New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-12-31
THE LATE CRISIS IN FRANCE.

DEBATE ON DISSOLUTION OF THE ASSEMBLY
NJ GAMBETTA ON THE RIGHT TO PETITION
SPEECH OF NJ DUFAURE ON BEHALF OF THE
GOVERNMENT.
In the debate on the petitions for the disso-
luton Of the French Assembly, Dec II, NJ Gambctta
who the first to speak after the reading Of the
ports, observed that il the petitions which the
casion of the debate had been eight months buemodns
in the committee rooms, they bore upon question
which had been for some weeks fercely acitated
throughout the country. 1t was of the utmost import
TO discuss this question in exhaustive manner.
The speaker, whose presence Of mind did not once
desert him, hearing murmurs the Right, said
he quite understood the feelings with which the Assem-
II was incumbent on him. for many personal and pub
utmost moderation and he assured the House that he
would not depart from the resolution he made not to
allow himself 10 be hurried on by the neat OF passion or
political convictions NJ. GamOetta reminded the AS
sembly that in August, 1871, NJ schecher and many
other deputies asked it to hear petitions for dis
solution. The Radical Left also placed on the Bureau OF
liar origin OF the Assembly Its right to become Con-
stituent disputed.
more than wear NJ Gambetts and his colleagues OF the
Left vainy called for report upon it, He anxious
with any fairness be accused OF being tho handspring
Of the movement now agitating France His participa
ton in general demand for dissolution had he
sorry to say been for the propagation OF tho
grosesst errors and the foulest caumnes The Repub
represented partisans OF the most violent
measures and utterly reckless TO the means by which
TO accomplish the cad they desired.
NJ Gambetta well knew that IL was not in the Assem-
bly, alone that he and his friends were placed in false
their aspirations were distorted out of doors by certain
pubcss and writers who wanted TO prevent the French
position in which they were plunged in 1870 NJ. Gam
BETA and his party did not demand the dslocaon of the
They did not mediate criminal attack the consti-
tuted powers. No They only wanted an appeal to the
people, eector TO the sole sovereign that exists In
France-to the sovereign which has the right 70 mako
its voice heard and the power to enforce obedience
The petitions on Thish the assembly was called upon 70
w or n n5vdTS RPtn @ tt e%
pedient to picG holes grammar the spelling, and
The great question issue Did the educated and
uneducated classes alike JOIN IN the movement OF which
this the extent Of the mandate given TO the Assem-
what title the Assembly convokedf 1t behooved the
not only to deny constituent power TO that body,
give the true reasons for the movement. you,
gentlemen. because unfortunately know that we are
bly, is determined 10 grant itself patent OF Immortality
10 which to be feared its vitality will not be proper
However NJ. Gambetta would not dwell upon this
point But %hat ne %Uu1 upon WAS WAS
that in few weeks public opinion would nnd argu-
force NJ Gambetta denied that he wanted TO menace
the Assembly He only wanted TO call attention TO facts
rious to hear what those who now doubtingly shook
found themselves in presence Of formidable unani
nous manifestation of universal suffrage: So, :.
The Assembly returned In February 1871. TO de-
eide upon the conditions OF peace. [Murmurs on the
Right That certainly Il e opinion expressed ey
|
/ position Why they set up TO be imnutabe, omnipo-
tent and infalble. When they met at Bordeaux they
dispatches; and there not document in the Assem-
orr voted for the deputies elected in February.
Less than 100000 electors IL was universally con-
amounted to half the number that there are In France
since the Assembly left Bordeaux, more than wohlrds
of the electoral body had been consulted by means OF
partial elections. And with what result Why lo OUT
Of the 1874 deputies held political ideas absolutely
opposed those which were represented by the Con-
| servauves. ....,,.
having formally decided that constituent powers
vested in it, individual members must not fly in the
possible for him to discuss the question OF dissolution
without discussing the origin Of the Assembly and ascer
tanning whether the country had given II constituent
poWers OF the section which assumed that 1t did had
much as demanded constituent mandate before the
But NJ Grevy. sticking to his point insisted that since
the Assembly had olemny declared itself Constituent
he could suffer the speaker to into the question
To this Gambetta replied that such not the opinion
| on the Constituent prerogatye-" tumut on the
Royast benches cut short the quotation When silence
could allow the subject about which he and NJ Gam
beta differed TO be gone into. NJ Gambetta, on hearing
this declaration, affected surprise almost amounting
to stspor ,oa r.ooverad ha folded b,s arms On hi.
chest and looking steadily at the Rurals" he asked II
on held that tine Ge iSey Sse Se6 on w 59S
constituent power II they did then their pretensons
could keep inquiring into the nature OF the
| initial title Of ls7l' and OF saying, why, we never
thought of Investing with this tremendous preroga-
| tive, you OF asking US"
| Every electoral speech. and printed address limited
| the mandate to the issue Of peace The
Gdzeue de France OF February formally pronounced in
this sense and altogether denied 10 the Assembly the
| right to discuss constituent questions.
| N Gambetta then adverted TO the dangerous crisis
which the country IS lab0rlng. lie ccnJured
men parties 10 put end TO this precarious stu
atonby opening their eyes 10 the truth ana LOOKING az
They made mistake If they thought the dissolutionst
! movement an artificial one
| Nearly a million Of signatures had recently been al
fixed TO petitions Next week the number would De I'M
! mensey increased. Tweptyatbree years another
Assembly which was truly constituent, thought IL IT'S
4 dissolution. In TO interruption OF NJ Duya,
NJ ambetta did not think It useless 10 cite this prece
dent Ia the time of that Assembly there was the ut
mos respect profesed for public opinion state reasons
and potcal decency WIN NJ Dufaure III l545 defended
he dissolution with amount OF logic and
ability thai ne IN CahoeL'sJ VVui" n"V o''i H'P' '"
] rival a.. 49,. ..o,o..
great people Is not 10 be governed by chance MAORI
Ties and patry csnTiyances for the FUSION OF Centcr
France ~ such pass as pracucay 10 De wth
out "a Government Legislature Ihe great Doules OF
The state do balance, but neuraze each other III
~ a. sseuce of this dead lock that the country quietly
and calmly demands dissolution Al the outset al this
moYeuent the Conservatives affected TO Ignore IL. IL
"a 40 too iHsign ncant for them To nOuoe IT, nut noN
they start beck with fright for they are growing awe
10 It's ErO1jgDus force. - .,,...t,,a ~.
lfter Soc Message France through her collective or
mauifesfgl her confluence ~ NJ IlDeIS anu neI
gTauae Tor the services ne rendered ~ preserving S
republican, form Of Government; am yel Lbr IIesi'
dents policy contrary 10 tbe wishes Oh Lne i
and "a reuy 10 the peti ions the CONSERVATIVES cIeu
out ave want nghtng Government; and an OfnTe &c
jOur nOnr(" Just "a such iJhputau cOrds couu pnu
a srSat people deiermi'ieu 10 h'e anu "io'o !"
order, thrOuh freedom. A.. t,....tta md
Haa.f II mn In I IN