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Untitled Article
compellable only to serve as protectors of convoys , in the garrisoned towns , and generally so as to enable the government to avail itself of the full force and efficiency of the regular troops . From the spirit universally displayed , however , there is no doubt but that the national guards would , in case of invasion , volunteer
for active and unrestricted service . In the month of May , 1831 , there were enrolled in the national guards between two and three millions of men , in different stages of training , and mostly clothed and armed . By the new electoral law , notwithstanding the evident disinclination of the chambers materially to enlarge the privileges , or rather to concede to the just claims of the people ,
the presidents of the electoral colleges are no longer necessarily the creatures of the minister , but are to be chosen by the electors themselves . The electors are more numerous , that is , the right of voting is extended , so that , judging from a number of local returns compared , it would appear that the increase will be at least three quarters to one , or , in a case where the electors were a
thousand under the old Bourbons , and up to the period of the operation of the present law , they will be at least 1750 . Several of the returns actually show the proportion of increase to be as 1900 to 1000 , so that they will be the less easily intimidated or circumvented , and , above all , the provisions for insuring the integrity of the ballot ^ and for rendering that sacred , which had
heretofore , in many cases , been violated and betrayed , will enable the electors to act according to the real dictates of their consciences , without fear or control . Thus France has gained much , unquestionably , by the new electoral law , although yet imperfect , and notwithstanding an immense majority of Frenchmen , having property to lose , and rights to be defended , are yet unrepresented .
Whether , until there be a real representation of the sentiments of the great body of the people in France , other and more material improvements will take place in the jurisprudence of that country , remains to be seen . It was calculated by those who had opportunities for obtaining information , that though France contains
thirty-two millions of people , the constituency , or persons legally qualified to vote for members of the chamber , did not amount to more than two hundred thousand individuals , —a satire on representation , and an absurdity scarcely to be paralleled ; and yet there are above two millions of citizens who can be trusted with
arms in their hands , and with cannon attached to their battalions ! The leading objectionable features in the French jurisprudence appear to be the nomination on the part of the Crown of such a
vast number of judges ; the imperfect and limited expense of the jury system ; the retention of some barbarous and capital punishments , in direct opposition to the feelings and wishes of the people ; the unnecessary number of employe ' the harassing reference of a certain description of cases from one court and
Untitled Article
Notices of France . , 109
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1833, page 109, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2608/page/41/
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