France -- Civilization; France -- Politics and government; France -- Social life and customs -- 19th century
Sieyès comprehended this: he detects on the horizon the two specters
which, for ten years, have haunted all the governments of France, legal
anarchy and unstable despotism; he has found a magic formula with which
to exorcise these two phantoms; henceforth "power is to come from above
and confidence from below."[2119]--Consequently, the new constitutional
act withdraws from the nation the right to elect its deputies; it will
simply elect candidates to the deputation and through three degrees of
election, one above the other; thus, it is to take part in the choice
of its candidates only through "an illusory and metaphysical
participation."[2120] The right of the electors of the first degree is
wholly reduced to designating one-tenth among themselves; the right
of those of the second degree is also reduced to designating one-tenth
among themselves; the right of those of the third degree is finally
reduced to designating one-tenth of their number, about six thousand
candidates. On this list, the government itself, by right and by way of
increasing the number, inscribes its own high functionaries; evidently,
on such a long list, it will have no difficulty in finding men who,
as simple tools, will be devoted to it. Through another excess of
precaution, the government, on its sole authority, in the absence of any
list, alone names the first legislature. Last of all, it is careful to
attach handsome salaries to these legislative offices, 10,000 f., 15,000
f., and 30,000 f. a year; parties canvass with it for these places the
very first day, the future depositaries of legislative power being, to
begin with, solicitors of the antechamber.--To render their docility
complete, there is a dismemberment of this legislative power in
advance; it is divided among three bodies, born feeble and passive by
institution. Neither of these has any initiative; their deliberations
are confined to laws proposed by the government. Each possesses only a
fragment of function; the "Tribunat" discusses without passing laws, the
"Corps Législatif" decrees without discussion, the conservative"
Sénat" is to maintain this general paralysis. "What do you want?" said
Bonaparte to Lafayette.[2121] "Sieyès everywhere put nothing but ghosts,
the ghost of a legislative power, the ghost of a judiciary, the ghost
of a government. Something substantial had to be put in their place. Ma
foi, I put it there," in the executive power.
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