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i November 6, 1852.] THE LEADER. 1057
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LETTERS FROM PARIS. [From our own Corres...
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CONTINENTAL NOTRS. A II I)-I? I.- K A I)...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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The Manchester Free-Trade Gathering. Man...
" I am Dot anxious that we should have other great movements for great objects . I myself have had so much of political agitation that nothing but the most imperative and overwhelming sense of public duty would induce me to connect myself with , anything further of the kind ; but I do believe that we owe it to posterity as to ourselves , that we should learn a lesson from this great movement which is about to terminate , and that we ought , if we can , during our generation , to make the course of our children , and of their children , easier in procuring such political
ameliorations and changes as the circumstances of the country may require . ( Cheers . ) The patriotism of our day does not consist in tHe destruction of monarchies or the change of dynasties . Our fathers wrested the institution of an annual Parliament from unwilling and despotic monarchs . Be it ours—and I speak to those who can do it if -we will it ( cheers )—be it ours to wrest a real House of Commons from a haughty nobility , and to secure the lasting greatness of this nation on the broad foundations of a free Parliament and a free people . ( Loud and enthusiastic cheering . )"
The other speakers were Mr . Bazley , Mr . Keogh , Mr . Cheetham , Lord Goderich , Mr . Milner Gibson , and Mr .-F . Berkeley . Mr . Keogh made a sensation when he exclaimed , with obvious allusions to Mr . Lucas and his doctrines , that the Irish members were charged with sympathizing with tyranny and despotism , tut he was there to declare that they sympathized with no tyranny abroad , and they obeyed no tyranny at home . ( Here the whole company rose , and the cheering and waving of handkerchiefs lasted for some time . ) Having long experienced , under the regime for which they were not answerable , crushing despotism themselves , they must be as bereft of mind as devoid of feeling , if they sympathized with any one that tyrannized over the bodies or the consciences of men . ( Great cheering . ) The meeting broke up about eleven o'clock .
I November 6, 1852.] The Leader. 1057
i November 6 , 1852 . ] THE LEADER . 1057
Letters From Paris. [From Our Own Corres...
LETTERS FROM PARIS . [ From our own Correspondent . ] Letter XLV . Paris , Tuesday , November 2 , 1852 . Events are hurrying on . The day after to-morrow the senate re-assembles for the purpose of decreeing the famous Senatds-Consulte , the object of Louis Bonaparte ' s ambition . It will positively be drawn up in the terms I stated in my last letter . All the questions raised on the subject of the Empire are now resolved . The convocation of the Electoral Colleges for the adoption of the Senatus- Consulte is fixed for the 21 st inst .,
and the Legislative Corps will meet on the 28 th to proceed to the general verification ( depouillement ) of the votes . The proclafllation of the Empire ( I need scarcely say that I am only giving you the best authenticated rumours ) will take place on the 2 nd of December ( immortal anniversary !) , and the coronation , if not postponed to the spring , on the 20 th . The marriage with the Princess Wasa was , I hear , but scarcely believe , decided on Monday last ( yesterday ) ; she was to abjure Protestantism , and to be " reconciled" to the Catholic faith by the hands of the Bishop of Brunn . The question of the succession is also decided . Once more , old Jerome , the formidable depositary of the family secrets , has carried the day in the face of an opposition at once numerous and violent . Jerdmo had
an interview with Louis Bonaparte , which resulted in the decision of the latter that the collateral succession should go to Jerome and the issue of his marriage with the Princess Catherine of Wurteniberg . This special provision is designed to prevent any ulterior claims on behalf of the children of the first marriage , who settled in the United States of America . To this effect the Senatus-Consulte , dated Florcal , An . XII ., will ho revived , according to which , in default of issuo of Louis Bonaparte , the imperial crown devolved upon the ' « suo of Jerome . Nevertheless , Louis Bonaparte has reserved to himself the right of choosing u successor in the diilurunt branches of tho imperial family . In < : onwquence of tlii . s decision , all the fracas of opposition
raised by certain t-enutors against the candidature . of Na poleon J ^ roine , tho boh , fulls flat . It is even aswrted that . Louis Bonaparte , hearing his cousin accused ° ' his factious tendencies , replied , " that such an iinpiiation was no obstacle to his claims , since in ' doing ' opposition ho was only playing bin part of Pretender . " U 1 " ' » ' thin , however , Louis Bonaparte is particularly H ' xiouh to £ <;< r j ([ () f i , ; H mosi , dear cousin , and , it is '" ported , law offered him tho viccroyHhip of Algeria . >> l > aruted thus by tho sea from his competitor , the ocj- »«] Mint of tli » tinone would have less to four . He "ows well enough , by his own experience , that when Nothing \ niii 11 u ! a () t " vi () icll ( . ( . utiinds between tho "' iHpinitor ami the crown , tho crinio is not long do-« ITtMl .
