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ballot there appeared for M. Sauzet, 210; M. Odillon Barot, 131; M. Dufaune, 39; M. Gros Preville, 22; M. Dupin, 16; M. Berryer, 3: lost votes, 5.

As none of the candidates had obtained an absolute majority of votes, another ballot was hadwhen M. Sauzet obtained 227 votes, M. Dufaune, 184; thus giving M. Sauzet a majority of 43 This took place on the 12th of August. The four Vice-Presidents of the Chamber were also all supporters of the Soult-Guizot Ministry, which thus displayed considerable strength at the commencement of the Session. The Regency Bill proposed by Ministers contained the following articles :

"Article 1. The King's minority ceases at eighteen years accomplished.

"Article 2. At the moment of the King's death, if his successor be a minor, the Prince nearest the Throne, in the established order of succession, according to the Charter of 1830, if he be twentyone years of age, becomes invested with the Regency throughout the minority.

"Article 3. The full and entire exercise of the royal authority, in the name of the King, belongs to the Regent.

"Article 4. The 12th Article of the Charter, and all the legislative dispositions protecting the person and constitutional rights of the King, are applicable to the Regent.

Article 5. The Regent makes oath, in presence of the Chambers, to be faithful to the King of the French, to obey the Charter and the established laws of the kingdom, and to act in every other respect in the sole view of the inter

est, and happiness, and of the glory of the French people. Should the Chambers not be sitting, then the Regent is bound to convene them within three months.

"Article 6. The guardianship and tutorship of the young King belong to the Queen, or to the Princess his mother whilst unmarried; and in the event of the demise of the Queen, or Princess, or both, to the nearest female branch on the father's side not married."

This bill passed the Chamber of Deputies on the 20th of August. M. Chapuys de Montlaville moved as an amendment, "That the Regency be confided to the mother of the minor Sovereign." It was rejected by a considerable majority. Another amendment was moved by M. de Sade, as follows: "At the close of the present reign, should the Prince, called to the throne by the declaration of the 7th August, 1830, not have accomplished the eighteenth year of his age, and until he shall have reached that age, the eldest of his paternal uncles shall be invested with the Regency." This amendment was condemned by M. Thiers, who declared that it would compromise the monarchy of July. The amendment was rejected. M. Odillon Barrot's amendment, fixing the majority of the Regent at twentyfive years, was also rejected. Another amendment of M. de Tracy, limiting the rights of the Regent, was then dismissed, amidst impatient cries from the Conservatives

at the delays of the Opposition members. An amendment of M. Beaumont (de la Sauvre), proposing that the Regent should convoke the Chambers in twenty days, after the King's death, was likewise put to the vote, and rejected. Fi

nally, the whole bill was put to the vote, and it was carried by a majority of 216.

During the discussion on the amendment moved by M. de Sade, M. Thiers made a speech so strongly ministerial as to give the greatest offence to the Opposition generally; and he seems to have taken his own supporters completely by surprise, so as to give rise to the supposition that he meditated a coalition with M. Guizot, now that the death of the Duke of Orleans had put an end to all hopes he might have entertained of being invested with the office of Prime Minister, when ever that Prince should ascend the Throne. In the course of his address he spoke as follows:

"I see behind us a counter-revolution. I am not the dupe of its language. It tells us that it has been corrected. It pretends that it required the experience that the result of the Ordonnances of July taught. It declares itself liberal now, and that it leans on no foreign party for support. But counter revolution deceived the country once, and would do so again. It gave the Charter of 1815, promising to observe it; and when that Charter became serious and efficient, it violated it. It pretended to be patriotic, and called Massena the pet of victory; but it shot Marshal Ney. I would never, as I never was, be deceived by their promises that party must lean on the foreigner, because it has no support in the country, and because there are no hopes for its returning but by the same way it came in first. I am as much afraid of that party as I was in 1830; and therefore I now give my utmost support to the reigning dynasty. So much for the party

behind us; and now for what is before us. The Ultra-Liberals are incapable of either governing themselves, or governing the country. There is nothing but anarchy in them; and men incapable to come to any understanding as to the formation of a government. They are incapable of keeping order in a country, or of doing anything except repeating the revolutions of forty years ago, without the glory that then attended them. Such was that party in 1830, and such is it now. Honest men are obliged to separate themselves from those who attack the first principles of society. Beyond even the anarchists, there are, further still, men professing the most abominable principles. If the counter-revolution is behind us, here is an abyss before. Let us stand where we are, then, on the ground, where the Charter has placed us. Our labour should be to build, not to destroy."

