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NEW FRENCH CONSTITUTION -- APRIL 26, 1815
London, April 26, Courier office, 2 o'clock -- "We have just received the Paris papers of Thursday last, which contain the new constitution, of which we can now only give a short account. The legislative power resides in the Emperor and two Chambers. The Chamber of Peers is hereditary and the Emperor names them. Their number is unlimited. The second Chamber is elected by the people, and is to consist of six hundred and twenty nine members -- none are to be under 25 years -- The president is appointed by the members but approved of by the Emperor. Members to be paid at the rate settled by the constituent assembly. It is to be renewed for every five years. The Emperor may prorogue, adjourn, or dissolve the House of Representatives. Sittings to be public. The electoral colleges maintained. Land tax and direct taxes to be voted only for a year, indirect may be for several years -- No levy of men for the army, nor any exchange of territory but by law. Taxes to be proposed by the Chamber of Representatives. Ministers to be responsible. Judges to be irremovable. Juries to be established. Right of petition is established -- freedom of worship -- inviolability of property. The last article says, that the French people declare that they do not mean to delegate the power of restoring the Bourbons, or any other prince of that family, even in case of the exclusion of the Imperial Dynasty." A Paris paper of April 30, says -- "We are assured that the Emperor will not set out to visit the frontier places of the north before the 2nd of May, and that he will not be absent more than 15 days." The following article is from the Journal de Paris, of April 29: -- "In the execution of the Imperial Decree of the 22nd inst. registers have been opened at Paris, this day (29 April) at the office of the secretary of the prefect, at the Hotel de Ville, in each of the twelve wards, in the offices of the clerks of the court's tribunals, and justices of the peace, and of the notaries, for the purpose of receiving the votes of the citizens, on the act in addition to the constitutions of the empire, dated the 22nd. The citizens are at liberty to give in their votes at either of these places, which will be kept open till the 7th May, from 9 a.m. till 6 p.m.
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-Napoleon Bonaparte
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