.. " avt ! 1 'eanon to believe that the question of reeon" 'itutiiifjr the constitution has boon also decided by Louis u »!> im > l < i . « [| , Wlll n () t do to change a constitution "y six inontliH / ' ho nays ; " modifications aro neresy , ~ -w , t nil bo done at once that circuinstunceH < louud . ' Therefore Bonapurlo in to ho seized of the
Dictatorship during the interval between the SenaMs-Conaulte and the proclamation of the Empire , for the purpose of making all the modifications in the constitution he may deem advisable . I have already acquainted you with the nature of the modifications proposed . The object is neither more nor less than the extinction of universal suffrage , which is to be replaced by a counterfeit . The people will cease to be electors . Only the Government functionaries and "ihe municipal councillors will retain their electoral rights . Now , as
Bonaparte reserves to himself the right of dissolving these municipal councils , and of culling them from a triple list of candidates , you will readily understand how derisory this pretended right of suffrage will become . The rights and privileges of the legislative corps will also be restricted . The quasi-publicity of the sittings , as it exists at present , will be absolute , and no discussion allowed . The council of state will discuss , and the legislative corps proceed to vote , aye or no , without a word .
This will be the " liberty of the tribune , " according to the Empire . As to the liberty of the press , four journals will be authorized , and all the rest suppressed . In a word , all the rights and liberties of the French nation will be summed up in the right of paying taxes for the good pleasure of his Majesty , Emperor Bonaparte . In the meantime , the Imperial Guard is being organized . New regiments are in course of formation : among others , the regiment of " Guides de FEmpereur . "
More than 800 applications have been made to serve as officers in this regiment . Eight hundred applications , out of which forty are to be appointed ! The military and civil household are being constituted . All the appointments are already distributed . A herd of chamberlains and valets are waiting impatiently the moment to enter upon their functions . Their brilliant costume is designed . A list of other appointments is complete . The twelve marshals to be appointed will be created Dukes ; the generals of division , Counts ; and the generals of brigade , Barons .
The whole aimy , however , does not appear to be so well satisfied as these gentlemen . A military conspiracy was lately discovered at Fontainebleau ; two officers and two sous-orders * were secretly shot , without trial , in the night of the 29 th ult ., at Vincennes . This is the seventh or eighth conspiracy that has been smothered in hlood since December . Here , in truth , is the weak side of Bonaparte : he leans on the army , and on the army alone ; and it seems the army , as a whole , neither respects nor loves him . Therefore the Government sedulously contradicts all reports of military conspiracies . Faithful to its policy of misleading public opinion , it converts this affair at Fontaineblenu into an obscure civil plot .
A number of projects , financial and political , are attributed to our ruler , and all marked by a certain hardihood of design . The financial projects are said to consist in abolishing all the octrois ( town dues ) throughout France , amounting altogether to a total of thirty-two millions of francs ( 1 , 280 , 000 / . ) , not including Paris . The towns included in this sweeping measure would bo indemnified by the product of the tax on licences ( Vimpdt des patentes ) , which would be surrendered to their profit . As these licences produce as much as thirty-five millions of francs , ( 1 , 400 , 000 / . ) the loss to the State would be compensated by the re-establishment of the Salt-tax , in addition to a tax ; on paper , horses , domestic servants , and dogs , as had been in contemplation hist May .
Paris alone would not be comprised in this abolition of the octrois . But , as I told you in my last letter , tho octroi of the capital is to be extended to ' the line of the present fortifications , and the duties on certain articles considerably lowered . Bonaparte , I am informed , is to take advantage of tho Dictatorship of a few weeks , with which ho will bo invested , to assume tho responsibility of those various measures , in tho more regular execution of which he might have reason to apprehend at least tho hesitation of tho legislative corps .
As for the political projects which rumour lends to the forthcoming Dictatorship , they uv « quite of u dillerent character . Louis Bonapnrto thoroughly understands , wo aro told , tho impossibility of re-establishing tho Empire , without re . sloriny its yramhmr . IIo has well considered the vast contradiction them must be between declaring himself the successor of the Emperor , and submitting to the treaties of IH . LIi which humiliated Franco . He has concluded that < iu this ground , satisfaction is duo at onco to the army and to tho nation . Accordingly , he has just proposed an European Congress , for the revision of the said treaties . His pretensions are very modest : he demands certain modifications , but in case of their being refused , he will bo eon-1 ) 1 Tho sous-otticiorn in tho . Frunoh uriny uro what in our army would bo ciillod ' * non-coiuuiiseiuiiod" oflicurs .
