Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1860-04-21
Nlisteuaueous.
FRANCE-rnE AMERICAN BoNApAnrEs

BONAPAk
=. The Paris correspondent of the London
Morning Star writes as follows,
family council, presided over by the EN-.
peror, and comprising Prince Jerome, Prince
Napoleon, the Princess Mathilde, and two of
the Cabinet Ministers, is said to have been
held at the Palais recently, to hold confer
ence concerning the proper steps TO be adop.
ted In the affair Of Jerome Patterson, which
Is beginning to give great annoyance TO the
Imperial family. The publication Of the par.
tlculars OF the FIRST marriage of Prince Jerome
Bonaparte-at that time merely Lieutenant
Bonnparte, in the service of the French Re-
public-with Miss Patterson, an American
citizen, as detailed in the last volume of
"Ihiers' History of the Consulate aud En-.
plre," has reused the ingenuity as well as the
sense OF justice in the bosom Of Jerome Pat.
terson; and. upon reading the account, as
given by Thiers, he Immediately sent bis
protestation, with q copy of the letter writ.
ten by Plus VII on the occasion of the sec.
ond marriage, wherin his Holiness refuses to
snuul the FIRST, there existing, according to
the Romish law, no reason whatever for so
doing. The Emperor Napoleon then, taking
advantage OF the old Imperial privilege
claimed by every royal and imperial house in
Europe, Of sanctionng or annulling mar
rlage contracted by any of its members by
the will declared, in spite Of the Pope, that
the marriage was void, and that his brother
Jerome must forthwith marry the Princess
Charlotte of Wurtemburg.
Now, Jerome, who had been quietly enjoy
ing country life with the wisdom aud dgni- |
ty of a man little caring for the greatness
which be beholds as the afiction Of his fam
lily, is suddenly awakened to the idea that it
is the second-not the frst-marriage which |
is illegal. 1t was Madame Bonaparte's con.
sent which had been considered necessary in |
order to legaize the first marriage. She had
been consulted on that occasion, as she was,
according to French law, by the death Of her
husband, the head Of the family. This was
therefore, the act by which the Patterson
marriage was dissolved, without consent Of
the widowed head Of the Imperial family. AS
civil formality, and in actual defiance Of the
Pope's decree as a religious necessity it must
naturally be regarded as contrary to the
jurisprudence Of the country, and conse.
quently of no elfect-null and void-he who
contracted it unconsciously guilty Of bigamy,
and the issue of such marriage to stand SO.
cond as recognized children, not Of right the
heirs of the contractor.
The summons sent by the huiSsier to the
publisher Of the second edition Of the volume
was Of course complied with, the law for pub.
fishers having lately been made more strin-
gent than ever on this point, and the conse-
quence was the seizure Of the whole edition
before it bad left the printers Office, and the
expungug Of the offensive letter Of the Pope
with Jerome Patterson's protestation. No.
tce of protest was Immediately served upon
the publisher, and bis application to the min
lister resulted in an address to the throne
itself for advice in this dilemma.
Jerome pattersons defence Of his conduct
is most Independent and noble. "For myself
j seek nothing. | AM as proud Of my glori- !
Gus title of an American citizen as should
be Of that of Prince Imperial Of France.
During Prince Jerome's lifetime no measure
shall be adopted to restore those who are de.
pendent on my love to their rightful position,
protestation ia necessary for their security in |
future years" !
1t has been decided that the volume must
appear with the letter and protest-another
protest to come before the public, by rny of
answer, Immediately afterwards. The affair
is looked upon as great annoyance, nothing
more but it is that and were it not for the
calmness with which the Emperor himself
guides his family affairs, much harm mlkbt !
be occasional byit. The strictest secresy is !
meanwhile commanded to the journals, to all
of which it has been intimated en- uuSse that
it would be considered an offence a la suppress. |
sion to speak of it for the present. Mean. |
while Theirs rubs his little hands, and rejoces |
that the world will say-Who would have I
thought the ole man had so much mischief
in him yet?