The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-22

the most conspicuous membera in the important
sessions that followed. In 1850 he was ap-
poin ted member of the committee charged,
with NJ. Baroche, to consider the project for
electoral reform. After the crisis of 1851, which
preceded the coup d'etat, he re-entered the Par
liamentary Cabinet as a representative of the
ideas of the majority, but soon after retired
with his colleagues because of his inability to
support the measures of the President. So
highly was he esteemed by Napoleon that, not
withstanding their disagreement, some days
following his resignation he was decorated with
the Cross OF the Legion of Honor.
Upon the final establishment of the Second
Empire, NJ. Buffet withdrew from all participa-
ton in public affairs, and lived in retirement
until 1869, when he again appeared before the
public as a successful candidate for the Corps
Legislatif. He was elected as moderate libe-
raj, but so tempered his opposition to the En-
peror that, when the Cabinet crisis of December,
1862 terminated in the overthrow of the ire
sponsible ministry, he was at once fixed upon by
the Emperor and NJ. Olivier as a member of the
new ministry. But when portfolios were first
rendered him and Count Napoleon Daru, as
the recognized leaders of the Left Centre, they
declined, and it was not until after
the lapse of several days, and when the effort
of Olivier to form ministry was almost on the
January the Journal Oficiel announced the
completion of the new ministry and the appoint
ment and acceptance of NJ. Buffet to the De-
partment of Finance. Through all the stormy
period which followed, NJ. Buffet remained in
harmony with his colleagues until the announce
ment of the determination OF the Emperor for a
plebiScittnl on the question of liberalizing
the Constitution. The Left Centre demanded
that any appeal to the people, excepting
one relating exclusively to a question of dy-
nasty, should first be submitted to the Senate
ard Corps Legisatif for approval. Their
leaders were not opposed to the plebiscitarian
principle, but they regarded the previous ap-
proval of the chambers as essential to the sue
cess of the pure parliamentary system, on a true
democratic basis, and believed the course of the
Emperor would operate as a check to the prin-
ciple of responsible ministry which had just
been inaugurated, ostepsbly. under the leader
ship of M. Olivier. When, however, the
question was presented directly to the Corps
Legislatif, on the 5th of April,
the policy of the Emperor and the majority
of the Olivier MiEistry was sustained by vote
of 227 to 43. On April IL, NJ. Buffet withdrew
from the Ministry, to be followed in a few days
by Count Napoleon Daru the Minister of For
eign Affairs, and the specious attempt at a re-
sponsible parliamentary government was practi-
cally at an end. From that time forward to the
outbreak of the war with Prussia, the Olivier
administration was liberal in name alone.
During the exciting scenes of last summer NJ.
Buffet remained comparatively inactive, but he
once more emerges from obscurity to assume
leading position in the conduct of affairs.
Although he has supported both the Republic
and the Empire in turn, he is an Orleanist at
heart has always been a warm friend and faith
full adherent of NJ. Theirs, and may be expected
to exert all his influence in behalf of the resto-
ration of the House of Orleans to the throne.