Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-02-10

At the Opening of the Chambers-A RETROSPECT.
tire Glance upon t0hat has been Done During
the Last Fire Years Abroad and at Home
The Offer Of Mediation in the american Diff
Guilty
PARIS, January I2-The session Of the
senate and Corps LegislAsif was opened to-day
by the Emperor, who delivered the following
speech
Messieurs les Senator'S, Messeurs les Deputies;
The Legislative body is about to commence
It's last session. To have anticipated the term
fixed by the Constitution would have been, ia
my opinion, an act of iDgratitute toward the
Chamber, of mistrust toward the country.
The times have passed when if was thought
necessary to take advantage of happy Incl
dent to make sure OF the votes Of restricted
number of electors. At the present day, when
every one is aware that the MASSES no longer
possess the restlessness sf former times convie-
tions do not change at the slightest breath
which seems to sgitste the political atmosphere.
As we now meet for the last time, it is a6-
viseable to cast a retrospective glace uD0n what
we have done together during the last FIVE
years; for it is only by taking a connected
view of period Of years that Z correct iudg-
nent can be formed Of the consequent spirit
with which the sffairs Of the country have been
managed
Il is usual thing to suspect, in The acts Of
sOvereigns, some secret motive, or some rnysle-
rious combination. Yet my policy has always
been simply to increase the prosperity Of France
and her moral preponderRnce, without abusing
and without weakening the power placed IN ny
hands, TO maintain abroad, within the limits Of
right and of treaties, the legitimate aspirations
OF nations toward better position; to develop
our commercial relations with those countries
toward which we are drawn closer by greater
community of interests; to erase from diplomatic
pArchmenis the old questions of litigation, so as
to obViate all pFetexts Of misunderstanding; to
insist, finally, upon 8 full reparation for any in
suit offered to our flag, for any prejudice against
our ceuntrymen.
II is thus that, according to circumstances, 1
have been enabled to carry out these principles.
In the East the national wish the DanUbisn
Principalities to form only one people could not
find US unconcerned and cur support has con
tributed to cement their union.
We have given our support to what we
thought justifable in the grievances of Syria
and Of Montenegro, and of the Christians of
Syria, without disaVowing the rights of the Or
temsn Ports.
Our arms have defended the independence Of
Italy without tempering with Tevolution-with-
out altering efer the day of battle cur friendly
relations with our adversaries, even for = day
without abandoning the holy father, whom our
honor and our past engagements bound us to
support
We have suppressed the causes of misUnder-
standing which might have arisen with Spain,
either from the non-delmination of the frontier
line, or from the old debt Of 1929 and with
Switzerland the difference respecting the valley
of the DsppeS.
Commercial treaties have been. or are on the
eve of being, concluded with England, Bel
gium, Prussia, Italy and Switzerland.
Finally, expedition to China, COnchin- China,
and Mexico prove that there are not any coun-
tries, no matter how far distant whore any at
tempt against the honor of France remains IN
punished. Suce facts could not be accomplish
cd withou. complications. Duty always advan-
ces through danger. Nevertheless, France has
been increased by two provinces The barriers
which separated US from our neighbOrs have
been removed; a vast territory has been thrown
open to our activity in the fsr Eas and, what
is better than eonquests, we have acquired
claims to the sympathy Of the inhabitants,
without losing the confidence and the esteem Of
the governments.
During the years recently passed have been
enabled to have personal interviews with most
of the reigning sovereigns, aud from those in
terviews friendly relations have arisen which are
SO many guarantees for the peace Of Europe
This peace cannot be disturbed by the events
which have just taken place in Greece.
This brief sketch of the past is a guarantee
to you for the future, and, despite the pressure
Of counteracting events and opposing opinions,
hope that you viii admit that / have always
unhinchiDgly followed the same line Of conduct
As more particularly regards our position at
home, have endesvoTed, on the one hand, by a
complete amnesty, to obliterste, as far Rs
could, the remembrance of our civil discords !;
and, on the other hand, 70 increase the impor-
tancs Of the great bodies Of the State
have called you to take more direct part
IN the government. have given to your delib-
erstons all the guarantees which freedom of
discussion could claim. have relinquished q
preTogative, hitherto deemed indispensable, SO
as to allow the legislative body to control the
expenses in q more absolute manner, and to give
moro sOlidity to the bases upon which the pub
lie credit rests.
To reduce our expenses, the army and navy
estimates have been considerably diminished.
The floating debt has been reduced, and By ihe
success achieved by the conversion of the Rsntes
great step has been taken toward tho settle
ment (uniication) Of that debt. Tho indirect
revenues show q continual increase, from the
simple fact of the general increase ol property
and the condition of the Empire would bs
h0urishing if the war in America had not dried
up one of the most fruitful sources Of our indus
try. The forced sssgnstion Of labor has caused
in many districts an amount of destituiion which
deserves all our solicitude, and gran. will be