Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-02-10

none of them very good, the most ''excrucia,
ting" being stronger than this: La passion de
PEmpire rient de fare place rEmpire de Ia
passion.
THE FRENCH EMPEROR'S MARRIAGE.
From the London Times. Jan. %.
The speech delivered by Louis Napoleon on
Saturday last, to the principal political bodies of
the Empire, and, ia tact, to the French nation,
for the purpose of announcing his resolution on
the subject of his marriage, has rather strength
ened than altered the favorable opinion have
already expressed of his choice. Indeed, we
had anticipated on Friday several of the argu-
ments by which the Emperor now recommends
the selection of his consort to the favor of the
people. 1t is true that government such as that
which has arisen ia France, after long series of
revolutions, has nothing in common with the
older menarchies of Europe and several attempts
to connect them with that country by the frail
bonds of a matrimonial alliance, have only ended
in the misery, the exile, or the death of prin-
cesses worthy at least of a more tranquil fate.-
1t is true that the proracted solicitations of
successful sutton not consistent with the dig.
nifty of an elected sovereign, of the people who
have raised him to that positions; and though the |
allusion to the marriage of the Duke of Orleans
is not generous the lips of one who has sue |
ceeded that family upon the throne, it can hardly
be doubted, in spite of the personal merits of the
Princess Helena of Mecklenburgh, that this al |
liancs was prejudical to the Orleans dynasty.
Whatever may be Louis Napoleon's other
claims to the position he occupies, he is unques-
tionably the grandson of Josephine; and. although
the name of that Empress is endeared to the
people of France by compassion for the unineri
ted and cruel treatment she met With from Ma
poleon, rs much as by her own qualities, the allu-
sion to his ancestress comes the more gracefully
from the present. Emperor, inasmuch as, in spite
OF all provisions to the contrary, the imperial
succession has reverted to the line OF her off
T.I-. Eo, -, hattn o,,I
temper than the phrase in which the Emperor
adopts the title and position of pdrrenu sove-
reign, frankly bearing his orig gin in view, pre-
serving his independent character. and asserting
his entire freedom from the traditions of States
in which the foundations of society have not been
subverted or the institutions of monarchy over
thrown. At the same time, these arguments
and declarations would proceed with more weight
from Louis Napoleon, if it were not we'll known
that he had been engaged for eight months
more, in the negotiation of divers royal alliances
which had proved abortive, aud if this final de-
termination had not happened to coincide with
very strong personal prediction for lady whom
lie could only win by the offer of his hand
OF the future empress of the French we wish
to speak with the Difference due to herself and
TO her position, for it is impossible to have remark
ed the attractions of her person, the distinction
of her manners, and the vivacity of her
character--as many of us must have done
her VISITS to THIS country, where she IS 10
stranger--whout feeling more than COM
mon interest in her extraordinary destiny
To France, indeed, she has hitherto owed little
beyond the graces of her education, though she
is. of course, far better acquainted with the char
acter of the nation which she Is called to
reign than princess summoned from the stiff
nursery of a German principality. But she
combines, by descent, the energy of the Span
ish aud the Scottish races, and, if the opinion
we have formed OF her be correct, she is, as
Louis Napoleon says of her, fitted not only to
alorn the throne, bat in the day of danger to
defend it. Among the long catalogue of names
and titles of this Castilian Maiden which we pub.
lsh in another column-inclndlng even the
churches, religious houses, and colleges, of
which she is the patreness-that Of Paafox
eonspicuously occurs, for the heroic defender
of Saragossa against the French invaders of
Spain was, we believe, her grandfather. To
go much further back assured by
a high authority Spanish genealogies
that the true Sangre dzul of the great Alonzo Pc.
rez de Guzman, who defended Tarfa in 1899,
flows in her veins, and undoubtedly the first
Count de Ieba created about 1872 by
Ferdinand and Isabella, for his gallant conduct
before Grenada. The Count de Teba, father of
the future Empress, was man OF talent and sci
ence but he was crippled in his person. and we
suspect the military exploits which at
tributed to him in the ranks of the French army,
are confounded with those of his brother, the
Count de Montijo to whose title and large estates
he eventually succeeded When the Count de
Teba was about to marry Miss kirkpatrick, the
daughter ola Consul at Malaga, it was necessary
as he was grandee of Spain, to Obtain the Kings
consent The descent of the kirkpatricks was
rather less ilustrious than that of the defender of
Tarifa, but the Scottish heralds set to work with
such diligence that suitable pedigree was pro-
duced, and Ferdinand exclaimed, Let the good
man marry the daughter of Fingal.' The issue
ofthis marriage was the lady who now attracts
so large share of the attention OF Europe.
In significant passage of the speech delivered by
LOUIS Napoleon this occasion, he takes the oppoItu
nifty If declaring his preference for Independent po
ston and prospect Of domestic happiness, to the pr
yes OF dynas ambition The sentiment does HIM the
credi', lnasmuch as It is wholly opposed to the
sysema ic policy Of the Emperor, his uncle, which he
has made all othel occasions The model and rule Of
his conduct Dynastic ambition was the mania OF the
Emperor Napoleon and It became the chief cause Of his
ruin; for with repHd ating "he good and
modest wife of General Bonaparle IN order marry
into the family ofthe Caafs 1t drove him 10 place his
brohers and relatives On ali the thrones of Western
Europe Pfo5aby II is for the benefit OF the world
The present Emperor of the French hes under the nfu
OF mlider passion Yet there are expressions IN
this cry speech, the sting OF which will be tet in
raj oft he OF Europe The House OF Austria will
acknowledge that 1t ever solicited the alliance Of
the elecea chief of the empIre; and more tina
princey family Will feel the not undrserv eddy lev
lied their antiquaed professions. Although Louis
Napoleon LAY II down as maxim that 1t IS the duty
OF every government to endeayoi to restore France
her place within the pale OF the elder monarclies,
nothing would be further from his own hoaes
this very moment; and is easy 10 trace
these guarded expi ssions CONSCIOUSNESS OF
his own power and formidable element
the societies OF Eurepe The people, the army, and
1he .rgy distinctly aiuted the aad
natural guardians If his power WITHOUT whose assent
the solennlty of these nupais would be ineomp
but as for the Of the world, and The august
bodies winch this speech IS addressed, they old
without disguise that they will one Gay apprecla tn
Emperor's choce better han they 90 present. We
have already Observed that the pattisans OF this
riage aot fr he most lart to be found amsng the