The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-03-28

most complete order Eeigned from the
18th of June, 1919, to the LIST of Deem
Der, 1851? Had not all the partial cleo
tions, at Paris and elsewhere, taken
place successfully without the slight
est trouble. notwithstanding the chal-
Ienge law of the 31st of May, 1850.
which, without cause and without
justice, struck OFF, by one vote, three
millions out of nine millions of electors,
-one elector out of three? Did the
depositary ofthe executive power hon
estly and seriously fear the slightest
attack on the inyiOlability of his trust
and the security of his person at the
hands of the legislative power? If
either OF the two powers were menaced
by the other, as subsequent events
have proved to be the case, was it not
that which had nothing in its hands but
the ballots deposited in the urn of suf-
frage?
In November, 1851, it is true that be-
tween these two powers, derived equal
ly from the republican Constitution
and universal suffrage, there was a ri
valry, but there was nothing more;
there was neither anarchy nor danger
of anarchy; this is what on all occa-
sions, and solely to render homage to
TRUTH we increasingly maintained
against all who Willingly or unwilling
ly falsified it; this is what history in
accordance with truth will record. Yes,
in accordance with truth, for if the
President of the republic had under
his control force sufficient to main
| tain order on the day on which he de-
strOyed the Constitution which he had
swore to uphold, does it not prove
| clearly that, except from him. 1t had
absolutely nothing to fear? Who would
| have attacked ii? Who would have
dared attack it against him,-its
defender, who was invincible in pro-
portion as he respected it. No, with or
| without revision, there was then abso-
lutely nothing to fear for the mainten-
ance of the Constitution, for the dura-
ton of the republic, for the preserva-
ton of liberty and the continuance of
order. The two elections of May, 1852
that of the legislative assembly and
that of the President of the Republic,
might have been accomplished as
peaceably as the election of the 10th of
December, lS4S, when, had the liberty
of the press and of holding meetings
been at this time without legal restric-
ton, and had they reigned in their
| plenitude, there would have been, no.
where-neither in any city nor in any
commune-a single act-no, not one
which would cast a shadow on uni
versal suffrage.
II in all the foregoing there is not
single word that does not boldly defy
contradiction, what then must be
thought of the pompous praise which
the Minister of State sOlemnly bestows
| upon himself, and against the business
of which we protest with all the ear
| nest accuracy OF our recollections.
No, it is not true that under his direc-
ton the country has been conducted
gradually and each year towards
better destiny" France is not more
powerful than she was in February,
1851; Is she more free? VAST in her
power to prevent the irreparable mis-
takes which have been made? And if
new mistakes were to aggravate them,
what means would she have of throw
ing in the balance the weight of her
oplnlon7 EMILE DE GIRARDIS.