Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-07-16
FRENCH POLITICS.

we nave recently taken occasion more tnan once
to remark on the current phases of French politics
especially recently brought to light by the "ecc
toral operations" of the Empire underth conduc
of M. Persigny the Minister of the INTERIOR al
the time the late elections were held for member.
of the Legislative Body. We commented at some
length several weeks ago on the circular issued
by this statesman to the Projects of France, in
structing them as to their duties in experimenting
the popular suffrage.
The result of the election, as is known, was un-
favorable to the Government in Paris and in nearly
all the larger towns of the Empire. This unto
ward result was deemed by many intelligent OBJ
servers to be chiefly due to the injudicious pro-
ceedings of the Minister Of the Interior, and his
removal from the Imperial Cabinet was predicted
after the resultof the elections was announced
BY the last advices from Europe we learn that this
anticipation has been confirmed by the progress of
events, which have resulted in modification of the
French Ministry as follows:
M. Billault, Minister of State
M. Baroche, Minister of Justice.
M. BOudet rice Persgny, Minister Of the Interior.
NJ. Duruy, Minister of Education
N. Behic Minister of Agriculture, Commerce, and Pub
lie Works.
M Rouher, Minister President of the Council of State
d. de Morny, President of the Corps Legislatif
1t will be understood by the reader that M.
Drouyn de Lhuys remains Minister of Foreign AT
fairs M. Achille Fould, Minister of Finance !;
Marshal Raudon, Minister of War; M. Chasse-
loup-Laubat, Minister Of the Navy; and Marshal
valiant, Minister of the Emperor's Mansion and
of the Fine Arts.
The decree nominating NJ Billault to the post
of Minister of State places among his functions
those previously exercised by the Ministers without
Portfolio. Part of the functions appertaining to
the Ministry of State is transferred to the Min
istry Of the Emperor's Household, and another
part to the Ministry Of Education. Public Wor-
ship is assigned to the Ministry of Justice. The
direction Of the Moniteur will be one of the duties
of the Minister of the Interior.
The following official explanations follow the de-
crees announcing these ministerial changes
"1he plebiscum upon which the Constitution of 1852
is based in rendering the Ministers responsible to the EN-
peror aone intended to put end to those struggles
of parliamentary ambition which constant
of agitation and weakness to previous Governments.
Without Inthe slightest degree diminishing the strength
and freedom of action necessary to power the Emperor
by the decree Of the 2th November wished to give the
great bodies Of the state direct participation the
general policy of his Government but this decree did not
modify the fundamental principles of the pleblscum of
1852 which could only be changed by pebscitum.
The more ample and complete discussion of pub
lie affairs before the Senate and Corps Legsat led to the
creation of ministers without portfoio-that is of minis
ters not personally concerned with the facts discussed
"By todsy's decree the Emperor substitutes for them
the minister entrusted with the relations of the Govern
ment towards the great bCdes of the state
sody organize the representation of the views Of Gov
prnm i'm he mbpra wi the
of the constitution
The Minister of State, released from all administra-
tive functions, and the minister who presdes over the
members of that council entrusted with the explanation
and defence of the questions brought before the Senate
and Corps Legisatif"