, 1877-07-11
THE FRENCH CHAMBERS.
From the Times Of 1871 June.J

The months Propagation expired yesterday,
when both Chambers reassem5led.
In the Senate, the Duo de BrogIie assembled
the tribune and read the following Message: -
NM. les SenateurS,-By virtue of article
3 Of the Constitutional Law of the 25th of
February 1878, the President of the Republic
is invested with the right of dissolving the
Chamber of Deputies, With the concurrence of
The Senate. This serious step now appears to
Inc necessary. I ask you to give your assent
to it. Ny Ministers are deputed to explain to
you The reasons which actuate me. On the
10Th OF May l had to declare to the country
that disagreement existed between the Cham,
her of Deputies and myself. l showed that no
Ministry could maintain itself in that Chamber
without seeking the alliance and meeting the
conditions of the Radical Party. A Govern.
ment bound to such a necessity is no longer
master of lis own actions. Whatever its per-
sonal intentions, it is reduced to serving the
ends of those whose support it has accepted
and to paving the way for their accession. 1t
is this to which l would no longer lend myself.
When such want of accord exists between the
public powers, dissolution is the means prOvid-
ed by the Constitution itself for putting an end
to it. l should, however, have preferred the
d4te of it being delayed, in particular that
before separating the Chambers should have
been able to vote the Budget of 1878. The
months Propagation which has just elapsed
might have served to pacify mons minds and
restore to them the calmneSs necessary for the
discussion of affairs. This result has not been
obtained. Scarcely was the Propagation pro!
nOuncea when more than 800 Deputies protest.
ed in a Manifesto, with whose terms you are
acquainted, against the use I had made of my
constitutional right. That Manifesto has been
circulated wholesale. a large number of those
who signed it have supported it either by their
letters to their constituents or by speeches de-
livered at numerouSIy ATTENDED meetings. SOmes
even under the protection of Parliamentary
privilege, have made use of such expressions,
thatjustice has had to proceed against the news
papers which reproduced them. Such an agi-
tation could rot be prolonged without causing
profound trouble. Those indulging in it san.
not be surprised at my summoning them before
the country which they have themselves ad-
dressed. | cOnine myself, therefore, to asking
the Chamber of Deputies to vote some urgent
Bills which the patriotism of all parties will
surely not allow to be challenged. The disco
luton, then, promptly pronounced, will enable
the new Chamber to meet in time to insure the
sup plies of next year. | shall address myself
with confidence to the nation. France, like
me. desires to maintain intact the Institutions
which govern US. She desires as much as
I that these institutions should not be disfgur-
ed by The action of RadicaIism. She does not
desire that in 1SS0-the day when the Con-
stitutional Laws may be reviSed-everything
should be prepared beforehand for the dlsor'
ganization Of all the moral and material forces
of the country. Warned in time. guarding
against all misunderstanding and ambiguity,
France, I am sure, will do justice to my ln-
t%ention, and will choose for her representatives
those who will promise to second me. You
will feel the necessity of celebrating without
delay on the important resolution which Is
submitted to you"
This Message was received with applause
on the Right and with protests and Interrupt
tons on the Left NJ. ArsgO, being called to
order for exclsming, at the end of the last SEN
tence but two, " 1t is you who have disorga'
nized everything !" 1t was agreed to refer
the Message, in the usual course to a
TO be nominated on Monday.
AS for the sitting of the Chamber of Depu-
ties, it exceeded all apprehensions. It was
unquestionably the most heated, most violent,
most discouraging sitting that has been held
during the last seven years. It extended over
FIVE hours and a half, and during that long
time, amid an immense crowd, heaped up. as it
were, in every gallery. filling the passages,
staircases, and waiting.rooms, there was one
prolonged roar of vociferstions rebounding
from one side of the Chamber to the other.
The Minister of the Interior IN. de Fourtou)