The New York herald., 1862-03-11
The French Senate and American Con-


Thc French senate and American Con.
gress.
From the London Times, Feb. 25.
Those who take interest in foreign affairs will read
the debates the French Senate with curiosity and as
tcnishnent The favort topic Of the mpe a marty for
many years has been the failure OF the parliamentary
system. Some have denounced it virus, as a cor
ruping influence others have pointed to the excosses
OF the Chambers and the bitter animosities to which
they rse proof that the institutions which
rounded the throne Of July have been justly condemned
Bat, Judging from what passes at the present time in
Paris must believe that those unhappy results which
all Frenchnen admit, were not necessarily connected
with the system of responsible Ministry, government
by majority, and the Interference OF the sovereign
After long and painful experience after seeing the Assem-
bly Of nscnarchy and the Assembly Of republic dis solved
on force after ten years suspension not only Of poll
tical freedom, but even OF individual rights after
listening for SO long to the warning, and the
lions, the French are seemingly as far from
wisdom The faults which have been confessed
and deplored by their own writer's, and which most
Frerchmen in conversation would declare with energy to
have been the ruin Of former governments ap
poaring unchanged and with no probability OF reforma
tio in the Chambers Of the empire. The DEBATE the
French Senate, Of which have given summary,
senliss te uor displays at Washington during H. last days
Of um'0n I'VE % pvt .arssntsnss ran .a and liberals for
that soke in Amelca, there Is need of further suJsi
tios Tho spirit 10 the same, the anpathies and the
and somewhat stftsd style Of French dsputation the
and vindictveness exactly the same.
deed the formalty Of the oppression in the case of
ment Of zach other the more homogeneous 1t la like
street fight between two cabmsn in kid gloves.
The Of the late remarkable display is tho French
Senate and the actors it comprise prince OF the blood
morethan high dgnitaryy Of tho church, somc
bes Of ancient family and - chorus the whole
bly, of eminent Frenchmen who have received the dig
nifty Of Senator on the ground Of thor wisdom, thor
patriotism or their occupation OF high official posts IL
began 10 speak Friday, the subject being certain At
tacks made On him by Count Segur D'Aguesseau. This
gentleman had caedtho minister "the rognac Of the
pire and had accused him Of imposing silence journals
Of principles while allowing democratic and
lutionary prints to ill France with their mssatcments.
That member OF the most exalted body Of tho empire
should think 6t to call tho Emperors Minister by the
Of politician who had overthrown dynasty, and
been sentenced criminal by tho laws ofhe country
under the much abused reign OF Louis Philippe. H. do
Persgney spoke few words In good taste and then left
his adversary to be dealt with BY NJ de Laguerenniers
'misrepresented facts for party purposes" After
short discussion that subject also dropped. Then b.
Petri formerly Prefect of Police and read speech
harmless enough, being made up merely Of the stock
periast commonpaces about the impotence or Parlia
mcnary government and the seshness of the old par
ties But at last the worthy exPrcfect to tho Ro
man question, and Immediately the Chamber was in
element.
The proceedings Saturday last more extra
ordinary That singular mixture Of good and RASH
noss acuteness and want Of tact the Prince Napoleon
drew down himself storm OF dsapprobation. For
prince Of the blood 10 excite tumult such as would be
produced by Ledru Rolin Proudhon shows strange
hs o q be- e hs e:
tho democratic Bonaparte as berg necessary for the
enlightenment and advancement Of the present ago and
he consequently is always on the verge of an mpru-
dence He may at any time commit the government to
mistake, offend the nation by some i'll considered
phrase. In an assembly made up in groat part Of
bers Of the old families, and having ivo pre-
lates in its number, the imperial orator recalled
the return from Elba. and declared that tho
Emperor had travorscd France amid cries OF Down
with tho emgrantsl" "Down with the nobleslU
Down with the traitors' What made matters worse
that many Senator'S believed the Prince TO have used
tho word "preres instead Of "raycs." Great agita-
ton prevailed, which increased whom the Prince
went to speak against "relious CONGREGATIONS and in
situations sohtch sooui impose ret1n 10 the bgotry
of the Middle Ages" The Senators started to their feet
bravo, bravo!" shouted M. do Larochejaauelein.
IIsro again In full revolution" Prince Napoleon
was called order He answered that he should not
"the return from Elba glory for the country At
last after Intellectual attempts to be heard the Prince
forced to submit to tho ndignity Of sitting down.
amid the hostile camor Of his audience and the pain OF
knowing that no had damaged his cause and his own
character by his strange display.
But tho whole Assembly shares the disgrace Of unman.
nery and virulent discussion. The Catholic party
cbio1y In fault The attack N de Persigny s but an
instance Of the same policy which in ireland sets UP
Major Reilly as candidate for seat In the House Of
Commons merely on the ground that he commanded the
opposed which will not consent to support the Pope We
only regrat that their liberal advcrsaries in the
French Chambers should initiate their violence. The
suit must be fatal TO ths OF liberty, for
the restriction is taken of free speech the Chambers
turned into theatres of fierce nvective and society will
demand to DO restored to It's former tranquil and
respectable servitude