New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-12-17

the Government, giving to it many OF the features
of truly representative Government Inc more
, striking of them are as follows: The Senate
and the Legislative Body shall in future, every
wear, vote an address in reply to the imPerla
speech that opens their annual sessions; Govern
meut Commissioners will be present during The
| discussion Of this address, to give to the "Cham-
| hers" all necessary explanations on the foreign
| and domestic policy of the Executive. Hitherto,
| the "ChanitCrs," for this ola parliamentary name
is given in this decree to the senate ana CorpS Leg
sl9f had nothing To do bat 10 listen to the naugi-
raj speecb1 The Legislative Body is, in future, to
| excrcss certain legislative functlons-such as
| amending and in n limited sort, almost originating
| bills; except however bills Of merely local inter-
"est and eases of urgency." Hitherto the sO.called
| Legislative Body had only 10 talk about the bills
! sent in from the Council of State, and at utmost,
! refuse TO vote for them. | think there have been
six cases Of refusal in eight years. The Senate Wi
| be requested 10 pass constitutional law Sendfas
cOnsue) by virtue Of which official reports OF the pro
ceedings Of the Chambers Shall b. seut every even
ing TO oil the journals" while stenograPhic report
Of each session shall be published IN next morning
Mon,tenr Hitherto the report OF the proceedIuesoi
the Legislative Body was generally OF the meayerise
| descriptoD: il was published in the Monuenr; oc-
| cosiOlaly it was full and then, necessarily very
long, 10 other paper could quote part o Such IT,
port not line or else all the columns inn must oo
reproducrd Some time last Spring full report oi
the good bad, and indifferent speeches OF very IN
t.restiI;p debate on the budget, occupied dOuDo
nnmher of the Honiteur; for the sake OF one or Two
Of the speeches the Journal des Deoats began
orote tie uulucky Journal being once IN Tor IL must
needs 90 on and recOllect seeing the Tall OF that
voluminous report dragging its slow length, single
column or ut q tln,, through Tue tnird page "
the D,Lots till deepIn the month OF June. " MINI
" sters without portfolios" Ministers in Parrbus,
i'll be app onted by the Emperor to defend govern
ment bills in the two Chambers. Hitherto, mem-
Der of the Council Of state was sent IN to explain
and defend the bills.
The right of voting an address, the publication OF
the doings OF the Chambers the presence OF Minis
ters of Government in the Chambers as debaters--
these are the grave reforms which Napoleon has
epIunpr upon the nation. Changes IN the Minis
tries were expected any time for the past fortnight.
These reforms in the very nature OF the Govern
ment were not expected, and have taken every one
nv surprise. No sLrewdest, best-lnfOrmed wise
acre of an own correspondent anticipated them
ten days ago no semi-Ofiicial, selfdegraded Grand
puot that did not 80 lately that declare that the
Government it was was perfect, past hope or
need of change. The emotion Of surprise, then,
minging WITH has heightened, perhaps the feeling OF
qualification Lot to say gratitude which these con-
cessiOns OF the Emperor have inspired IN the public
The manifestations vi this feeling in the metropo-
tan and provincial press very general. 1t was
curiOusy noticeable for the first few days, that the
elico.egtimist press alone took no part 10 them,
or took part most ungraclously. For the last few
DAYS il has been forced, it were, 10 unite,
though as discordantly as it dare, its lugubrious
note TO the common chorus of approval.
You will doubtless publish tie text of the decree
of November "a, entire. Your readers Will doubt
less be impressed and puzzled with the variety OF
its subjects and the want of clearness in its word
ing Within iorty-eIght hours OF its publication,
the MoE,teuT needed 10 come out IN note assuring
the public that the Interpretation that ninety-nine
out OF hundr Of its readers had given TO article ;,
was entirely erroneous. Article & says, that
those functions of the Ministry of Public In
stiuctiOn and Religion which do not directly regard
One toucAent pas direetemeaD public education or
the special institutions OF the University, are trans
ferTed to tie Ministry of State Whereat my PEN
sive public say then all this church business, get
ting latterly to be- singulaIIy important in political
respects, is TO come under the control OF the Min
lister OF State who is par excellence the confidential
clerk Of bis Majesty. Was not the pensse pnblic
strictly obsyant oi lhe ordinary rules of interpre-
tation in coming TO this conclusion Not at all,
says the Moniteur.
I be decree really contains the subject matter Of
bali dozen DEGREES. 1t was drawn up in hurry.
Here is the not improbable history of it. But
fist let me venture an historical preface:
Louis Napoleon is not an ass. With an
intellect superior to that of most of his
pdltsans, he mas an interest superior to
theirs III the preservation of self and
dynasty He is by nature very foresighted. lie saw
as clearly as your subscribers in Wisconsin that
governmental things could not always last as they
ten days ago, although they might very possibly
Outlast lis timeii he did not outive his physical
aud intellectual forces. But his boy, should he
inherit his fathers ability, could not inherit his
prestige. Then it was needtul to change the system
from essentially personal To Substantially consti-
tutional one. The change must cOme--is steadily,
inevitably Coming, with acceerating momentum
can stave OF the collision between my system and
the swelling spirit of the times; but it will smash
that boy OF mine and the dynastic machine oil to
pieces. Let us anticipate the shock To which end
LIT US make a constitution, and give France part
and interest in it that has certain working power
OF its own, and vitality independent of lis Official
engineer.
Now il a good time TO begin the making of it.
Interior troubles are subdued; our exterior rela-
tons such, thanks TO and luck, that French
men we're never prOuder o! being Freuchmen than
to-day; MY best enemies, the clcrico-legitimist
patty have pushed their extrayagances SO lar that
they have forced me, who used to b. their best
friend, TO be their enemy, and have ranged those
who were used 10 be our common enemies on my
side. The liberals OF all shades are ready TO ioin
me, if will only make for them standing place
by my side. The best, abest of the Oreanists and
Republicans those whose superiority of intelligence
frees nom the BONDS of party names, will meet me-
though approach LEES than half way, on the road
TO liberalism. III Try them they will sincerely ac-
cept the Empire, will sincerely accept liberalism.
They make their reserves, undoubtedly and make
mine. But let US try the experiment The events
OF the Last year or two--abOyc all the fortunate
violence OF opposition OF the unconditional cerico-