The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-01-05
m. In.asur.l speech Of Napoleon III.
From the London Times.

speech Napoleon IL
From the London Times.
The speech addressed by Louis Napoleon to the
Senate and the Legislative Body Of France upon
the announcement of the suffrages which have
just raised him to the throne, may not be regarded
the most significant and important of the State
papers which that event is likely to call forth. 1t
was designed for the "enlightened and indepen-
dent" men who surrounded him on this occasion,
and it might be unfair to construe it by the strict
ruea which would apply to manifesto directly
addressed to the other powers of Europe. Yet we
cannot but remark in this document the absence
of those pacific and moderate declarations on
which great stress was laid on some former coca
sions. The most elaborate portion of the speech
is vehement but unfounded defence of the M rti
cuiar title it has pleased the new Emperor to as.
sume And although he processes to recognise
and to inherit in some sort all that has been &C
compiished, both of good and of evil, by the GOV
ernments that have preceded him, he ACCOMPANIES
TINS with no expression Of Difference to
the laws they have enacted or to the engage ments
they have contracted. On the contrary, The onlv
passage In the history ofthe last fifty years to which
LOUIS Napoleon pays unqualified homage, is s'the
glorious reign of the head of his family and the
regular though ephemeral title of his son. whom
the two Chambers proclaimed in the last burst of
vanqulshed patriotsn;'' and on these grounds he
styles the Imperial Government legitimate, at
tributes to 1t the brightest pages of modern his
tory.
we regret that tie ruler of the French should
on TINS occasion have thought fit to reyive-and to
revive IN the most expressive terms-eyents in
winch MS name stands, and must ever and di-
rectly opposed to the past policy of Europe. His
position 10 sufficiently difficult without incumber-
ing 1t with associations drawn from dispute s and
contests over which peace of thirty seven years
has happily passed. But since he has thou eht It
necessary, IN the very moment of accepting the
supreme power in France, to accompany that act
Win the proclamation of dynastic tradition I'M
Known to history and to Europe, it is impossible
not to protest against extravaganza pretension.
Not content with proclaiming himself 8 Napoleon
Ill., ne distinctly AYERS that the title of Napoleon
"A. was iegltimate and regular, though ephemeral;
anu ne therefore calls on the world to recognise,
lor the hrst ume in his title the claims of his
predecessor though it was precisely against those
Claims tnat all Europe stood assembled and victo
rious in arms. 7I
conclude that it is not to the first abdication
OF the Emperor Napoleon in favor of his son that
THIS ailuson ls made; for that abdication was i'm
meolately followed by the treaty of Fontainebleau
containing complete remuneration of the throne
on Oehan of the whole Bonaparte family; and on
tue reuArn of Napoleon from Elba, he himself
ueatea the cession of the to his son as alto.
gesp er null and void. Consequently on that trans
NC don no claim whatever can be founded Rut
the proclamation here adverted to was made at a
moment when the Emperor Napoleon had even
less authority to make it, and the King of Rome
even less power to accept it. The battle of Water
loo had been fought, and Napoleon, lying before
the allied armies, had reached Paris, where he Law
for some daysin that identical palace of the ElysSs
which has since witnessed the of his nephew
IN permanence under the energetic direction of
Lafayette, who was reused more for the iber-
"ues OF hls country, and under the intrigues of
Fouche, who was sold TO the Bourbons. On June
"a 1915, the second abdication was wrung from the
Emperor, and he affected at the same time to pro
claim his infant son Napoleon II. The child vas at
tnat moment In Vienna, in the hands of his grand
father, whose armies occupied a large portion of
the soil OF France. Lucien Bonaparte was selected
as the most liberal member of the Imperial family
10 make TINS communication to the Legislature.
he was coldly and bitterly received, for it was
well known that the abdication had only been
gwen to avoid the indignlty of a deposition and
r the Assembly was more inclined to outlaw Napo.
leon than to accept his son. 1t is historically false
that he was 30 proclaimed by the two Chambers
IN the last burstrof vanquished patriotism Ma
nuel made an attempt to carry vote in favor of
the Imperial claims, but fell fat, for the immense
majority OF both Chambers were eager to get rid of
the BonaPartes, to make peace with the enemy
and to see constitutional monarchy restored. II is
possible that a few surreptitious acts may have
been put forth in the name of Napoleon II by
some OF the more eager parsans of the Imperial
family; but that is all. They were of no more .au
thority than Louis Napoieon's own proclamatious
ut Strasburg and Boulogne, and they were never
acknowledged by the Chambers, the nation or by
the rest of Europe These are facts which can
neither be refuted nor forgotten, and though it is
perfectly competent to the 'logic of the people to
besow on Louis Napoleon whatever figure it may
cooose 10 aIhx to his name, it Ia impossible to
quiesce In a Misrepresentation of past events in
winch this country, in common with her allies
took no glorious share. 5e5s --....
No doubt, from the manifest importance which
LOUIS Napoleon has attached in his address to this
subject he is already that he has advanced
tensons tohtch tc meet 10Th no RECOGNITION nroad
and although the whole of Europe is ready to &C.
knowledge him as Emperor of the French, it would
ledgment disavowal of one of the most briilia MT
periods OF our own history. We know not if the
concluding words of this harangue, IN which he
declares that. "while ne maintains peace, he will
yph ich =
the dignity of France" are also to be understood
to be applied to the question raised upon the nu-
merlcal addition to the imperial title. But we are
at loss to see in what manner the honor and
dignity of France are in any way touched nv so
negative and purely personal an objection With.
IN his own dominions it would be Dreposterous to
contest the right of the French nation to bestow on
their ruler any sign OF Enumeration whatever, but
IN MS relations with foreign countries he can ha
~ expect that they will adopt title which is
ehPr -ssiy intended to convey by implication a
right tney altogether deny. 1t is impossible to
regret that this discussion has been raised for
60 very futile an object, if indeed any thing be
futile which throws light on the intentions of a
ne" ana uncertain power; but it has not only been
i.seo' out discussed, IN tone which is not likely
10 carry conviction 10 the rest of Europe, though
II petrays resentment at tie opposition already
encountered by the French government on this
Pm we shaii not, however, allow ourselves to
ot nasty AID conclusive opinion from the tenor
o. TINS speech, which addressed to the French
senate, ard not to foreign States. Within few
l. Is probable that the language in which
.ue n6w Emperor is to announce his accession to
tos rest OF Europe will be known, either by pub
hcation in this days MoniteT, or by the usual
Snannels of official communication. We shall
nope to ind in that document signs of a more
temperate spirit, and of disposition to enter into
more precise engagements; for if these were al.
together wanting it would become matter of se-
Enus consideration what course it most becomes
the dignity and security of other States of Europe
to pursue.
THE SEARCH FOB SIR JOHN FRANKLIN the
return of the Amphirite to her station in the Pa
cihc, from Behring Strait, dispatches and letters
have been received from the Plover depot ship. An