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Leader (1850-1860), 16th November 1850, Edition Town of 1, Page 795, Untitled Article

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      ¦ with the law of nations , but subsequently , under the command of Major-General Heilbronner and Baron la M otte , who had been driven out of Bronzell , again fired upon the federal troops . While this resistance to the resolutions of the Diet vras thus confirmed with blood , a Prussian messenger arrived on the 8 th in the Bavarian head-quarters with the intelligence that General Gebdren had received orders from Berlin to evacuate Fulda on the 9 th , at noon , and confine his occupation to the military roads . "

      The latest accounts from Hesse were that the Prussians had not only retreated from Fulda , but that they had likwise neglected taking a new position at Hunfeld , and that preparations were making to evacuate even Hersfeld , which is one of the principal points on the military road . The way to Cassel ¦ was thus thrown open to the Bavarians and Austrians , and it was even expected at Cassel that the capital too would be given up to the Prussians . The whole of Lower Hesse is thus left open to an invading army , ¦ while a treasury containing 30 , 000 , 000 of florins is almost unprotected at Cassel . So large a prize might well serve as an excuse for a bold and precipitate movement of the Federal troops .

      At the same date Austrian , troops continued to pass through Bavaria ; 800 men of the Wellington foot came to Nurnberg on the 8 th ; 1600 men of the same corps were announced for the evening of that day . It was expected that the "whole of the Voratlburg corps would have passed through Bavaria on the 12 th . The city of Bamberg was literaly crammed with Austrian troops . The prevailing rumour is , however , that the danger of a war is much less imminent than it was a few days ago .

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      THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE . The opening of the National Assembly took place on Monday morning . At an early hour the Pont de la Concorde and the other approaches to the Palace of the Assembly were crowded with loiterers , the greater part of whom were in blouses . They remained in the precincts of the Assembly during the day . At one o ' clock M . Dupin opened the sitting , which was commenced by reading the prods verbal of the 9 th of August , being the last day of the

      last session . The appel nominal was then proceeded to , and , 583 members having answered to their names , and M . Dupin having stated this fact , declared that the Assembly might now resume its labours . Nothing of any interest characterized the sitting beyond a demand of prosecution on behalf of the Procureur de la Republique against M . Charrin , a representative of the people , who lately killed M . DupoAt in a duel . The demand was referred to a special committee . The Assembly rose at a quarter to three .

      Previous to the opening of the Assembly , the Presse threw Paris into a state of the greatest excitement , by publishing what purported to be the message of the President of the Republic to the National Assembly , and signed in full—** Louis Napoleon Bonaparte . This important document was prefaced by a short article , without signature , calling the reader's attention to the message which followed it . Hundreds of persons , including many a representative , were taken in by this clever hoax ,

      which was nothing more nor less than a number of quotations from certain Socialist pamphlets of the President , respecting topics which he would probably speak of in the message . So groat a sensation did it excite , that the Government thought it right to have an affiche set up at the Bourse , declaring that the message in the Presse was completely apocryphal , and that that journal had been seized . Most people , especially those that were taken in , were very indignant . Everybody else thought it a good joke . __ _ ,

      . . . At two o ' clock on Tuesday the sitting of the National Assembly was opened , and proceeded to the vote by ballot for the nomination of the President of the Assembly . M . Dupin was elected by a majority of 288 . M . Dupin 383 M . Mathieu ( de la Dr 6 me ) . 121 M . Michel ( de Bonages ) 33 Sundry votes 37

      M . Dupin accordingly took possession of the Presidential chair . M . liaroche then ascended the tribune and read the message of the President , which congratulated the Assembly on the unanimity displayed by the army in securing order in the agitated provinces : — " On all sides the army has given its concurrence with that admirable devotedness peculiar to it , and everywhere the gendarmerie has accomplished its mission with a zeal worthy of all praise . Agitation has been calmed in the country districts by putting a restraint on the detestable propaganda which was exercised by the primary teachers . Several have been dismissed . I he schoolmasters are no lonjrcr the instruments of disorder .

