brutalIzed terrifed-as to submit tor
long trial, to such gross and arrant imposure 1t
they do, they only worthy to be ruled by such
trickster. Richmond Enquirer.
TIE CHARLOTTE MINT. The papers and people
Of this State, but especially of the " estern
portion of it, Justly excited against the recon-
mendaiion of the Secretary Of the Treasury tor Inc
suppression of the mint Charlotte, which Is now
the only one By which any considerable amount OF
bullion mined east of the Rocky Mountains is coin
ed. The tendency is to centralize every thing In
New York, and even the petty expenditure necessary
for the maintenance of a mint for the convenience
| - Infor in