THE WEEK ABROAD.
Faawcx.—The new bill, investing the Emperor with the power of creating niajorats up to the limit of a certain sum to be inscribed in the National Debt, has not yet reached the Legislative Body. It is still being tinkered in the Council of State, and it is said meets with opposition even in that obedient body. The feeling of the Legisla- ture is reported as decidedly hostile, but some compromise is almost sure to be effected. The debate in the Legislative Body on the Address has lasted throughout the week, the principal topics being liberty and the Roman question. The Marquis de Pierre, M. Picard, and M. Jules Fevre were the principal speakers in opposition. M. de Pierre attacked the s-egime maintained to coerce the press, arguing that one Minister ought not to have the power of silencing all France, that the warnings "apparently so innocent, were really attacks on property, that nobody in 'France except the legislators could utter the least complaint, and that in his opinion the France of 1789 was 'humiliated!' He deprecated expeditions to Italy, Mexico, Syria, and China, while Africa offered them a legitimate field for their exuberant activity. M. Picard, who followed, declared •that the Government, in placing the press under the Executive, showed that it distrusted the Judges, a remark which produced a stormy wrangle between himself and the President. M. Jules Fevre also commenced with a squabble as to whether he had a right to call the Address official, but it last gave way and delivered a brilliant speech, in which he argued that the Government was "revolutionary, for it denied the principles of 1789, or rather exalted them to heaven in order to dispense with them on earth ;" that "in France there was only one journalist, and that the Emperor ;" that the whole press of France consisted of writers "condemned to be docile, under pain of death, to inspirations from high quarters." The Govern- ment, he added, controlled the elections, interdicted committees in the provinces, ordered all public functionaries to support their candidate, and hunted individuals with spies, himself among the rest, "SO long as this regime wasmaintained, the Government must renounce the honour of governing a free people!' -On the list instant M. Fevre delivered an emphatic address urging the evacuation of Rome. He believed France was attempt- ing an impossible task, to reconcile principles absolutely irreconcile- able. -She had recognized Italy, but held her by the throat, and stopped the circulation of blood through her veins. "What. had Italy gained if Frenchmen had only expelled the stranger to occupy the place themselves ?" Religion could not be made a pretext for supporting absolute power, the occupation of Rome was an injury to the national life, and civilization should now offer her non possums, and proclaim that France could not permit that freedom should be sacrificed to despotism. The opposition to these sentiments was very marked, and the debate has still to proceed. M. Billault replied on Wednesday, declaring that to quit Rome would be to incur hazards which might trouble the world far and wide, while to countenance reaction would be to stultify France. He read a letter from the Emperor, of the 12th of July, 1861, affirm- ing that it was not for him to lay pressure on a free people, and though he (M. Billault) admitted that the occupation of Rome was a 'violation of right, still the Government of France was condemned to that act by overwhelming considerations. It had however demanded that the Romans, without being given over to others, should be given to themselves, and their municipal rights secured. The non p0881011163 and the idea that the temporal power was a dogma were inadmissible, but events must wait for time and Providence. The "demonstrations" in Paris are said to have ceased, but they were evidently serious. On Monday, the 10th inst., M. Billanit stated in the Legislative Body that programmes of Government had been seized, which dispensed with the Empire and the Emperor, and ar- ranged that the State "should henceforth inherit the property of deceased citizens,"—probably an exaggeration of the well-known ng Red plan for imposing an enormous legacy duty. On the following day M. Thouveuel informed the Diplomatic Body that evil disposed persons were ready to take advantage of every circumstance, that secret societies existed, but that there was no reason for disquietude, —an unusual and not very dignified assurance.
The report of M. Fould to the Emperor upon the conversion of the per cents is analyzed in another column.
The story of the gift of a necklace to the Empress appears in the Mon iteur de rdreae. The necklace was one of grey pearls found in the Summer Palace, and presented by General Montauban to the Empress. Parisian scandal has it that the General was unaware of the value of his gift, and is inconsolable at finding that he has given away some 80,000/., or double the value of the majorat the 'Emperor has proposed to create for him.