      Although incessantly occupied with an urgent repression , the Government has adopted all that secmod to it proper to ameliorate the situation of the country . " In reference to the homo policy of the Government , the President promises to utilize convicts us much as possible in public works . Prison discipline

      has also been studied carefully , and the Government intends to demand the means of creating agricultural colonies for adult prisoners . The Message goes on to state that the financial affairs have been gradually advancing , owing to the judicious policy of the Government—that public works have been much attended to , particularly the railroads , from which great benefits must arise—that agriculture and commerce , thougb weighed down by peculiar circumstances , are improving , and that the labours of the executive will never be wanting to alleviate those classes from the sufferings to which they are exposed . As regards agriculture , the Government promises to bring before the Assembly measures tending to give development to the practice of irrigation , to call attention to the modes of drainage promoted in England ; measures will also be proposed relative to the use of artificial manures , the improved methods of cultivating and preparing flax , and various schemes calculated to x ^ rornote agricultural prosperitj' ' .

      "Upon the subject of public instruction and religious worship , great satisfaction is expressed at obtaining from the Holy See the creation of three colonial bishoprics , and the appointment of three new cardinals . The land forces are described as on a sound found ation . The entire force , which in . the month of June , 1849 , amounted to 451 , 000 men and 93 , 75 A horses , is no more at present than 39 G , 000 men and 87 , 400 horses , and will shortly be reduced to the limits prescribed in the budget , to which it will be confined if political circumstances permit .

      The marine is represented as upon a respectable footing , notwithstanding the reductions commanded by the budget . Foreigners have paid homage to the fine organization of the French fleet assembled at Cherbourg . But the maritime force is only composed of 125 ships , instead of 235 , which were in activity in 1848 . It employs 22 , 561 men , instead of 29 , 331 that year . This force , according to the

      President , ** suthces imperfectly protection of French interests throughout the globe / ' but no promise is held out of any increase in that department . As regards foreign affairs , he speaks in high terms of the " great success obtained in Italy . " The * 'turbulent demagogy , " by which the cause of liberty was compromised in Italy , has been put down , and the brave soldiers of France have had " the eminent honour of replacing Pius IX . on the throne of St . Peter . " After speaking with much approbation of the late policy of the Pope , he adds that the presence of the French troops is still required French

      in Rome , to maintain order and preserve influence . In other parts of the world , wherever French diplomacy has had to interfere , it has maintained the dignity of France—wherever her allies have wanted aid they have obtained it . In proof of this , he points to Turkey , Greece , and Spain . As regards the Danish question , ho expresses himself favourable to the claims of Denmark , but trusts that a peaceful solution of the differences will be effected . The foreign department he winds up by aiKrming that , " the position of France in Europe is honourable and worthy of her . Wherever her voice makes itself heard , she counsels peace , protects order and right , and everywhere her voice is listened to . "

      On the great question of the day he expresses himself very oracularly . He would consider as deeply criminal those who , through personal ambition , should compromise the stability guaranteed by the constitution . His own invariable rule has always been to do his duty and nothing else . A great number of the Councils General have expressed a desire for the revision of the constitution . For his own part he is ready to conform himself to whatever the people may require : — " The uncertainty of the future gives rise , I know , to many apprehensions by awakening many hopes . Let us all know how to sacrifice these hopes to our country , and i # » f . « s occudv ourselves alone with her interests . If ,

      during this session , you vote the revision of the constitution , a Constituent Assembly will be called to remodel our fundamental laws , and to determine the fate ( re'yler Ic sort ) of the Executive Power . If you do not vote the revision , the people in 1852 will solemny manifest the expression of its will . But , whatever may be the solutions of the future , let us understand one another , so that passion , surprize , or violence may never decide the fate of a great nation . Let us inspire the people with love of tranquillity by the calmness of our deliberations—let us inspire them with the religion of right ( la relirjion du droit ) by never ourselves departing from it—and then , believe it , the progress of political morality ( las mocura politiqiies ) will compensate for the danger of institutions created in times of mistrust and uncertainly . ' * What occuyues me above all—be persuaded of it—is , not to know who shall gnvoni Franco in 1852 , but to employ the time at my disposal in such a . manner that the transition , whatever it may bo , may take place without agitation or disturbance . " The most nobio and worthy aim of a lofty soul is , not to sock , when in poivrr , by what expedients to perpetuate it , but to watch without ceasing the mean * of consolidating ! for the advantage of all , ihe principles of authority and morality , which defy the passions of men and the instability of laws . "

      Untitled Article

      MB . COBDEN ON PEACE . A public meeting to promote the objects and advance the principles of the Peace Congress , was held at Wrexham , on Tuesday . The meeting was held in the Union-hall , and , although the price of admission was 6 d . to the body of the hall , and Is . to the platform , upwards of 2000 persons were present . Shortly after seven o ' clock the speakers entered the room , and were received with great cheering , and Mr .

