Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1853-01-01
Speech Of Napoleon iii.

The following is the speech of the French
Emperor, addressed to the Senate and Dupu
ties at St. Cloud, on the evening Of the lst
instant:
"Gentemen-The new reign which you this
day inaugurate, is not founded, as so many
others mentioned in history have been, on vio-
lence, conquest, or stratagem; it is, as you have
just declared, the legal result Of the will of
whole people, consolidating during the calm,
that which it founded in the midst of agitation
am deeply grateful to the nation which
three times in four years has supported me with
its suffrage and each time has but augmented
its majority to increase my power.
But the more that power gains IN extent and
in vital force, the more need it has of enlighten-
ed men, like those who every day surround me
of independent men, like those whom l ad-
dress-to guide me by their advice, and to con-
tain my authority within just limits, if ever it
could stray beyond them.
| take this day, with the crown, the name OF
Napoleon the ILL.,, because the logic of the peo-
pie has already bestowed it upon me with ac-
camation, because the Senate has legally pro-
posed it, and because it has been ratified by the
whole nation.
Does this mean that in accepting this title [
fall into the error attributed to the Prince who,
returning from exile, declared null and void all
which had been done in his absence! Such a
sentiment is far from my thought
Not only do | recognize the Governments
which have preceded me, but in some mea-
sure inherit what they accomplished, for good
and for evil for succeeding Governments, not
withstanding their different origin, are each a
%o otc nf
But the more readily accept all that, for fifty
years. history transmits to US with it's intiexble
authority, the less was it allowed me to pass
over in silence the glorious reign of the head of
my family and the title, regular, though ephe-
neral, Of his soH, which the Chambers proclaim.
ed in the last effort of their conquered patrio-
tism. Thus the title of Napoleon Ill is not
one of those dynastic and obsolete preteDslons
which insult both truth and common sense; it is
the homage paid to Government which was
lawful, and to which we are indebted for the
finest pages of our modern history.
NY reign does not date from 1915; it dates
from the moment you communicated to me the
suffrages of the nation.
Accept, therefore, my acknowledgements NJ
les Deputies for the ecIatyou have given to the
manifestation Of the national will, in making it
more evident by your verifying the votes, and
more imposing by your declaration.
thank you, also, NJ. les Senator'S, for hav-
ing been the first to congratulate me, as you
were also the first to embody the popular wish.
Assist me, all, to establish in this land, haras-
sed by so many revolutions, a stable govern
ment, whose basis shall be religion, justice,
probity, and the love of the less fortunate
classes.
And here receive the oath, that will spare
no exertions to assure the prosperity of our
country; and that while maintaining peace,
will yield in no point which concerns the honor
and the dignity Of France.