tent to demand the erasure from the text of those treaties , of all such clauses as have been in effect infringed by changes that have occurred during the last thirtyseven years . The new and revised text would confirm and sanction the actual status quo , including tie absorption of Poland by Russia , the occupation of Cracow by Austria , the possession of Algeria by France , the reintegration of the Bonaparte family , in all its rights to the imperial crown . of France , - etc . etc . To induce Great Britain to enter into this new European league , Louis Bonaparte is now promising your Government ( such is the report ) to obtain from this European
Congress a limitation of the boundaries of the United States of America , * so that England may be henceforth guaranteed against any new annexation , which would inevitably tend to an inordinate and exorbitant expansion and increase of the maritime , commercial , and political power of the United States . Any new " annexation" would be consider ed as an infringement of the " balance of power , " and punished by the combined forces of the European Governments . I don't knowhow far England is likely to be cajoled by these seductive proposals : but I do know that , so far as French interests are concerned , such a policy would be a
deliberate treason on the part of Bonaparte : our natural and political interests Laving nothing to say against the development of the American Republic . Bonaparte anticipates another result from this European Congress . For the moment he conceals his designs under the mask of a profound deference to the will of the great European Powers ; but his real object in thus declaring himself ready to hold cheap the dignity of Trance , is to sound the Congress on the grand question of assuring the future tranquillity of Europe against the deluge of revolutionary ideas . The moment he has brought the Congress on to this ground , he will he its master .
In effect , the conclusions are easily deduced . France is the focus of revolutionary ideas in Europe . To insure the repose of the existing monarchies , either France must be dismembered , or governed bji a strong hand , that will be responsible to . ihe rest of Europe for its tranquillity . This stronghand already grasps the sceptre . But it must be sustained : and to sustain it , some satisfaction , some compensation must be given to the national spirit . Such will be the first thesis of Bonaparte . Passing then to the state of Europe in itself , he will point out the minor states as so many eventual foci of revolution : to wit , Belgium , Piedmont , Switzerland , Italy , and portions of Germany ; and he will conclude for the absorption of these minor States by the great Powers .
By these two paths , Bonaparte hopes to win the great Powers to his own purpose—the NEW mat of Europe ; in which France will resume the Frontiers of the Rhine . To compass this result , he is ready to concede Southern Germany to Austria , and Northern Germany to Prussia . As to Russia and England , he would give Constantinople to the one , and Egypt to the other—if lie had not his eye on both , and if the Mediterranean were not destined to become " French lake . " Such , I derive from no mean sources , is the secret purpose of this European Congress . M . JDrouin de llluys has for some weeks opened negotiations with the great Powers on the subject . We shall not have to wait long for the results .
1 he regime of compression still flourishes in France-It is even exaggerated to absurdity . 1 mentioned iu my last letter the official representation at the Theatre Francais ; whore the audience was composed solely of functionaries , and the piece was Corneille ' s Cinna , ov , la Clemenca d Auyusle . Jules Janin , in his critique for the Journal des Dcbats , took the liberty to review this play , and to remark the allusions which every party that vises to the surface of power in HuccesHiou borrows for its plumes ! For this horrible liceneo of pen , M . Berlin , director of the Dcbats , was summoned by the Censorship , and from the lips of M . Lutour Duinoulin , received a bald and harsh reprimand . S .
Letters From Paris. [From Our Own Corres...
* Woonlywi . Mli M . Honapiirlo or bin " intimate porHoncu friend" on i ; hin wide of tho water , may get this precious limitation raliliod by our brollum * aoroaa tho Atlantic . Wo trow not . —Jii > . Loader .
Continental Notrs. A Ii I)-I? I.- K A I)...
CONTINENTAL NOTRS . A II I ) -I ? I .- K A I ) U U I N I' A It I H . . Aiid-ki ' j-Ka i > rcic has been tho lion of Paris nineo lii . liberation and nrrivul in Unit , city to see Uh wondorn and to bo seen , liimtwll' tho fjroutosfc wonder . IUh noblo nnd lofty bearing , tho mingled firo and . serenity of liirt mioii , tho ( lark , ucon eye , tho finoly-cliiHolJod faro , tho lonely ^ ruruleur of tho expression , tho chivalrous and gallant air , all eonnpiro to inako the chief" a truo hero of romance ,-- a pure typo of Mio Caucus inn rnco ho dear to tho imagination of Mr . Disraeli . II in manners , too , aro nt once gentle and iirinoHiui " : graliludo towards liiH liberator coirten un-
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 6, 1852, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_06111852/page/5/
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