Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-02-10
THE MEXICAN QUESTION.
The Emperor's Speech at the Opening of 1.-THE French
Legislature.

PUTES-lne opening OF the legislative session. PER
mits of a periodic exposition OF the situation oil the
empire aud the expression to you OF my views.
As in preceding years, ! will examine with you
the principal questions which interest our country
Abroad peace seems assured everywhere, for every
where the means are sought for of amicably settling
difficulties in place of ending them with the sword.
The meeting of the English and French fleets IN
the same ports has shown that the relations formed
upon thoiield of battle have not been weakened-
Time has only ceinentcd the agreement oil the TWO
countries.
In regard to Germany my intention is to continue
to observe a policy OF neutrality, which, without
preventing MS at times from being dsplcased or sat
isled, leaves us, nevertheless, strangers TO ques-
tons in which our interests are not directly en-
gagged.
Italy, recognized by almost all the Powers of Eu-
rope, has strengthened It's unity by inluguratlng MS
capital in the centre OF the Peninsula. Wemay
count upon the scrupulOus execution OF the treaty
of the 10th OF September, and upon The iHdtSpeASd-
Die maintenance If the pOlrfr Of the Holy Father.
The bonds which attach us TO Spain and Portugal
are still more strengthened 10y my late interviews
with the sOvereigns of those two kingdoms.
You have shared with me the general Indignation
produced by the assassination of President Lincoln,
and recently the death OF the King of the BelgiauS
has caused unanimous regrets.
In Mexico the government founded upon the will
of the people is being consolidated. The opposition.
conquered and dispersed, have no longer "a chief.
The national troops have displayed valor, and the
country has found guarantees of order and security
which have developed IFS resources and raised lis
commerce with France alone from twcnty-one to
seyenty-seven millions. As | expressed the hope
last year that our expedition tras approaching IFS ter
m%iHGtiOn, / am coming 10 al understanding riM the
EmpcrOr Macmillan 10 fir the epoch for The recall
of our troops before their return rs efectWdied, icith
out compromising the French interests irhch arc
hare been defending in that remote country. North
AmaSjca, issuing VIGOROUSLY from a formidable
struggle, has re established the Union and solemnly
proclaimed the abolition Of slavery. France, which
forgets 10 noble page of her history, oilers up sincere
wishes for the prosperity of the great American Re-
public, and for the maintenance OF the amicable re-
iations which soon will have had a century, duration.
The emotion produced IN tie Unitcd States by the
presence Of our troops on the NcriCdH soil TjH be
pac,fed by the .JraAknesS IF our dcciar0tioaS.-
THcAmeTjcm people 1ciH comprehend That our err
petition, to lrhiCh nee iAritei them, irdS not opposed
10 their interests. TtcO MniiOnS equally Jealous Of
their independence ought 10 aroia cpery step ichich
might affect their dignity aRd their honor.
II is in the midst of populations satisfied and con-
fiding that our institutions perform their functions.
The municipal elections are conducted with the
greatest order and with the most entire liberty. The
laws upon coalitions, which gave rise TO some ap-
prehensions, have been carried out with strict i'm
partially on the part of those interested. The work
ing class, intelligent as it is, has cOmpIehended that
the more facility is accorded 70 it to discuss its in
terests the more it is bound to respect the liberty Of
each and the security of all. The enquiry into the
co.operative societies has come TO demonstrate how
| luSl Mtlt llC biNo VI hEN ie' N'H~b nee ~ 'HN
before YOU on this important subject. This law Will
permit the establishment of numerous associations
to the benefit of labor and providence. In order to
favor the development of them, | have decided that
authorization to meet together shall be accorded 10
all those who, outside of politics, may desire to de-
liberate respecting their industrial and commercial
interests. This liberty will be unlimited except by
the guarantees which public order requires. The
equilibrium of the budget is secured by Il surplus OF
revenue. In order TO attain this result it was neccs.
,or,, IN otIngt npnnnmV i'm thp greater mart OF The DuD-
lie services, among Others i'll the War Department.
The army being on 4 peace footing, there was
only the alternative of reducing either the regimen
tai cadres or the effective. The latter measure was
impracticable, since the regiments hardly mustered
the necessary strength of men. The good of the
service cOHnsclled even their augmentation. BY sup
pressing the cadreS of two hundred and twenty COM
panies ~forty-siX s%quadrOns and forty batteries, but
dividing the men among the remaining companies
and squadrons, we have rather strengthened than
weakened our regiments. Natural guardian Of the
interests of the army, would not have consented
to these reductions if they had necessarily altered
our military organization pr broken the existence OF
men whose services and devotion have been able
to appreciate.
