The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-31
Meeting Of the TWO Houses
in Congress.
PARIS AND VERSAILLES.
Details Regarding the Deliberations at WedneS-
days Cabinet Council.
SKETCH OF THE PRESIDENT.
IBY CABLE TO THE HERALD

PARIS, Jan. 81, 1879.
Paris has had day such as it has not
seen for many moaths-one of those days
in which the great current of humanity
moving to and fro onthe boulevards gathers
about, drifts here and there, and stays for
time at one point and at another and
another. All the revolutions begin with
these groups on the boulevards, excited
with sharp discussion or stirred by
passion. But this time it was
not so serious There was at one
moment sentiment Of danger, as the panic
on the Bourse sufficiently indicates. Alto
gether, however. the day has been wonder
fully calm for day filled with events so
important. The Marshal has resigned, the
houses have met in convention and chosen
NJ. Jules Grdvy as his successor by an
almost unanimous vote, and in all there
has not been sound Of even parliamentary
tumult, save on the one proposition in the
Convention which cast some doubt on the
validity Of the resignation without its formal
acceptance. Not for one moment would
the House permit it to be thought that any
dispute could be raised in favor of forcibly
retaining the Marshal in office; and the
general sentiment is one of satisfaction that
he is out, and that there is now reasonable
hope that we have reached the end of the
chronic collisions between the Legislature
and a difficult President. The concourse
OF the general public at Versailles was not
very great, The excitement did not COM
pare with that of May "a, 1873, when Presi-
dent Theirs resigned. There is no disturb
ance anywhere.
HOW IMAGINATION WENT otT.
The story of yesterday is part of French
history that is worthy of detailed narration. .
President MacMahon left the PALMS DIZZY
see ut noon for Versailles to preside
ut Cabinet Council. 1t was we'll known
that he had made up his mind to
resign, because he had positively expressed
his intention at the Cabinet Council on /.
Wednesday and had stated the fact to
many of his friends. AS soon as the Coun-
Gil had assembled yesterday the Marshal
handed to NJ Drfaure his letter of resig-
nation, the language Of which is better I'M
derstood now that the dramatic incidents
OF Tuesdays Cabinet meeting are known.
The following is the text of the letter.
At the opening of this session of the
Chambers the Ministry presented to you q
programme which. while affordng satisfac-
ton to public opinion, appeared to the
Cabinet such as might be voted without
danger to the security or good administra-
ton OF the county. Putting aside all per-
sonal views, had given the programme my
appreciation, for was sacrificing no princi-
pies TO which conscience commanded mo To
remain faithful. To-day the Ministry,
thinking to respond to the opinion of the
majority of the two chambers, proposes to
me, in regard to high military COM
mands, some general measures which
consider contrary to tho inter-
ests of the army, and, consequently,
to those of the country. l cannot subscribe
to them. Any other Ministry taken from
the majority would impose upon me the
same conditions. consider myself, there
fore, bound to shorten the duration of the
mandate which the National Assembly con-
fided to me, and therefore tender my resig-
nation. In quitting power have the con-
ISOLATION of thinking that during the fifty
three years I devoted to the service of my
country, either as soldier or citizen, / have
never been guided by sentiments other than
honor and duty and absolute devotion to
my country. lrequcst you to communicate
my decision to tho Chambers.
MCMAHON,
Duke of Magenta.
Marshal AfacMahon asked the Ministers
to countersign his letter of resignation, but
they declined, declaring the letter q merely
personal act.
NETTING OF THE CONGRESS-.
Meanwhile all branches of, the Left had
held caucus, at which M. Gambotta
proposed M. Jules Grevy for President of
the Republic, which was unanimously
This was equivalent to M.
Crews election. The caucus adjourned