New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-06-19

rsr,ors Of the institutions III queS..o" ' ~: 10,
resistquce 10 the practical eNecuuoh ., ,''e 49,
r.. 80, rstances directors have handed IN 'hci
1.;,na;;on of off CO. BY way Of answer 10 the dP
- ,h;cb has So much the tone OF h command o'
r. ,'ebe ment Espinasse. No sales are ~ YET an
nonnced, while il will probably be found polite 10
issue either in the form of an article ~ the "oH'
tyr or in thai of a second Ministerial Circular the
explanations and qualifications necessary 10 cam
The discomfort and even alarm created by the hrst
Here is another OF those little defeats, or, which
comes TO the same thing, mistakes of Government
which cempose that series Of signs OF turn III luck
which seems to threaten the Imperial fortunes.
For the general impression, tone and certain DEFINITE
phrases of the circular, plainly show that the meas
ure the rein advocated and almost ordered was as
truly measure of Government as though its eXecu'
tiou had been enforced by formal decree. Inc
only difference in fact between this document and
decree or regularly promulgated law is that It was
tentative and not positive But the ndiscrcet zeal
OF the Minister led him to lmpllcate the Emperor
personally in the matter, as though i, had been
signed Napoleon" instead OF "Espinasse. Inc
Administration under any form OF representative
government may commit blunders or ian OF success
in proposed measures with mpunity-i not always
to itsef at least to It's constitutional chef and to
the stability of its system The essential element
of safety for an absolute ruler and his system s
real or seeming infahbillty.
NJ. De Pene, victim of military assassination, is
still livng-that is, only not dead. Investigation
into the affair by a civil magistrate is still going on,
with as yet no known results. The Communication
Of Lieut.. De Mercey's penalty from death to hard
labor, which has been repeatedly affirmed and CON
tradcted, is q confirmed fact The military esprit
de corps if vivacious, strong and insolent. The
army Is triumphant the other thirty-fve and a
half millions of its fellow.citizens. Meantime,
there are civilians enough ready 10 fight, but dcslst
not from fear of military fencing but from
fear of the civil authorities. Their Indignation,
excited BY the De Pcne affair, allowed no free ex-
preston in print is revealed in conversation every
where The growing spirit of duelng and interest
taken in that aniabe institution of the middle ages
are curousy illustrated by the late rapid sale Of all
the copies remaining on the booksellers shelves OF
"A volume by NJ Grlsler Grlsler Is Ike capt
Hyenne a fencing master; but, unlike capt hycnne,
u gentleman He stands in great renown, and, as
highest authority in matters belonging To his "spe
ciaty" is often called before the courts Of law to
give his testimony expert when ducllng case is
the object Of trial. Griser on the duello is what
Orfa was on tOxicOOgy; he Is the Wheaton, the
PuflendOrf of that code. And 80 his book sells
Just now. Pity that copy had not been in the
library Of the American Legation at Paris, or
served with the dessert at Phllippes restaurant
the other day. For as doctors in their books teach
how one may avoid certain naadies, and legal com
mentaOrs teach how one may avoid dlsgraceful
international quarrels or private lawsuits, 30 Gin
ser in one part of his volume teaches how sensible
men may avoid barbarous or foolish combats with
on, harm TO their honor.
But. really they do these things better in Begi-
um, where the law, since 1859 is severe against
dueliss. ard is enforced. All parties engaged in
affair Of honor are tried before the same tribunals
that deal with pckpockets and sheep-stealers. The
act of dUelDg, and any sort OF participation 10 It, as
second or principal, are regarded as criminal, and
punished as such, win slight reference to points of
honor or of prOvOcatlon and the verdict de-
ponds on the magistrate, not Oh jury.
10 return to domestic politics. Elections are to
be held on the 10Th and 18th Of this month, to FIJI
the places vacated by portion of the members Of
Dr. -"'--""'"' """ communal Councils. chosen SIX
years ago whose terms of service are on the point
Of expiring. Their possible results are looked for
ward to with great and reasonable interest by all
parties. In the elections held in 1852 there was,
with rare exceptions, no contest, and Government
candidates walked over the sure of success.
Although it is impossible, under the regime of gag
and the forced absence OF all free manifestation, to
more than conjecture as to the results OF the coming
trial there are many signs which indicate that
there will at least be trial. Among the most
of these signs are those apparent IN the
deferred elections of members to the Legs
latiye BODY, which have recently had so frequent
occasion To mention. They clearly indicate thatthe
Opposition has not only been gaining heart OF late,
bur that, in spite of all efforts IL repression and
Upprcs siOn, j. preserves some t1lorably effective
organization ard means of clectoneering 1t is
evident that, from various csuses-some OF winch
NAV he discovered under the signs OF turn III luck
noted in this and preceding letter, others OF which
may he found in the sO.callcd mobility OF the French
people It'll Others in the general depression OF III
!ustial, commercial and financial affairs, yet an
other in the lack for the past year or two OF any
Ie accession brought to the stock of national mill
tary political glOres or trumphs by the national
uleT-it s evident say, that the spirit OF oppose
tiCn Las lately been acquiring strength. Aud 1t Is
likely that this strength will show itself in the com
ING local elections for it is difficult to see what new
measures Cf resistance to it Government can nsti-
tute without. by the very fact, betraying It's fears
and thus encouraging the enemies it would dis
hearten. There is d rumOr, not well accredited,
however, that the Emperor avOrs an opposite policy,
ana will leave to the electors comparative freedom
OF choice by discOnnuing on this occasion the nth
ertO uniform practice of presenting Government
candidates. 10 their sutlrages. That small portion
of the Partisan press that still dares in any way to
represent the Il ceilings aud opinions of Independent
FIenclmcn, urges upon all the importance of voting
al the elections; snd, without yenturing any warm
appeals or declaration of partisan views, Is careful
10 point out the signicant fact that these depart
mental councils have, in one respect, an important
superiority over the Corps Ltgslatif namely, that
he the eO.caed legislators can initiate no law, II
comes strictly within the functions OF the councils TO
formally express their wishes (rGHT on all matters
touching the material and moral interests of the
public and that these rGUT are taken heed OF by
Ire central power This will seem TO Americans a
faint ard roundabout approach to popular represent
alton and legislation; but short of entering into the
path of violent rev0lution-than which nothing
could for the moment be more rash and proiitless-