Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-06-29
LOUIS NAPOLEON AND rHs CORPS LsoIs.
LATIF

We briefly alluded day or two since in our
editorial columns to the letter Of LOUIS Napo
leon. read by his Minister OF State, Monsieur
Rouher. in the French Chambers We have
since received in our mails the letter in full.
with interesting accounts Of the scenes in the
Corps Le3islotV which followed its reading.
The letter proves to be even more significant
than We had supposed. Thus, the Emperor
says:-"I repudiated all idea OF territorial
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT so long as the equilibrium ef
Europe was not disturbed. In effect we could
not think Of an extension of our frontiers ex-
cept IN case OF the map of Europe being re-
Modelled for the exclusive benefit Of a great
Power, ana Of the conterminous provinces de.
manding, by votes freely expressed, their an.
nexaticn TO France" And again :-"If, in spite
OF cur efforts, the hopes Of peace are not re.
allied, we are nevertheless reassured by the
declarations of the Courts engaged in the con.
fist that whatever be the results of the war
none of the questions which touch us shall he
resolved without the assent OF France" We
have not space to give this remarkable docu-
ment in fun, but infer from it that France will
maintain her strict neutrality" only rs long
as ii is her interest TO do SO, with the expecta.
ton Of profiting III the end, no matter how the
conflict progresses.
In reference to the scene which followed the
reading of the paper, the correspou dent of the
London New', writing June 18th, says
1.-The melancholy spectacle was exhibited in
the Corps Legislatif. yesterday, of the repre.
sentatives OF nation, VIGOROUSLY DESTROYS of
peace, and suddenly appraised Dy its SOVEREIGN
that he has privately arranged the eventual
ities OF a gigantic war, being gagged by re-
leutlese official authority, and prevented from
saying word while ii might be vet time To
avert the impending calamity. M. Rouher
said dictatoriiy, after reading the letter. that
n o. nd mr. aaa
Emperor, the Government would consider any
debate on the subject of Germany as inoppor-
tune and seriously incOnvenient.
''PresideEt Walewski instantly followed the
fugleman, and opined that M Jules Fayre
(who was inscribed rs the first speaker) could
not but understand that he must not speak of
Germany or Italy,
Jules Favre, who was ready to speak about
the affairs of Germany, with sad dignity pro-
tested against this attempt to silence further
discussion. As represeu tative eof the people
he was OF opinion that an indication of the
feelings of the Chamber would be of utility
He protested that the Chamber had a right TO
be heard in relation to solemn questions in
which the whole country was interested But
there was a determination the part of the
majority to submit to the imperial mandate
signified by the representatives of the Minis
try. Messrs. Timer and lie Roux attempted to
speak, but were not permitted, and after a
wrangle of some duration,i: was resolved nv
a vote of 202 to 90, that the debate on European
affairs should be suppressed
Some Of the Germans seem TO understand
the attitude of the French Emperor for the
Cologne Gazette contains this sensible warn
ing:
"In the event of either Prussia or Austria
apprOpriating new territory, France would
then annex, by means Of universal suffrage.
contiguous German provinces This Is
warning which ought somewhat to diminish
the warlike passions or the German Powers,
and make the military party of Berlin and
Vienna reflect before precipitating the CONN.,
try into endless troubles. The letter should
also make the smaller States reflect. for while
wishing all sorts OF good things to Austria
and Prussia, the Emperor Napoleon intimates
that he desires a little slice of Prussia and he
could have no better preteXt for this than that
OF the minor STATES being silly enough to ioin
Austria in war against Prussia. Prussia
will naturally come down upon those States
and, once occupied she will not readily relax
her grasp. The letter of the French Emperor
can only serve as a warning to all German
patriots, and must weaken the fatal tendency
toward war"