The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-09
FIRST EDITION
r r A M c Il.
The Report of M. Devienne on the
Senatus Consultum-The Infu-
ence it will Exert in the
Government of the
Empire.

cOnsultum in the Senate, August %. 1nG tol-
lowing are the concluding passages:-
To sum up, although on many questions
various opinions have been expressed and main
tained by several members, your committee
unanimously proposes that you should join in
the Emperor's initiative. Your committee
awaits with confidence the loyal execution of
these new resolutions, MS well at the other mea-
sures announced by government in the expose
deS motifs. This senatus consultum will have
an inevitable influence upon the destinies of
the country. 1t is an act which will make its
mark in the history of the nation. The initia-
tive of laws, the right of amendment of inter-
pretation, and of proposing Ordres du jour
motifs now admitted to belong to
the elective chamber, the publicity
of your debates, the Intervention of the law and
of the Senatus Consulta, in matters of high in
terest, are very considerable changes. Such
measures should disarm the real or affected mis-
trust OF those who pretend that the affairs of the
country are not subjected to sufficient control
In such situation, and when there exists more
genuine freedom of speech and freedom of the
press, if violence should increase instead of
diminishing good citizens will doubtless under
stand that just as in given case they should
aid the police against disturbances in the street,
it is their duty to rise and be united against
State rebels. However this may be, the legisla
tion of 1852, so far MS it was restrictive is at an
end; and now it is only justice to make an inven-
tory of all that it has done for the country. After
sixteen years tranquility it leaves French ter.
ritory aggrandiZed its personal property widely
distributed, augmented by twenty milliards;
trade triped; gratuitous primary instruction more
than doubled; professional instruction estab-
lished; upwards of six thousand new benefit
societies; many funds for relief of old age, for
insurance, and cooperative society banks; all
the telegraphs railways, every element of pros
perity: establishments of public charity of every
kind considerably augmented; the most absolute
liberty of conscience; new churches starting up
in all directlons the sanitary state OF our towns
improved: our navy Transformed; peace and
for
diers ready to march to the frontiers; and,
lastly, the country conducted from a Dictator
ship to the most ample constitutional liberty.
The generation of 1852 may say to that OF 1852
This is what have done. You may do better
still if you consolidate the work which l have
undertaken; if this people, whom it is desired to
intoXicate with lis new-fiedged sovereignty, Will
understand that tribunes are sel-lnterested cour-
tiers, whose flattery deceives nations as well as
kings that its true friends speak the stern Ian
guage of truth-a language which, whether popu-
lar or not, power must listen to under the penalty
of decay and downfall. The true characteristic
of great and free people is to be on its guard
against chimerical promises, and dreams OF i'm
possible equality. Selt-contidence and respect
for the law, patient hope, and calm reliance on
right are the true qualities OF the citizen. and
constitute at once his personal dignity and the
greatness of his country. If, thanks to your
efforts for the last sixteen years. France has re-
covered that prudent and fruitful liberty towards
which the elect of the nation has led her through
the candle of political life which we hand over
to you in such way rs that 1t may give light,
and not be the means Of u conlagratlon, then
the ancients of the age viii be happy to say,
with patriotic ioy-you have done better than
we.
Your committee proposes the adoption of the
senatus consultum in the following termS:-
Article /. The Emperor and the Corps Legis-
latif have the initiative of laws.
Article 2. Ministers are dependent only on the
Emperor They deliberate in counsel under his
presidency. They are responsible. They can
only be impeached by the Senate
Article 3. Ministers may be members of the
Senate or of the Corps Legislatf. They have II
right to sit in either assembly, and to speak
whenever they SIX for n hearing.
Article f. The sittings of the Senate are public.
On the demand of five members the house may
sit in secret committee. The Senate makes It's
own internal regulations.
Article 5. The Senate may, while suggesting
the amendments of which it thinks a bill sus-
ceptible, send it back TO the Corps Legslatif for
reconsideration. 1t may in any case oppose the
passing of a bill. No bill the passing OF which
is opposed by the Senate can be presented to
the Corps Legislatif second time the same
session.
Article 6. The Corps Legislatf makes its own
internal regulations. At the opening of every
session il appoints its President, NicePresidents,
and secretaries. 1t elects its questors.
Article Z. Any member of the Senate or Corps
Legislatif has right to address interpretations
be adopted The reference OF the OrdreS du
Jour motif to the bureauX is of right whenever
demanded by government. The bureauX appoint
a committee, upon whose summary report the
Corps Legislatif decides.
Article s. No amendment can be discussed
until communicated to government and sent fol
examination to the committee on the bill.
Article 8. The budget OF expenses is presented
10 the Corps Legisatif by chapters and articles
The budget of every ministryis voted by chapters
conformably to the schedule annexed to the pre-
sent senatus consultum.
Article 10. In future notifications of the GUS
toms postal tariff made by international trea'
ties will not be obligatory until sanctioned by Q
law.
Article II. The reglementary relations be-
tween the Senate aud Corps Legtslatit, and with
the EmperOr's Government, will be settled by
imperial decree. The constitutional relations
between the powers are regulated by Senatus
Consultum.
Article H. All provisions contrary to the pre-
sent Senatus Consutum are repealed and par.
ticulary articles and 13, the second paragraph
of article "a, articles 26 and 40, the fifth para
article AZ, article A of the Constitution, articles
and of the senatus Coneutum of 18th De-
cember, 1852, and article ! Of the Senatus Con
sultum of December 81, 1861,
1t will be seen that the changes made by the
Committee OF the Senate In the original preposi
tion. after all its long and painful incubation
are slight even verbally, and of infinitely small
importance substantially. The only alteration
worth mentioning are in articles and IL. Th
Senate claims TO have an absolute veto upon
bill without giving reasons.
An intoxicated New Yorker was knocke
down by the cowcatcher of an engine in Har
ford, Conn.,, on Monday, and the engine and IeI
der passed over him. The train was stopped
ana the conductor hastened back to pick up I'll