The Manchester Examiner. — 1848-06-03 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

IMPEACHMENT OF LOUIS BLANC.  NATIONAL ASSEMBLY.-WEDNESDAY.  The president took the chair at one o'clock. After discussing the late affair at Naples, and some matters connected with the admiralty, The president said: I have to make a very serious communication to the assembly, which admits of no delay. The procureur-general and the procureur of the tribune of the Seine, demand from the assembly authority to directproceedings against citizen Louis Blanc, and, if need be, to apply to him the provisions of the code of criminal instruction, and of the penal code. The following is the substance of the requisition: "We, the procureur-general of the Court of Appeal of the republic, considering the proceedings which have been instituted relative to the attempt of the 15th May, and the evidence taken, it appears that there are grave presumptions that citizen Louis Blanc took part in the invasion and occupation of the palace of the assembly. Considering, in fact, that citizen Louis Blanc, by his own confession, spoke twice to the persons who invaded the assembly, once from a window, and a second time from a chair in the hall of the Pas Perdus ;. that he was heard to say to toe crowd of rebels, I congratulate you in having reconquered the right of yourselves to carry your petition,' which was heard by representatives who have deposed to the words: and that he afterwards spoke from the tribune,' and was carried in triumph by the factious; . considering, without hearing other facts, that there is sufficient presumption at present that he rendered himself an accomplice in the attempt made against the national assembly we request that it may please the assembly to authorise the accusation of citizen Louis Blanc, and the application against him of the articles of the code of criminal instruction." .  M. le President: Is iii-e-Witny-Z,i;alO;i7:o the authorisation demanded?  Mr, Louis Blanc : I do not desire to defend myself as an individual, but as a representative of the people, for, in fact, what is demanded of you, is to commence an era of persecution, to inaugurate the epoch of the republic by the reign of terror which they reproach us with having desired to establish—we who commenced by abolishing the punishment of death. Behold, to-day, our recompense. Not a drop of blood has been shed for three months; not a single prosecution has been directed; but now hatred arouses  itself, and acts with violence. What! reproach me with having wished to violate this sacred assembly; I, who have said to the people, "Here is the temple of your proper sovereignty." Let him who can say to the contrary rise, that I may tell him to his face he lies. I await with impatience the examination of my conduct. It will then be seen whether I did not confer the previous evening with the authors of the manifestation, and use my endeavours to dissuade them,—and whether I did not tell them that such a manifestation would be highly dangerous not only to the interests of established order, but also to the interests of liberty. Yes, the interests of liberty; for I represented that the reactionists would make good use of the effect of that manifestation. (Murmurs.) A republican, I did not desire a manifestation fatal to the republic. (Hear.) Fatal! I ought to recta that expression; the republic is immortal, and I believe it can be as little affected by reaction as by an excess of brute force. Is it necessary at present that I should return to the 15th of May—a day for ever to be lamented. If I so speak, be assured it is not to avoid either imprisonment or death. Ido not fear it. LM. Louis Blanc here became very animated.] I do not fear death (said he), and in thus speaking I know what I say; for I undertake to say that before long the punishment of death will be restored. (Loud expressions of dissent.) M. le President: I beg of the assembly not to be carried away by these expressions. I shall call to order any one who forgets the dignity of his position. M. Louis Blanc (turning toward some members) : It has been asked by whom the punishment of death is to be re-established. God forbid that I should suppose it would be by the assembly, for it would risk its re-establishment against itself; but I do not hesitate to declare to the assembly, that the re -establishment of death will be for it a veritable suicide. No, the assembly will not do it; it will be done by others. But from the way we are now going on, it is likely we shall not stop till we have reached the bottom of that abyss. If you would protect the republic, set a good example. Why make an appeal to evil passions ? Ah ! rather pronounce words of conciliation. I almost tremble for my country, when I think of the bloody resentments which revolutions give rise to. History shows it. I have been accused of having had recourse to violence. I might have used it, had I felt disposed; but I never will aid in its use against an assembly emanating from the people —I who have been all my life struggling for the people. If I have anything to reproach myself with, it is with having remained so long in my place instead of speaking to that crowd, as by so doing 1 might possibly have prevented it from crossing the threshold of the assembly. At length I resolved to speak to the crowd; and see what has been made of my words—a pretext for calumny. And after all, what passed? Urged to speak in the name of the safety of the assembly, I ascended the bureau of the president, and demanded of him that my voice should be heard. The president gave me full authority to speak. I then addressed them. No one heard me utter one word that was not conciliatory. He who says to the contrary is a cowardly calumniator. What are, then, the accusations which they make against me? Calumnies; and among these calumnies that of having wished to violate the assembly; I, who respect universal suffrage so highly; I, who have spoken in favour of it all my life. This is what I wish to explain to you. Explain, recollect. Ido not justify myself; Ido not want to justify myself. It is not simply as a man, but for my character as a journalist and an author, that I give this explanation. (Hear, hear.) M. Etienne Arago, M. Demontry, and several other members spoke in favour of the honourable conduct of M. Louis Blanc on the 15th of May. The assembly here became much agitated, several voices demanding the order of the day. M. Cremieux demanded that the assembly should retire to their bureaux, in order that they might examine the question calmly, which was agreed to. The bureaux afterwards named a committee favourable to the impeachment.