Norfolk day book. [volume] (Norfolk and Portsmouth Va.) 1868-1880, 1869-09-21
Prince Napole0n's Speech.


The following are the most striking
passages of Prince Napoleon speech on
the senatus consultum
I hear it said in some quarters ; Yes,
no doubt liberty is desirable, but we
must not be precipitate, we cannot
change everything at once. l am quite
of this opinion. We must pre- ceed
gradually, but we must not lose time
in achieving what is pressing and nee
essary. This is matter of degree,
not Of principle. We are told In lugu-
brious accents that the constitution
has been modified very often. My
answer is: First, that these modif-
cations have always proceeded from
the initiative Of the sovereign; and
second, that fit las SO often wanted
changing, it was on account Of its many
imperfections. The changes now pro-
posed by the senatus consultum l ems
tirely approve Of, but l would wish to
see them very much more complete,
for otherwise it is certain that you will
be obliged to make more changes with
In the next two or three years. I do
not say this in reference to the Corps
Legisla.if For that you have done
everything that you can do. But there
are other reforms wanting to which I
must call your attention. ...
You must not fatter yourselves that
you will ever be able to disarm hostile
parties. But what I would wish, in
the spirit of order and conservatism,
would be to remove the grounds of
their complaints, SO that their censures,
which now have an appearance Of JUS
tice, should be made manifestly unjust.
Opposition you must always have. No
government can expect to exist with
out it. Opposition is a necessary politi-
cal stimulant; it is the salt which gives
SAVIOR to political food. Opposition
leads to full discussion and public ex-.
PLANTATION of political affairs. 1t is i'm
possible now to govern but in the full
light of day and in conformity with
public opinion. A statesman-who is
not the type that l admire, but who
often said witty things-expressed
celebrated opinion, with which agree.
"You may do anything yon like with
bayonets except SIT down upon them"
Laughter So you may dc anything
you like with despotism except make
it last. This is consideration which
ought to weigh on your minds. I have
great respect for M. Boulay de la
Meurthe. He will vote against the
senatus consultum in accordance with
his conscientious conviction, but l
will ask him whether he would not be
very much disappointed and alarmed if
the majority of the Senate were to vote
with him !?
The principle of the reform being adj
mitted, the government had two courses
to pursue-either plebiscitum or
senatus consultum. I entirely approve
the course which the government has
taken. People who look more to APP
pearances than reality are of opinion
that the constitution ought not to have
been changed without plebiscitum. I
do not agree with them. A plebiscitum
which pretends to give the people legis-
lative power is device only democratic
in appearance. 1t is an illusion. do
not say that on very rare occasions
plebiscitum may not be resorted to. The
Emperor, by the constitution, has right
to appeal to the people directly. But
he should use this right very sparingly.
| even hope that he may never have oc-
casion to use it. 1t is safety anchor
the forlorn hope of revolution. To
have recourse to plebiscitum, to sane
ton the changes in the constitution
which may be successfully necessary,
would be madness.
A plebiscitum is revolution if the peo-
pie say NO., and delusion if it says
yes There is no middle term. TO
put before plebiscitum particular
name in grave crisis I will admit to
be reasonable; Or very exceptionable
circumstances, where question admits
of the simple yes or no. Such as, for
example, question of peace or war; or,
if after the greatest of all misfcrtunes,
we should be forced by defeat to allie
nate province. an appeal to the people
might relieve the head of the State from
fearful responsibility. But such an APP
peal is never justi6able unless the peo-
pie thoroughly understand the question
put to them. For these reasons pie
biscitum should be kept in reserve as
an expedient, to be used very seldom; or,
better still never. [Sensation.l "
l should like to see the article of the
constitution which authorizes the En-
peror to preside in the Senate repealed.
| will not dwell on the subject. only
say that, although no doubt it is great
honor to take chair in this assembly,
the Emperor would not be in his prop
er place there, and the Senate could not
debate with proper Independence in his
presence. 1t is moreover a monstrous
thing, according to the present consti-
tuition, that during propagation of the
Corps Legislatif, which may last six
months, the Senate, exclusively appoint
el by the Emperor, may act legislativey
in the interim, and even vote the bud
get. This power is frightful. I know
we'll enough that with the present SOW
ereign there is no fear that the power
will be used; but tie possibility should
not exist. 1t is, however, most unfor-
tunate that an opinion prevails in GER
tain quarters that by means of the Sem
ate all the reforms now profes7ed to be
L II