The New York herald., 1867-04-08

looked 1t therefore beh0oves Congress when
1t assemblies again TO make an appropriation
Tor this purpose, at least to the extent which
the State of Louisiana has asked for, upon
the guarantee of the government swamp lands.
money TO less profitable as we'll as less gene
rous purposes.
Tse Iacvease Or the French Army and Navy.
Our correspondence from the naval port Of
Rochefort. published yesterday morning,
presents some interesting details Of the pro-
gress Of Napcleon's plans for the increase ofthe
French navy. In that quiet little out of the
way port, to which few travellers ever find
their way, and where, therefore, the operations
in the navy yard can be conducted on large
scale without attracting any general attention,
it appears that six new vessels, four ir0n-clads
and two wooden vessels, together with trans
port for the accommodation Of two thousand
horses. are In process Of construction and in
tended to be completed during the present
year. In the yards Of Cherbourg, Brest and
LOrient the same activity prevails, and it is
evident that Napoleon has some grand design
in view, for the accomplishment Of which he
perceives the necessity Of an addition to his
navy ofa considerable number Of the class
and character Of vessels which are in process
of construction in these yards
AT the same time the project for the reorgan-
ization Of the army, plan which virtually
makes France nation of soldiers, increasing
her army to one million two hundred thousand
men, is being pushed by the government in the
Corps Legislatif, and by the aid of the large
government majority in that body will nm
doubtedly become a law. When this is done,
with q powerful navy and an armed nation
Napoleon will be prepared to commSnce his
practical operations for the greater develop
ment of the power, for the greater aggrandize-
ment Of territory and the greater military and
naval glory of Franco Precisely what these
projects are the progress of events only can
develop.
The questions Of the annexation of certain
territory to France have already assumed
positive form, and relative TO the latter
strong and significant "feelers" have been
thrown out by the government press in Paris.
But 1t would be on par with bringing out
park Of artillery to slaughter 6ock Of quails
to make all these immense military and naval
preparations for the conquest Of Belgium.
Prussia could not seriously object 10 the incor-
poration into French territory Of "a kingdom
the larger majority Of Whose subjects are
French in theis Language. and manners and
medssof life and thought !. and. England, who
stood quietly with folded hands and looked
calmly on at the despoilmsnt OF Denmark,
would certainly not bs disposed to oppose the
Emperor in this; and none Of the other nations
OF Europe would have any serious, practical
cause or disposition for interference in the
matter. The Emperor Is unquestionabIy pre-
pairing for weightier and more probable con-
tingencies. Franco chafes under the rapidly
developing naturalization OF Germany, and
The Emperor is sore still at the thought Of his
having been outwitted by Bismarck; ana in
France the universal feeling prevails that after
the close of the Exhibition the Emperor will be
disposed to call Prussia to account for her un-
expected successes and the results of the last
summers war.
II is questionable. however, whether in such
an event the martial spirit Of France could now
be sufficiently wrought up TO make the French
people willing to bear the sacrifices that IL
would entail. Since the Introduction Of rail-
ways and telegraphs and the development Of
national industry, the growth Of the mauufac-
turing interest and the increased.importanc Of
the commercial one, France is becoming
much more practical nation than formerly-not
so eager for military glory, but more inclined
to pursue the peaceful path of industry ON the
road to material wealth. The army reorgani-
Eation scheme now before the legislative body,
and which virtually converts France into a
nation of soldiers, which creates On army of
twelve hundred thousand men without any ap-
parent particular cause therefor, is encounter
ing great opposition among the people Of
France-creating not merely vague dispute
tude, but positive demonstration on their
part, which, II 1t becomes too formidable, may
cause the Emperor to abandon or at least
seriously modify, his military projects.
A petition has been transmitted TO the EN-
peror, signed by nearly two hundred heads Of
families In single little commune, protesting
against this enormous increase Of the army at
a time when France is menaced by nobody.
This petition clearly sets forth the griefs and
sunFerings of the rural population, upon whom
the burdens Of the conscription fall with their
heaviest force. Fields left unoultivated for
want of hands 70 till them, the work nearly all
done by old men and girls and women. are
some Of the results Of the terrible conscription,
which takes from the farm and the workbench
the very flower the bone and sinew Of France
and makes 1t burden and an expense instead
Of means Of valuable productive industry.
A correspondent who has recently been
travelling through the agricultural districts Of
the centre Of France informs us that
everywhere, among all classes Of society, the