The budget of the public works and that of edu-
cation have not undergone any dlminutlOn. 1t was
of use to preserve to the grand enterprises of the
State their fertile activity and to maintain the ener-
getic impulse of public instruction.
Agriculture has made great progress since lSj2.-
At this moment il suffers from the lowering of the
price OF cereals. That depreciation is the necessary
consequence of the plenty OF the larvests, and not
of the suppression Of the sliding scale. have
thought 1t useful To open Il serious inquiry into the
condition and needs of agriculture. 1t will, | am
convinced, confirm the principles Of commercial
liberty.
In the midst of always increasing prosperity, I'M
auiet spirits, under the pretcXt of discussing the
liberal progress of the government, would hinder it
from marching by taking from it all force and init
ative. The Constitution OF 1872, submitted 10 the
acceptance of the people, undertook to establish a
system, nationally and wisely based upon the just
equilibrium between the different powers Of the State.
IL is at an equal distance from two extreme situa-
tions. With q Chamber, mistress of the fate Of Min
listers, the Executive is without authority and with
out spirit. In the same way IL IL without control, II
the elective Chamber is not independent and in pos
session of the %cgitimate prerOgative. Our cOnstitI-
HHSSRaaei qJ'1 4HFtnft, nH Teif$ $td 4esf are 4 f nat deli GfaaffG% acn mHe
they diiltr from those of England. Each people
should have institutions conformable to its genius
and traditions. Assurcdly every government has
it, defects; hut, casting a look at the past, rejoice
in seeing, at the end of fourteen years, France re-
spected abroad, tranquil within, without political
prisoners, without cXilcS beyond its frontiers.
The nation for four years has amply discussed
theories Of government, IL is now no longer useful
To seek the theoretical means Of improving the mo-
raj and material conditions of the people. Let us
employ ourselves in spreading everywhere intelli-
gencc, healthy, economic doctrines, the love of
what is good, and religious principles. Let us solve
by the freedom of our transactions the difficult pro-
blenI of the just distribution of productive forces,
and let us attempt to amcliOrate the condition of Ia
Dor in the fields As in the workshops. When all
Frenchm0n invested with political rights shall have
been enlightened by education they will discern the
truth without difficulty, and will not suner them
selves to be scduced by possible theories. When all
those who live by daily wages shall have seen i'll
creased the benefits which assiduOus toll prOcurcs
they will be firm supporters OF a society which guar
antecs their welfare and their dignity.
Finally, when all shall have received from infancy
those principles of faith and morality which elevate
man in his own eyes, they will know that above hui
man intelligence, above the efforts of science and
reason. there exists a Supreme VIII which rules the
destinies of individuals as well as of nations. -
ALLEGED MOTIVES FOR THE EMPERoR's CONDUCT.
paris January 80 correspondence of London News
That it has t%ranspired in court circles that the
Emperor Napoleon is really d~isplcased with the
Emperor Macmillan on very many points, especially
on account of the bad reception given to the French
Councillor of state sent to Mexico to take the
finances in hand, and it is insinuated that this is
one reason for the withdrawal of the French troops.
The key TO the imperial conduct is, however, thought
to be contained in the following words, with which
tho Elppernr supplemented lie notice Of the with
drawal of the Fronch army -" And the emotion
produced in the United States by their Uhe soldiers
presence on Mexican soil would be appcased."
COMMENTS OF THE LONDON TIMES ON THE EMPEROR'S
SPEECH.
The London Times says tie whole tenor of the
Emperor Napoleon's speech convinccs it that the So
luton of the Mexican difficulty must come from the
United States. Tho offer involved III the imperial
address is the withdrawal Of the French forces from
Mexico on receiving an assurance that the American
government will not impede the consolidation of the
new empire. The Times feels confident that the
American government will be eager to accept a pa.
ciic solution of the Mexican difficulty compatible
with the dignity Of both nations.
VIEW OF COUNT WALEwSKi on THE SITUATION IN
MEXICO.
In the Corps Lcgislatif, on the sd, Count Walew
ski took his seat as President of the Chamber. la
his opening address he passed an eulOgium upon his
predecessor, the late Duke de Morny, and paid a
tribute to the manner in which NJ. Schneider pre-
sided during the last session. Count Walewski also
praised the spirit of moderation displayed by the
Chamber, and expressed Il hope that the Deputies
would give him their cordial concurrence. In con-
clusion, he declared his intention to protect the
liberty of opinions cOnscientiOusly expressed. The
usual official report of the state of the Empire had
been communicated to the Corps Legislatif. On the
subject of Mexico the report says: "The French
government, on undertaking the expedition
TO Mexico, placed before it au aim to
which it has rendered subordinate its con
duct, and on which its decisions are still %pending.
We went nm Ia Mexico to obtain redress, not 10 pros