SPEECH OF THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON TO THE SENATE AND THE COUPS LEGISLATIF.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XII, Issue 734, 19 November 1859, Page 3

SPEECH OF THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON TO THE SENATE AND THE COUPS LEGISLATIF.

" Gentlemen, —On finding myself once more among you, who during my absence have surrounded the Empress and my son with so much devotion, I feel constrained, first of all, to thank you, and then to explain the reasons of my conduct. " When, after a prosperous campaign, the French and Sardinian armies arrived under the walls'of Verona, the struggle was inevitably about to change in its nature, as well in a military as in a political aspect. Obliged to attack in front the enemy, who was entrenched behind great fortresses, and protected on his flanks by the neutrality of the surrounding territory; and as I was about to begin the long and barren war of sieges I found myself in face of Europe in arms, ready either to dispute our successes or to aggravate our reverses. " Nevertheless, the difficulty of the "enterprise would not have shaken my resolution, nor checked the impulse of my army, if the means had not been out of proportion to the results to be expected. It was necessary to crush boldly the obstacles opposed by neutral territories, and then to accept a conflict on the Ehine as well as on the Adige. It was necessary to fortify ourselves openly with the aid of revolution. It was necessary to go on shedding precious blood, which had already flowed too freely, and at last risk that which a Sovereign should only stake for the independence of his country. "If I have stopped, it was neither through weariness nor exhaustion, nor as abandoning the noble cause which I desired to serve, hut because there was something which in my heart I deemed more precious—the interests of France. "■Do you think that it has not cost me something to rein in the ardour of my soldiers, who, flushed with victory, were eager to be lod forward ?

"Do you think it was nothing to mo openly, in the sight of Europe, to strike out of my programme the territory which extends from the Miucio to the Adriatic P

"Do you think it has cost me nothing to see noble illusions destroyed, and patriotic hopes dissipated in honest hearts P " In order to serve the independence of Italy I made war against the mind of Europe, and as soon as the destinies of my country might be endangered I concluded peace. " Is it to bo said, then, that our efforts and sacrifices have been thrown away (aient cU en pure perte) P No! As I have said in my address to my soldiers, we have a right to bo proud of this short campaign. In four combats and two battles we have vanquished a numerous army.which yields to none in bravery and in organisation. The King of Piedmont, formerly called the guardian of the Alps, has seen his country delivered from invasion and the frontier of his States advanced from the Ticino to the Mincio/ The idea of Italian nation-

ality has been admitted by those who combatted it most. All the Sovereigns of the Peninsula comprehend the imperious want of salutary reforms. " Thus, after having given a new proof of the military power of France, the peace concluded will he prolific of happy results. The future will every (lay reveal additional cause for the happiness of Italy, the influence of France, and the tranquility of Europe."