      Cobden was hailed with three hearty rounds of applause . He was accompanied by Mrs . Cobden , who took her station on the platform , and evidently took great interest in the proceedings . The chair was taken by Mr . Townshend Mainwaring , ' "who briefly stated the object for which they were met . Mr . Sturge then gave an account of the joint mission of himself and Mr . Burritt to Schleswig-Holstein and Denmark , for the purpose of trying to put a stop to the war in the Duchies .

      " their return to England , they sought the influence of Lord Palmerston , in their humane and noble object ; and since he had left the continent a correspondence had taken place between himself , his friend Elihu Burritt , and the members of both governments . A letter had been written by the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Sclileswig-Holstein government to Elihu Burritt , and sent through him to the Danish government , with a distinct view that it should be considered official , and as the minister wished it should be made public , it stated that

      the Sclileswig-Holstein government did not hesitate to submit to arbitration the whole question at issue , to which the Danish government assented . In a subsequent letter , dated O « t . 5 , 1850 , it was proposed that eight intelligent and enlightened men should be appointed arbitrators by both governments , and in case they should not agree , that they should elect one umpire or more , whose decision should be final . This proposition was duly sent to Copenhagen , and the reply received to it gave an assurance that it should be taken into consideration . "

      He hoped that the friends of peace would gather courage from thi 3 to promote their principles by every legitimate mode , and would learn that where there is a disposition to preserve peace and concord there is no great difficulty in doing so . Mr . Richards , the secretary to the Peace Congress , next addressed the meeting on the horrors of war , and in ridicule of Sir Francis Head ' s attempt to frighten the country into an encrease of our warlike establishments .

      Mr . Cobden was received with much cheering . He said he had not come there to talk of peace as an abstraction . He came there as a practical man to deal not simply with the question of peace and war , but to treat of that which was hardly of less importance ' , namely , the question of the enormous burdensome standing armament which has become a question of the greatest moment to all governments if they wish

      to preserve their very existence in peace . In dealing with the political affairs of the country , he looked at it in the light of a practical politician , and as a member of Parliament dealing with finance , he would treat it solely on the principles of economy , and with a view to lighten the burdens which press bo heavily upon the people of this country from the unnecessary and ruinous taxation with which they are oppressed : —

      •* He had no doubt that the very question now occupying the mind of the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his retirement -was the danger impending over himself and the Government with respect to the financial affairs of the state if they were not prepared to remit an enormous amount of taxation . ( Cheers . ) There was a budget of nearly £ 50 , 000 , 000 to vote next session , and had it ever entered the minds of gentlemen present to analyze what it was composed of ? In the first place , we had to provide £ 28 , 000 , 000 , in round numbers , out of the taxation to meet the interest of the funded and floating debt , that debt of nearly £ 800 , 000 , 000

      having been almost every farthing contracted in former wars . ( Hear , hear . ) Deducting those £ 28 , 000 , 000 , there were left £ 22 , 000 , 000 , about £ 0 , 500 , 000 of which ( he still spoke in round nnmbers ) were alone required to carry on the civil government , including the expenses of the courts of law , of diplomacy , consular establishments , official salaries , and everything necessary to carry on the civil government . ( Hear , hear . ) After that , they had to vote about £ 15 , 500 , 000 ( he spoke of what was done last year ) for the expenses of the army , navy , and ordance j so that out of the £ 22 , 000 , 000 required of you to pay the current expenditure of the State , more than two-thirds

      were required for military expenses— - ( c / ceerj )—for these two-thirds taken from the taxation of the people were spent on red coats , blue jackets , and their appurtenances — ( cheers and laiu / hter )—and one-third covered all the other expenses . ( Hear , hear , ) He could not but think that he should deserve to be scouted if ho talked to the people of financial reform , if he advocated the principle of free trade , subjecting all classes to the rivalry of the foreigner , and declared that he wished to see the burdens of taxation reduced , and yet concealed from them tho

      fact that out of our current expenditure about two-thirds went to tho army , navy , and ordnance . ( Hear , hear . ) He therefore declared that if they wished any remission of the taxation which fell upon tho homes of the people of England and Wales they could only find it by reducing the tfreat military establishments , and diminishing tho money they paid to fishing men in time of peace . ( Chews . ) No doubt they would be met next session of Parliament with great clamours for a reduction of a great number of taxes ; but if we arc to pay our debts , we can-

      Untitled Article

      Nov . 16 , 1850 . j &be & £ && *?? 795

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 16, 1850, page 795, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1859/page/3/