The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-11-01

itation, declined the offer, in speech, in which
ne set forth the reasons for his refusal.
About half past twelve, the session opened
M. Sauzet the President of the Chamber, call
ing the members to order.
M. Charles LATTE offered the resolution, that
the Chamber should declare itself permanent.
This resolution was supported by NJ. Cambace-
res; but NJ. Sauzet caused the modification to
be adopted, that the Chamber should remain in
session until it was otherwise decided.
About half past one, the arrival of the Ouch
ess of Orleans was announced to the Deputies.
and Immediately afterwards she entered the
Chamber, together with her two sons and her
attendants. She was received with loud cheer
ings, IN which all the Deputies participated, ex-
cept those of the utmost left" or most vehe-
ment Republicans. The "centre" especially
repeated, several times, the cries of I" Vice la
Duchesse d. Orledns!" " Vice Le COmfe de
Paris" Vice 10 Roi!" q Vipe la Regcnte :"
The Duchess bowed to the Assembly, and then
seated herself near to the tribune.
NJ. Lacrosse Immediately proposed that NJ.
Dupln should address the Chamber, which the
latter declared himself willing to do, though it
had not been his intention to make speech.
M. Dupin sustained very ably the rights of
the Count of Paris, and the propriety of confer
ring the Regency upon his mother, the Duchess
of Orleans.
M. Marie, in order to counteract the effect of
this speech, mounted the tribune, and made the
remark, that there was law which prescribed
that the Regency should devolve upon the Duke
OF Nemours; and as long as that law was not
abolished, there could be no question of making
the Princess the Regent of the Realm. These
views were also sustained by NJ. Cremieux
NJ Lamartine, experimenting that the Cham
Der would adopt the resolution proposed by NJ.
Dupin, arose from the bench on which he was
sitting, almost alone, and requested the Presi.
| dent to adjourn the session.
The Duke of Nemours, and several of the
other friends of the Duchess of Orleans, en-
deavored to induce her to withdraw from the
Chamber, as it was evident that a great many
! of the Deputies objected to her presence. But
the Princess who seems to have understood
we'll that such step would prove fatal to the
professions OF her son, refused to retire.
M L'Herbette announced to the President OF
the Chamber, that it was the desire of the Ouch
ess to remain. This declaration produced an
evident agitation, especially among the mem
bers belonging to the Republican party.
General Oudinot, carried along by the i'm
pulse of chivalrous generosity, told the Depu-
ties that the Duchess, in going 10 the Chamber,
had been warmly appauded by the people and
that it bchooved themselves to rest satisfied,
should she wish to remain; or, should she
choose to retire, to accompany her to whatever
place she might proceed, in order to protect her
and her infant children.
M. Sauzet requested, however, all strangers
to withdraw from the Chamber; and it ap-
peared as if the Duchess intended to yield to
this direct insinuation. She rose, and, prece
ded by the Duke of Nemours, assembled to the
last row of benches; but, when arrived there
she seated herself again, amidst loud cheerings
of the members of the centre. A great number
of distinguished persons crowded round about
her and her sons.
But the President of the Chamber again re-
quested all strangers to leave the hall.
AT this moment, NJ. Odillon Barrot entered
the Chamber. A great number of Deputies
FASTENED to inform him of the actual state Of
things in the Assembly. Being most sincerely
attached to the constitutional Monarchy, and at
the same time, in fact, Minister of the Crown
both his inclination and his duty prompted him
to mount the tribune, in order TO secure the
throne to the Count of Paris, as far as it could
be done by a vote Of the Chamber His speech
was equal to his renOwn as an accomplished
orator. and had destiny not been averse to the
cause he advocated, his words would have
proved irresistible. The acclamations of the
"centre" were almost deafening, on his ex-
claiming, I" La cOurOnne de bullet repoSe sur la
t<te dun enfant ct dune .femme!" 1.-THE crown
of July 1880 rests upon the heads of child
and a ladyD
The Duchess of Orleans, rising, bowed to the
Assembly, and made the Count of Paris follow
her example.
NJ. de la Rocheaquelin, belonging to the Le-
gitimists, but now playing the part Of Repub-
lican, attempted to interrupt the powerful
speech of Barrot.
At that momant, it appeared as if the Ouch
ess of Orleans desired to address the Chamber,
but, hesitating, she sat down again. When
Odillon Barrot, however, spoke of the propriety
OF delegating the Regency to her, she rose anew,
and bowed to the Assembly. Holding in her
hand paper, it was evidently her intention to
say some few words in support of the cause of
her infant son but NJ. Sauzet, the President of
the Chamber, either happened not to see this
motion, or fegned not to do it.
M. Ledru Rollin attempted now to get the
word, but NJ. Barrot desisted, nevertheless, not
until he had finished his speech.
M. Rochejaquelin then mounted the tribune,
telling the Deputies that they had lost all pow
er, that they were altogether wrong, and that
the people alone could and would decide the
case in question.
M. de Mornay, on hearing these words, re-
quested the President to adjourn the session;
but just then body of people forced their way
into the Chamber, and were, after few min
utes interval, followed by another crowd, head
ed by the ex Colonel Dumoulin.
M. Ledru Rollin now got the word. In
forcible and eloquent speech, he advocated the
adoption of a Provisional Government. 1t was
received with enthusiastic applause by the
crowd that invaded the Chamber.
He was followed by M. Lamartine, who, ac-
cording to what he tells himself felt much in
cination to stand forth as champion of the
pretensions that had been made in behalf of
the Duchess of Orleans and the Count of Paris
but, suppressing the emotions of his heart, he
obeyed the dictates, as he believed, of calm re-
Election, supporting the proposition that had
been offered for the formation of Provisory
Government.
We have no reason to doubt either the We
racity of NJ. Lamartine, or the purity of his mo-
tives but we cannot forbear to remark, that |
the course which he chose to pursue proved |
that he was much deceived as to the real SEN
timents of the great majority of the French |
people, who, though exceedingly fond of social
equality, never were, and scarcely ever will be, |
steady supporters of Democratic Republican /
form of Government,
Still, it is very questionable whether NJ La |
MARITIME would, at the moment in question. have
been able, as he seems to think, to have placed |
the crown of France upon the head of the Count |
of Paris, and the reins of Government in the /
hands of his august master. 1t appears, ia
deed, more probable that, had he yielded to the |
of his heart, and made speech in |
that direction, he would soon have been forced |
to silence by the crowd that had invaded the
Chamber, under the leadership of the veteran
soldier Dumoulin, who was himself, however,
friend rather of the Ndpoleonides, than of Dem
cratic principles.
Iamartine's speech beinp rece;vad bv tho