A dreadful railway accident happened in the month of May this year on the line between Paris and Versailles, which is quite unparalleled in the history of railroad disasters. What is called the King's fete was celebrated at Versailles on Sunday, the 8th of May, by a display of waterworks and fireworks. After this was over a crowded train left Versailles for Paris, to which were attached two engines. Between Bellevue and Meudon the axle of the foremost engine broke, and it and the second engine were both overthrown, scattering their burning coals and ashes on the ground. A scene of horrible confusion now followed. The carriages were hurled over, and many of them took fire. The passengers had been locked in, so that many were prevented from

escaping; others, more fortunate, got out by means of their carriages being burst open by the concussion. The ill-fated travellers in the three first carriages were literally burnt to death, and most of the bodies were so reduced to a calcined state, that it was impossible to recognise them. Upwards of fifty persons are ascertained to have perished on this occasion amongst whom was Admiral d'Urville, a celebrated circumnavigator. The number of

bruised and wounded was also considerable.*

In the Chamber of Peers the Regency Bill, after an unimportant discussion and futile opposition was adopted by a najority of 163 to 14, and the Chambers were then prorogued until the 9th of January, 1843.

* For a more detailed account of this dreadful accident, see CHRONICLE for May.

CHAPTER XIII.

SPAIN. Opening of the Spanish Cortes-Speech of the Regent-Election of Presidents and Vice-Presidents-Discussion on the Address in the Senate-Discussion in the Chamber of Deputies-Insurrection at Barcelona-Combat between the Troops of the Garrison and the National Guard-Suspension of the sittings of Cortes-Arrival of Espartero at Barcelona-Negotiations on the part of the JuntaBombardment of the Town-Surrender by the Insurgents- Proclamation by General Van Halen-Execution of Carcana, Leader of the Insurgents-Fine levied upon the City. PORTUGAL.-Municipal Elections at Lisbon-Triumphant result for Ministers-Revolt at Oporto, and Declaration in favour of the Charter, by Senhor Costa Cabral and others-Revolt spreads to Lisbon-Ministers resignThe Court resolves to adopt the Charter-Public rejoicings-New Ministry formed, including Costa Cabral-Opening of the Portuguese Cortes-Royal Speech. PRUSSIA.-Ordinance by the King of Prussia, convening a General Assembly of Committees from the Provinces-Meeting of the Assembly-Deliberations of the Body. BAVARIA. Inauguration of the Valhalla, by the King of BavariaIts object and origin of the Name.

SPARTERO opened the Spanish Cortes on the 26th of December, 1841. The Queen was seated. on the Throne in the Chamber of the Senate; her sister on her left, and Espartero on her right, but a step lower than the Queen. The Minister of Foreign Affairs delivered the Speech to the Regent, after having kissed the hand of her Majesty. It was couched in the name of the Regent. After a complimentary address to the Cortes, he entered upon foreign affairs:

"I can acquaint you, with the utmost pleasure, that our relations with friendly powers continue to

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clusion of treaties with the South American States of Equador, Uruguay, and Chili. A treaty with Portugal on the navigation of the Tagus was in the course of negotiation

"England has given satisfaction for the disagreeable occurrence of Carthagena last May, and the French Government has seen with pain the violation of the territory of the Aldudes. The Government of Her Majesty, desiring to remove the causes which have always led to these deplorable conflicts, is negotiating a treaty with the King of the French, who has presented a project, met on our part by another on a different basis. The definitive settlement of this will be made known at the proper time."

He then turned to the state of Spain

"The revolt which broke out in the month of last October disturbed the public tranquility, and obliged the Government to proceed with activity and energy to crush it in its origin. The constitution, as well as the precious lives of our innocent Queen and her august sister, were menaced by an armed conspiracy. But Providence enabled loyal Spaniards to save those dear objects of our hopes. All the means at our disposal were employed to repress this horrible attempt, and the hand of justice chastised the principal delinquents; their criminal attempt failed against the firm attitude of the nation and the energy of the Government. The public vengeance once satisfied, the Government deemed that it might exercise clemency, and spare the lives of some of the rebels.

"The events of Barcelona, which sprang from an abuse of confidence,

obliged the Government to declare that rich and populous city in a state of siege. This measure, which had for its object to avoid the effusion of blood, produced neither violence nor punishments; so that these punishments might be executed according to the ordinary laws, when the legal situation of these was re-established. The tribunals are busy with the causes to be tried, as actively as the administration of justice requires.

"Since these events, peace has been restored throughout the whole monarchy by the triumph of the laws, and every cause of new disturbances has disappeared."

He next promised a variety of new measures. Roads and bridges were to be constructed; Government would proceed with the encouragement of agricultural banks; normal schools for the education of teachers had been established in several of the provinces; and education had already been extended to several parishes. The army still retained its organization. Of 50,000 men whom the Cortes authorized to be levied, more than 30,000 had been procured. New codes of justice were announced. The measures taken by Government had put a stop to Papal aggressions. The augmentation of the public funds and the arrangements of Ministers, had enabled them to fulfil their obligations to the public creditor with more punctuality than in former years. The sale of national property, consisting of the property of extinct ecclesiastical establishments, continued with activity. The necessary funds had been provided to pay the interest of the capitalization at home and abroad.

"The navy, which formerly was the glory and honour of the Span

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