New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-02-11
CoNsTlTUTIoN-MAKING IN FRANCE.

AssEMBLY-A DECORoUs BEGINNING - SUISSE
QUENT STORMY DEBATES.
IFRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRiBuNEI
PARIS, Jan. 26-The Ventavon bill came up at last
for it's first reading the 2lst of January. This
an amended project proceeding from the old Con-
stitutional Commission for the Organization OF
rrgsiuent MacMahon's power" The debate then
was officially directed to the question OF consti-
tutiOnal laws for the future. In fact ana py
natural course of things it ran for two days,
latterly up to fever heat. into retrospective
discussion of the law of Nov 20. the origin OF the
Septennat. It's beginnings were dull and drowsy,
calm and commonplace; its endings were as stormy
as the alterations of fshwives. M. Carayon-La-
tour one of the best of the Legtimst orators first
set fire to the powder. Not content with eulogizing
the Secular Monarchy inspired perhaps by memo
ries of the day-the anniversary OF Louis AVL's
decapltatiOn-he lost his head, and launched out
into an attack upon the Revolution and its hor-
rors and upon the modern republic and
Republicans. Here, as is usual with decorative
historians Of his class he ignored the revolutionary
history of France previous to 1882 the constant rev.
dictionary spirit Of the mobiles till they ceased to be
spirited mobiles, and were reduced to corrupt cour-
tiers whilc the people reduced to misery under
Louis XIV. and Louis XIV. To this attack Jules
Fave next day made a reply. The great orator was
never mOTe elOQuClt III Ills DcSb uayS, hoi i"'oiJ
ever more imprudcnt 1t was eloquence of high
order but not polite debate. While Excess
sively irritating to Royalists and offering
momentarily agreeable stimulus to excited Re
publicans, it was not calculated to change the
convictions of one of his hearers or do otherwise
than repel the apparent tendency toward temporary
unity of action among moderate men OF tho TWO
CenteH. Furthermore, though the voice OF jules
Favre is as eloquent as ever, it is nothing more
The event of tho war; small fault indeed of his, the
Immediately following revelations OF technl-
cally criminal if not unpardonably immoral
circumstances of his private life. have broken
and well nigh destroyed his moral authority.
He is no longer desirable advocate in the trib-
une for any party. The only party likely to de-
rive much benefit from his brilliant speech, or,
indeed from the general quarrel in the House last
Friday, is that of the appeal to the People'-tbe
Bonapartists-to whom the Republicans have left
the profitable monopoly OF that taking title and war
cry.
No member Of this well-managed party, and no
prominent Republican leader-nOt Gambetta, the
shrewdest one aud one most capable of denying
himself the pleasures of hearing his own voice. nor
NJ Theirs, who was personally abused by Legitimist
oratoTs-ascended tho tribune. 1t Is true, indeed,
as already noted, that the debate DID not
turn upon tho Ventavon proposition itself,
but on that other law OF Nov. 30 slnce
claimed to be constituent, that created the
Septeanat with Marshal McMahon for it's head.
Opinions and statements brought out at this
point which, if not altogether novel, are full OF in
terest Logitimsts spoke for themselves and their
friends who voted with them for that law, without
whose united voices ~ Theirs could not have been
previously oyerthrown and this law passed. They
asserted in the most distinct and positive manner
chat they were induced and agreed to vote 1t solely
on the well-understood consideration that the Sep
tcERdt was only temporary bar TO repuD-
icanism, and not bar to the advent OF
monarchy any timo within those seven years
These assertions brought the Duke de Broglie, the
principal inventor aud promoter Of the Septenndt
to the tribune, where, with entire moderation OF
manner, and with a nearer approach to comprehen-
siye explicit statement than is customary with that
refined. scholastic politician, he said that the
meaning of this law was perfectly clear from the
outset; it meant the giving of seven years of
security TO France. This duration of it has been
ASSURED by repeated declarations. No one, under
any preteyt. can presume to abridge it. On this
point | left no room for doubt. The constitutional
character of the law of Nov. 20 was set forth with
the utmost sincerity"
The academical Duke, having given this fiat con-
tradiction to his former accompces, the duOed roy
alists of the Chambord faction. NJ. Raou Duval APP
peared against him. This VI. Duval is very disa-
greeable member, Although generally understood
10 be of Imperiast nclinatlOns, he does not belong
to the Bonapartist group. lie has singular fancy
for belonging to himself and France first Toler-
ably sure perhaps of his Rouen constit-
uency, he is sure enough of himself to say
so, and iDtimated long ago his readiness TO
consult the nation to the nations wishes IN the
shape of new general elections This Raoui Duval
rose and spoke briefly, as follows When the
Duke dc Broglie asserted, that at the time OF the
vote there was no possible uncertainty as 10 the
meaning of the law of Nov. 20, he forgot
that then asked him. from this tribune,
whether. YES or no, during the seven years
of the Marshaps power we should have the
right of making the monarchy; and that to this
question he gave no answer. It is because be did
not then respond with that clearness OF which, a
moment since, he Ihas made such parade -
Here the Orleanist President interrupted the
speaker advising him and the appauding house that
the calling in question Of the sincerity OF fellow
member and the lively ap 'roval OF TINS satlnc
call were not permissible. Then Raoul
DuyaI continued: Il was merely saying
that the explanations furnished by the President OF
the Ministerial Council Duke de Brogel On the Sd
of November 1873 may be at least qualified as want
ing in lueidity 1t is important that the Assembly
should hear the counterpart of the assertions of the
Duke de Broglie." 1t is needless to add that the
noisy applause following this perfectly justified and
decently expressed challenge was not interrupted
BY the sincere" silent Duke de Broglie.
Among the immediate consequences OF Jules
Fayre's speech on the Monarchsts was an animated
discourse by M. Bocher, to which that members po-
stion in the Right Center aud his personal relations
to the Orleanist Princes lend the airif not the dis