The American War crisis in Europe.
Napoleon's speech to the French Legislature.
The following is a translation of the speech delivered by his Majesty the Emperor Napoleon, on the opening of the legislative session of 1862, January 27: Gentlemen Senators Gentlemen Deputies:
The year which has just passed, despite certain anxieties, has seen peace consolidated. All the rumors purposely propagated on imaginary pretences have falled to the ground of themselves before the simple reality or facts.
My relations with foreign Powers give me the fullest satisfaction, and the visits of several sovereigns have contributed still more to strengthen our bonds of friendship. The King of Prussia, in coming to France, has been able to judge for himself of our desire to unit ourselves still closer with a government and with a people who are advancing with a firm and sure step towards progress.
I have recognized the kingdom of Italy with the firm intention of contributing, by sympathetic and disinterested conciliate two causes, the antagonism of which disturbs the public mind and conscience everywhere.
The civil war which desolutes America has seriously compromised commercial interests. Nevertheless, so long as the rights of neutrals are respected, we must conduct ourselves to the utterance of wishes that these dissensions may soon be terminated.
Our establishment in Cochin China has been consolidated by the valor of our soldiers and sailors. The Spaniards associated in our enterprise will find, I hope, in those countries, the reward of their courageous support. The Annamites make a feeble resistance to our power, and we should not be at war with any one, if, in Mexico, the proceedings of an unscrupulous Government had not obliged us to join Spain and England in protecting our fellow-country men, and in suppressing attempts against humanity and the rights of nations. Nothing can arise out of this conflict of a nature to shake confidence in the future.
Free from foreign cares, I have directed my attention more especially to the state of our finances. A candid statement (expose sincere) has placed the real state of affairs before you. I shall only say a few words on the subject.--The public expressed astonishment () at the sum of 963,000,000f. to which the floating debt has risen; but that debt, if it be henceforth checked, need give no cause for anxiety, for it had already attained that figure before 1848--a period when the revenues of France were far from approaching what they are at the present moment. Moreover, let first be deducted from this amount the 652,000,000f. which weighed upon the State at a period anterior to the empire; then the 78; 600,000f. repaid to the restes holders (rentiers) at the time of the conversion; then the 283,000,000f. and unsecured, caused in the last two budgets by distant expeditions, and which it might have been possible to secure by a loan.
It will be seen that, since the establishment of the empire — thanks, it is true, to the consolidations successively operated — the deficits (decouverts) have not increased in proportion to the wants for which it was necessary to provide, and to the advantages obtained during the last ten years. In fact, gentlemen, it would not be just to forget the increase of expenses caused by the annual interest of the loans contracted for two wars which have not been devoid of glory, the £622,000,000 employed by the treasury in great works of public unity, independently of the three milliard appropriated by companies in the completion of 6,553 kilometres of railways; the establishment of the network of telegraphic communication; the improvement of the condition of nearly all the servants of the State; the improvement of the soldier's welfare; the cuares of the army placed on a footing in keeping with the exigencies of peace, the dignity of France; the transformation of the fleet and of all our metoric for the artillery; the restoration of our callings for public worship, and of our public monuments.
All these outlays have given a beneficial impulse to public labor throughout the empire. Have we not seen cities re-embellished, companies enriched by the progress of agriculture, and our foreign commerce increase from two milliards six hundred millions to five milliards eight hundred millions? In short, by the sole increase of public prosperity the resources of the State have increased by many hundreds of millions.
This numeration shows us the full extent of the financial resources of France; and yet, whatever may have been the origin of the deficits — however legitimate may have been the expense.--It was prudent not to increase them. With this object in view I have proposed a radical means to the Senate, which confers upon the legislative body a higher control, and associates it closer with my policy. But this measure was not, a may easily be supposed, an expedient to lighten my responsibility. It was a spontaneous and serious reform, of a nature to force us to be economical. In renouncing the right to open supplementary and extraordinary credits in the interval between the sessions, it was nevertheless essential to reserve the power of providing for unforeseen necessities.
The system of transfers provides the means, and it has the advantage of limiting that power (faculle) to really urgent and indispensable wants. The strict application of this new system will assist us in placing our financial system on the soundest basin. I count upon your patriot sin and intelligence to second my efforts by your willing uppered.
The Budget will be presented to you immediately on the opening of the session. It is not without regret that I have decided to propose to you a re-adjustment of certain taxes, but by the progress of our revenue I am convinced the increased burden of taxation will only be temporary.
You will first have to turn your attention to the project of law relative to the conversion of the four-and-a-half per cents, the object of which is, by equitably conciliating the interests of the Treasury and those of its creditors, to prepare the consolidation of the debt.
Gentlemen, I have frankly stated to you the actual position of affairs. You are aware that whenever an opportunity of a useful reform has presented itself I have resolutely taken advantage of it. I shall not, nevertheless, maintain less intact the fundamental bases of the constitution which has already acquired for the country ten years of order and prosperity. I am aware that it is the fate of all men in power to see their nest intentions misrepresented, and their most praiseworthy acts distorted by party spirit; but those who raise this outcry are powerless when the confidence of the nation is possessed, and when nothing has been neglected to deserve it. This sentiment, which displays itself on every occasion, is my most precious reward, and is my greatest strength. Should unforeseen events occur, such as the dearness of provisions and scarcity of labor, the people may suffer, but in their justice they will not hold me responsible for their sufferings, because they are aware that all my thoughts, all my efforts, all my acts incessantly tend to improve their condition and increase the prosperity of France.
Let us not delude ourselves as to what we still have to accomplish, but at the same time let us congratulate ourselves at having traversed ten ears amid the quiet of satisfied populations and the union of the great bodies of the State.
Let us persevere in our task with energy, and let us put our trust in Providence, who has always given us visible proofs of His protection.
