, 1875-02-20

stitution. 1t regulates the mode Of nomi-
nation, it fixes the duration of his func-
tons, and it prolongs this duration over
seven years. In fact, the WALTON Amend
ment would have the same result as the
L~abouIaye Amendment, with this excep-
tion-that it is not a Proclamation of the
Republic. 1t is ineligible, therefore,
that those who fear the adoption of this
Amendment should shrink from exposing
themselves to q surprise, and that they
should ask for the adjournment of the de-
bate until tomorrow. On their side, the
1artisans of the Amendment would vote
at once. At this moment N. de Venta-
Won assembled the Tribune, and, holding
the printed Regulations of the House in
his hand, demonstrated that the Reporter
of a Commission had the right of request
ing that an Amendment be referred to the
Commission. The President, in ~confor-
nifty with the Regulations, stated that the
WALTON Amendment should be referred
to the Commission, and the Assembly adj
journed.
SUNDAY, Jan. 81.
The National Assembly has adopted
the WALTON Amendment by a majority of
one. | have not yet met any one bold
enough to undertake to give logical expla-
nation Of the two votes of the Chamber in
the sittings of Friday andSaturday. On the
former day, by a considerable majority,
it rejected the LabouIaye proposition,
which resembled those of MN. Dufaure
and Casimir Perier, and commenced thus,
1.-THE Government of the Republic con-
%sists," &c. The WALTON proposition be-
gins, "phe President of the Republic is
elected, "&c. Why was the one mega
tived? Why was the other carried 2
These are questions which are natural
ly put, but they are not answered with
equal facility if there is any respect for To-
gle and good sense. In the first place, the
feeble majority of yesterday must not be
taken into consideration, for there is no
occasion to stop at this objection. The
Laboulaye project was supported only by
335 votes, and was defeated by $50, while
the WALTON Amendment was supported
by 353 and opposed by 352. What, how
ever, was the difference between the two
schemes? 1t was insignificant to calm
observers it was considerable 10 the
state of parties in the Assembly. The
Laboulaye proposition, these hair-spIit-
tiers insisted, proclaimed the Repub-
lie, for it said, "The Government of the
Republic consists" whereas the WALTON
proposition only fixed the functions and
title of the Chief of the Executive Pow
er. It is only the prolongation of the
Septennate, for it simply provides for the
mode of nominating the President. 1t
only comes into operation, moreover, in
1850, the Marshal having been appointed
President till that date Consequently
it does not from henceforth establish the
Republic, but it prevents any new form
of Government from being substituted for
the ex sting one till 1880. Nothing as
suredly is stranger than to see an Assem-
bly, which can create nothing for the pre-
sent create for the future. But in reali-
ty the WALTON scheme only had a MAORI
ty because it creates nothing immediate
and postpones the difficulty till 1880, when
it provides for a fresh Septennial term.
Nobody, however, should be deceived.
1t must be left to the French papers to
employ periphrases and euphemisms. For
a foreign reader things should be called by
their proper names, in order to throw a
little light on a situation Intentionally con-
fused and obscure. There are four clearly
defined Parties in the Acknowledgements
llcans. L~eeitimists. Bonapartists. and Or