AAattics..—We have important news from America by telegraph, down to the 1st of March. Mr. Jefferson Davis had delivered his Message to Congress, which contains some remarkable sentences: "Since my last -Message," lie says, "to the Provisional Congre.ss events have demonstrated that the Confederate Government has attempted more than it has the power to achieve. lience, in an effort to protect by arms the whole Confederate territery, both sea- board and inland, we have been so exposed as recently 'to encounter serious disasters. The Confederacy when formed was destitute of men to carry on war on so gigantic a scale. It has done all that human power and foresight could do to make up for this deficiency.", He attributes the serious disasters of the Confederates,and the "deeply humiliating" loss of Roanoke to the system of short-time enlistments, which rendered it difficult to afford an accurate statement of the army, but which is now substantially at an end. The soldiers generally are re-enlisting, and the Government has at its disposal 400 regiments, a due proportion of cavalry, and such a navy that "we may confidently rely on contesting the vaunted control of the enemy over our waters.' The The Government expenditure for the year has been 36,000,000l.,—" a sum less than the value of one year's cotton crop." The general drift of the speech, as reported, seems to imply a conviction that in occupying all the Border States the South had attempted too much. The Raleigh. Register says the South is gloomy, and a proposal to fight to the last man and the last dollar, introduced into the Con- federate Congress, has been "referred." The occupation of Nashville, previously reported, is confirmed, and General Buel is reported to have surrounded the Confederate force at Mumfreesboro (Tennessee), but the latter report seems doubtful. General Johnston ought to have had with him too large a force to make such a movement possible. Rumours were current in New York that the army of the Potomac had commenced its forward march, as the despatch of military news from Washington had been forbidden, and General Banks had crossed the Potomac to Harper's Ferry, and had occupied the country on both sides of the Shenan- doah. An advance towards Richmond would thus appear to be im- iniuent, and the next mail or two may bring intelligence before which all Western details will appear insignificant. The force from Port Royal also appears to have advanced, and now holds the com- munication between Pulaski and Savannah.
Pausars..-.--The Prussian Chambers have been dissolved. The new Parliament, it will be remembered, elected by men who were afraid of increased taxation, was very liberal, so liberal that the King, after his coronation, personally rebuked the electors. The members did not, however, propose radical measures, but confined themselves to a de- mand that the Government should submit the budget to them item by item. The Ministry. refused, and urged delay, alleging that the state of Europe rendered such a measure inexpedient. The majority declined the compromise, and M. Hagen introduced a resolution binding the Government to carry out their will. This resolution was passed by a vote of 171 to 143, and the Ministry on the 8th March consequently resigned. The King, it is said, was convinced that Parliament was factious, and did not represent the voice of the country. He therefore, after some hesitation, declined to call a new Ministry, but on the 11th of March dissolved Parliament. The dis- solution is attributed by M. Von der Heydt, when announcing the Nines resolution, to the want of confidence implied •in the vote of the Chamber, which dispersed, shouting "God Save the King!" It appears to be believed in well informed quarters that the King once convinced that the country wishes to be governed by Parliament rather than himself, will yield; bet there are persons round him always urging a coup d'Etat. The new Parliament will be assembled at once.
Ausrata.—We have no political news from Austria of any im- portance.
GREECE.—The Greek Government has placed the coast of Argos under a strict blockade. According to the best accounts—which are all incoherent—the military, who have seized Nauplia and its neigh- bourhood, demand a new ring and a national government, and are supported in their prayer by the people. The Government has des- patched 2000 troops to subdue them, under a Bavarian general; but the troops themselves are distrusted, and it has been thought neces- sary to issue an unconditional amnesty to all soldiers—not officers— who lay down their arms. An account, very friendly to the Govern- ment, declares that the Bishop of Tripolitza blessed the insurgents, and there is a " certain uneasiness," even in Athens. This is dated 1st March, and is the latest account of the aspect of affairs. The royal general is acting from Argos, but appears afraid to attack.
Ies.u.—The new Premier, on 7th March, announced his pro- gramme, which differs little in seeming, but much in reality' from that of Rieasoli. He hoped to obtain Rome by moral and diplo- matic action, and in strict alliance with France; to observe economy, to keep his patronage clear of provincial distinctions, to reorganize the navy, and to complete the organization of the army without stint of means. He, moreover, promised "the prompt, immediate, and eal execution of the bills and resolutions already passed through Parliament respecting the national armament." This, it is said, im- plies a promise to call out 230 battalions of mobilized national guards under the orders of Garibaldi's officers. The speech was passively received, and then Ricasoli arose, and a scene occurred described on our Arst page. It is said that the provinces are greatly displeased at the nomination of Rattazzi, and 100 members of the old majority have passed in private meeting a vote of want of confi- dence in the new Administration. The "Proveclimento" Committees, or representatives of the Demo- cratic party, met in Genoa on the 9th instant. Garibaldi was present, and endeavoured evidently to moderate the proceedings, though he hoped the day would come when Italy should "hold out her hand to all enslaved nations." The representatives assembled constituted themselves the Italian Emancipation Society, and agreed to receive their eir ranks any association which agreed to (oar cardinal principles: 1. The carrying into effect the plebiscite of October 20,
1800 (proclaiming Italy one and indivisible wider the sceptre of 'Victor Emanuel). 2. Rome as the capital of Italy. 3. Kquality of political rights for all classes. 4. The concurrence of the national armament (anni eittadine) in promoting and ensuring the unity and freedom of the country. The result of the meeting is considered to prove that Garibaldi has come to an understanding with the King, but M. Rattazzi has warned the Committee that unless they can be more moderate the Government will be obliged to suppress them,—an arrangement probably dictated from Paris.
INDIA.—Government has withdrawn the license tax—which was only proposed, not levied—as there is an equilibrium between revenue and expenditure.
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