The New York herald., 1870-05-03
FRANCE.


tution-scLiberry or Observation-Disclosures
"an lnstrument Chosen by Providence"
The French Senate held sitting April l9, in Paris,
N. Rouher in the chair. The attendance OF members
was unusually numerous, and the public tribunes
were crowded. The Ministers present were NJ Emile
Olivier, the Marquis de Talhouet, N. Louvet Mar
shal LIE B9uf and M. de Pareu.
The discussion on the Sendtus COnsu,tune was re.
sumed, most OF the articles being adopted without
much observation OF Importance On article s M.
dc RysS oad p5op1sa the
that. OF Legislative Body" but ne did not
persist Some discussion took place on the
nomination OF mayors, Count de Butenval insisting
that those officials should always be selected from
among The members Of the Municipal Councils; the
rior OF want OF respect TO the Senae in nominating
special commission to examine the question
N. OLIVIER defended his colleague in the Cabi.
net and declared that both social and administra-
tive interests required to have those appointments
LEFT In the hands OF the executive.
NJ. LIE ROY DE SAINT ARNARD had no objection to
the system supported by the honorable Min ster,
but he should propose to nave it regularly set forth
NJ olivier must oppose that course as altogether
unnecessary.
division then took place. and the amendment
was rejected bv 81 votes to "a
On the article relating to the nomination OF SEN
ator-, Count Boulay de la Meurthe proposed TO sup
press the Paragraph which declares tnat the
OF appointment shall be discussed in Council Of
Ministers.
M. BAROCHE, In the name OF the committee. de.
tended the wording OF the article the impression
ought to prevail abroad that the sele ,ti0n OF
Senator was not an unlmportant matter. On
division the paragraph was struck out by IS TO Al.
The discussion was again adjourned.
The following is a report OF The proceedings on the
previous day, already briefly noticed
Count DE BUTENvAL-When entered my name to
speak against the document under deiOeralion l
had not the intention OF opposing its principal pro.
any opportunity that might present itself tu
deliberate on the point whether the proposed
notifications IN the ccnstitut on the only ones
possible In the circumstances In which we are
placed. also contemplated submitting to the min-
listers my doubts relative to certain acts which
did not seem perfectly IN accord with parlil-
mentary system. But the dispositions of the pub.
lie mind have since become 30 deeply modi-
fed, and the ground of the discussion has
becoms so much narrowed, that / resolve to
abandon the developments which I had intended
TO make. When the government is engaged In
there Is no room for individual efforts; our
duty Is to unite all our forces to employ them in
common. The object al which we all aim Is to
form constitution which shall admit all libcr-
ties consistent with the mOnarchical priucple,
and the Minister OF Justice has already clearly
demonstrated In another assembly the fact that
constitutional regime is that which is the best
adapted to such progress All the provisions OF the
and the constitution ought not to contain any
omissions or uncertainty which. at any moment
could lead the empire to COUP Tetat or u republic.
/ would have the present measure rs consise as
possible, and reduced to the smallest number OF
articles. / think that In some details the Crown
and the Senate were losing too much OF their prero
gaivcs, but shall reserve that development or my
fdea until the moment when the amendments shall
come under discussion. We must not leave To
chance or to any violent impulse OF q legislature the
power Of suddenly adapting republican views to the
monarcn,cal princp,e. e Only recently many loyal
plebiscite, but by the Glamour Of the Opposition we
have been now all united In the same vote, and will
certainly support 1t. tApplause)
ViscOunt De LA GUERONNIERE said-The task
which we have before US ls not only to remake the
constitution, but to found 1t firmly. The Senate In
which cd tN
II by the country, ana Is leaviny rs glorious
nas aea IN 1as Senat winch n
resistance and immOblty would nave been
rreeoncilable with perIectibie constitutions; an i'm
t. your duty and to the real interests Of country
In France reforms have almost always been the
rts nrs ,sSe OF but the
always commenced by liberty to end iu reaction.
We are now witnessing new spectacle which
Is honor to the country and to the sovereign.
(Lear. hear.) The government having made itself
lperal Aberty has become governmental and conser.
vative; 1t has ceased to be revolutionary. lAp-
the primary condition OF the Parliamentary re-
0fn A single one becomes inevitably IN.
blles without d couDtcrpoise have constant
tendency to exaggerate their power and sad
and memorable examples OF that truth are furnished
by the Long Parliament and by the Convention.
Therefore ChamDer Of Peers voting laws like the
Legislative Body and shielding tue Crown from the
excuses OF the legislative power Is an imperious
necessity which no one. viii contest. Will the
Senate have sufficient authority to form that co9n-
terp0ise9 will reserve what have to say reia.
tive to the mode OF recruiting tnat body until the
discussion oil article twenty four. An hereditary
Chamber is contrary to public morals and incom-
patible with the principles OF l7s9 Fren ch society
adnnts Of an arstocracy, because there VIII always
be- In spite OF ALL superior men; but
their eminence must be due to merit in.
tellgence or long SERVICES. AS to making
the hazard OF birth title to the highest OF digniies
that is privilege and an Inequality which no one
Will accept. tHear, hear With respect to the ques-
Son OF Ministerial responsibility it has no need OF
demonstration; 1t exists. Ii is guarantee Tor the
country and safeguard for the Crown. The En-.
p ror Is less attacked, and the Ministers more
so. Mpplause.) But 90 they complain?
NJ ENILE OLLIvIER-Ceriainy not.
Visc0unt DE LA GUERoNNIERE-They have thus the
honor to be the Ggis Of the Crown, and that crcm-
stance does not seem 10 righten either the present
ministers those who aspire TO Office. (Iaugiter)
Gentlemen. the SendtLs COnSutttt,n, which we are
now discussing, gives the constituent power to the
nation. Several doctrines have been put forward on
the subject. First OF ALL that which would confer that
faculty ON the Legislative body alOne then the one
wbch would divide IL between the Lower Chamber
0hu tDe senate. The government docs not accept