New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-04-17

price OF the husbands brothsr. Disappolnsed Ia
this quarter, the Emperor cut the marriage-knos
which the Holy Father refused 10 unite, and by an
absolute act to sovereignty, though disguised as
one incident Of the headsbip Of the family, declared
the marriage null and void from the beginning
But il so happened that Napoleon Bonaparte was
rot the Head Of the BOnapsIte family in law, what
ever he might have been in fact Ia the pride OF his
power be either forgot or disdsined 10 notice this
material circumstance. 1t seems that BY the
French law marriage dispeasiDg TO the Head Of
the Family might be dissolved Lettia Bonaparte,
Madame Mere. was that Head after the death OF
her husband, and after ser death, King joseph.
Whether Madame Mere would have consented TO be
The tool of her imperial aud mperious son, had ne
demanded Der telp, we cannot tell. All we Know
is that she did not, and probably never thought Oh
her having any rights other than such as her son
chose to give her. And not only this, bat when her
grandson was married in 1929, ihe wrote to hun as
her "dear SOM which seemed to imply that she
ecoQnzed bis legitimacy. All this appeared 10 De
of no particular importance as long as the Bona
parte dynasty seemed buried under the willows az
st. Helena. But when it came forth from It's sePui-
cher, after the earthquake OF lS4o mad rent IL
asnnder. and in due time won its way through blood
and perjury to the throne again. tho quesuon OF INC
legitimate successorship assumed historical oluien-
sions. The American Bonaparte claimed to DO
lawfully one Of the household. family council
admitted his riebt TO his name, but to none OF the
Incidents of legitimacy.
The matter has been brought afresh before the
world by the note of explanation which Mr. Bona
psrte insisted on having inserted in the last volume
of THERE'S History, in which this passage was con-
tanned. In this, he states the facts OF the case,
which would seem to make it clear that ne Is the
next heir to the Headship of the Family alter the
death of bis father, and Of the Emperor and the
Price Imperial This note the sovereign author
ty could not well suppress, inasmuch as the rIgnE
TO demand such correction had been enforced II not
invented, for its own purposes. But the domestic
disturbance is extreme and the counter note oil
Prince Napoleon the half-brother Of him OF BAt'-
more, only makes thu facts CLEARER to all persons
who do not admit that the mere will OF the Emperor
can annul contract, cOnsecrated by
sacrament of the Church, aud protected Dy
the laws of the Empire. The quarrel
is very pretty one as it stands, and the BAiamore
con is most undenably in the right ofis. lie has
only done what respect for his own legitimacy and
for the fair fame of his mOtber-who is still living
to witness this distant consequence OF her wedding
plainly demand. He disclaims any ambition for
q higher rank than that Of an American citizen, and
perhaps would have the virtue and wisdom to re-
fuse an Imperial Crown if prOfered to him; but he
chooses to have his legitimacy recognized and to be
free to a,,ert OF renOunce its consequences at his
discretion. Every intelligent and rget-thnking
man must see how absolutely right bis position is,
and wish him success in indicating his birth from
the arbitrary imputation of bastardy. His course,
thus far, has been marked by dignity and discre-
ton which must command respect whether it can
command success or not.