The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-01-10


sions Of Austria, he led o large army into
Italy in May, 1850. lie commanded in
person at the battle of SolIerino, where
the Austrians were defeated, June "a,
1859, and in the next month concluded
the peace Of Villafranca. Among the re.
suits Of this war was the cession Of Nice
and Savoy to France by the King OF sar.
DINA, who had extended his own domin.
ions by the conquest Of Lombardy. 10
1861 he availed himself Of the opportu.
nifty presented by the breaking out Of the
civil war in the United States, 10 inter.
vene in Mexico, and fitted out against that
republic an expedition which landed
well appointed army under Gen. FoREY
in 1862. After several victories over the
Mexican Liberals, the French forces en-
tered tho city Of Mexico in June 1858.
NAPOLEON offered tho imperial crown OF
Mexico to MAMMALIAN, Of Austria, who
accepted the fatal gift and was supported
by a part of tho native population. This
country refused to acknowledge the Mex
lean Emperor, and intimated to NAPo.
LEON that European powers would not
be permitted to establish monarchles by
arms in North America. He accordingly
withdrew his army from Mexico about
the end of 1866, so the result Of the Mex.
lean enterprise was the reverse of glori-
Gus for France. 1t was well understood
that he Sympathised with the Blsvehoid-
ers in their war against the Union, at
least 80 far as they sought the disruption
Of the confederation.
Before the commencement OF our great
rebellion NAPOLEON was Justly regarded
Us the most adroit and most successful
sovereign in Europe, But his prestige was
greatly impaired by the event of 1868.
He remained neutral In the war between
Austria and Prussia, which war he prob
ably might have prevented; but III the
diplomatic contest which ensued between
France and Prussia he appears TO have
found more than q match in the genius Of
Count BISMARCK, who suddenly raised
Prussia to the rank Of first rate power
and united the Germans in Determined
attitude against the aggressiveness of
France. The French felt themselves hu.
inflated by the fact that so great changes
IN the map of Europe should have been
effected without their agency or
concurrence, and condemned the
policy by which France was iso.
lated and excluded from the hope OF
extension towards the Rhine. Alter the
battle Of sadowa, July 8, 1866, NAPo-
LEON offered himself as mediator be-
tween the bellgerent powers. The En-
peror OF Austria coded to him Venetia,
instead Of suIrenderipg it to the King OF
Italy, to whom it seemed naturally to be-
long. About the 10th Of December, 1906,
the French army was withdrawn finally
from Rome, and the POPE, finding him
self in u critical position, addressed to
NAPOLEON language which was far from
complimentary. NAPOLEON andBsMARcK
were involved in q dispute about Luxem'
burg, which the former purchased OF tho
King of Holland; but the Prussians occu.
pied strong fortress in that province,
which they refused to reliuquish. It was
generally believed that war was imminent
but the difficulty was settled by a Euro
pesn Convention which met in London in
May, 1867, and decided that neither
France nor Prussia should retain posses
sion Of Luxembourg.
The existing and warmly contested
elections OF May and June, 1869, showed
so great an increase Of votes against i'm
perial despotism that NAPoIEoN thought
itexpedient to mako large concessions to
the people and the legislative body. Ho
gave the latter tho right to elect its own
officers, to have partial control over the
expenditure OF the public money, the right
oiinterpolation and the privilege to share
with himself the power OF initiating laws,
He proclaimed q general amnesty for po'
litical oTenccsin August 1869, In Decem.
Der Of that year he appointed EMILE
OLIVIER, Prime Minister, and requested
him to form o cabinet. designate per-
sons" he said, "who will, associated with
yourself, form q homogeneous cabinet
faithfully representing the legislative ma
jority." This was regarded as the end Of
personal government in France, and the
beginning OF the restoration OF a cQnstitu'
tional regime. He addressed TO Prime
Minister OLIVIER, March 90, 1870, an
important letter, in which he says, u
think it opportune, under present circum.
stances, to adopt all the reforms re-
quircd by the constitutional government
OF the Empire in order to put an end to
the immoderate desire for change which
prevails in certain minds" he alter
wards issued an address and appeal to
the people, asking their votes in these
terms: DO the people approve the lib
ersl reforms which have been effected
in the constitution since 1860 by the
Emperor, with tho concurrence oil the
great legislative bodies Of the State, and
rntifY the ssnatns c9nsuItun Of April 20,