and serious that has ever taken place in the Assembly. The question
raised by the legitimists was this: "By slriking .down the Union, and
thus reaching Count de Chambord himself, did the government intend
to deny the legitimists the right of restoring the monarchy?" In a
ccar, energetic, and, at times, eloquent speech, M. de Fourton declared
that such was the intention of the government. The septennate, he
said in substance, is above all parties, and we will no more allow the
legitimists thani the republicans and Bonapartists to question its prin-
ciple or its duration.
  The situation. being thus clearly stated, the votes were taken, first on
the "order of the day," proposed by the legitimists, which, excluding
from the debate the law of the 20th of November, 1873, (instituting the
septennate,) blamed the suspension of the Union. This was rejected
by an overwhelming majority of three hundred and seventy-nine votes.
Then was considered another "1 order of the day," introduced by
MI.
Paris, and accepted by the government, affirming the duration of Presi-
dent MacMahon's powers for seven years, but reserving constitutional
questions. All parties in the Assembly who did not acquiesce in the
sentiments expressed by M. de Fourtou touching the septennate, voted
against this order of the day, and the ministry was defeated by a ma-
jority of thirty votes. But betore the end of the sitting a proposition
of the " order of the day pure and simple," (laying the whole subject
on
the table,) was introduced and adopted. The real meaning of this whole
action was this, that the assembly opposed the government when it
opposed the legitimists, and blamed it when it set up the septennate as
irrevocable.
                MESSAGE OF PRESIDENT MACMAHON.
   After that memorable sitting, where the right had unwittingly served
 all the other parties. the miniisters felt bound to tender their resigna-
 tions, but the President refused to accept them, and sent to the Assembly
 a very plain message, in which, after declaring his powers irrevocable,
 he declared that he would use in their defense such means as the law had
 placed at his disposal. He reminded the deputies of the obligations
 which they had assumed to give him constitutional laws, adding that
 he would instruct his ministers to specify such as were necessary. This
 emphatic message plainly indicated that the President had no leanings
 in favor of the republic. A fortnight later the government openly de-
 clared against it in the discussion of the bill of M. Casimir Perier.
         RESIGNATION OF MESSRS. MAGNE AND DE FOUIRTOU.
   iMl~eauwhile a new modification of the ministry had taken place. M.
 Magne, defeated on a question concerning the budget, resigned on the
 15th of July, and M. de Fourtou, having vainly endeavored to have his
 colleagues select another Bonapartist in place of his retired colleague,
 resigned, in his turn, July 20, 1874. The two vacancies were filled by
 the appointment of Geueral de Chabaud-Latour, an avowed Orleanist,
 to the interior, and Matthieu Bodet, not belonging to any of the divi-
 sions of the assembly, but an Orleanist at heart, to the ministry of
 finance. Adding. these two names to that of the Duke Decazes, the
 Orleanist princes have now a large influence in the MacMahon govern-
 ment.
                  REJECTION OF 31. PERIER'S BILL.
   A few days after July 23, the bill introduced by M. Casimir Perier
 was discussed, the nrgency of which had been voted by the Assembly


425


FRANCE.