The discussion of the Constitutional Laws in the French Assembly
began on Thursday, the immediate subject of debate being the Ventavon Proposition. This confirms Marshal Mac- Mahon's powers to 20th November, 1880, pledges the Assembly to create a Senate, authorises the Marshal-President to dissolve the Chamber, and bars the right of the two legislative bodies to
discuss the Constitution except on the Marshal's initiative. It is known that this proposal will be rejected, and the debate from the very first became general, the Monarchists of all shades using the argument that Monarchy alone could save the country from the Empire, while the Republicans retorted that the national sovereignty was indefeasible. It is believed that M. Thiers will speak, and if be does he may throw out some acceptable suggestion ; but this is not yet certain, and the more general belief is that the Assembly will fail to pass any Constitutional law, and will be called upon by the Marshal to dissolve, probably after voting a law to restrict the suffrage. The worst feature of the debate is that a proposal to read a despatch from Prince Bismarck to Count Arnim advocating the Republic caused a scene which made speaking nearly impossible.
