ions. On opening the session, he draws a list
from his pocket, which list, furnished by the government, contains the
names of one hundred of the heaviest taxpayers of the canton, from whom
the assembly must select its candidates. The lists lies spread out on
the table, and the electors advance in turn, spell the names, and try to
read it over. The president would not be very adroit and show but little
zeal did he not help them in reading it, and if he did not point out by
some sign, a tone of the voice, or even a direct word, what names
were agreeable to the government. Now, this government, which has five
hundred thousand bayonets at command, dislikes opposition: the electors
know it, and look twice before expressing any counter opinion; it is
very probable that most of the names suggested by the government are
found on their ballots; were only one-half of them there, these would
suffice; of the two candidates proposed for each place, if one is
acceptable this one will be elected; after making him a candidate the
government makes sure that he will become titular. The first act of
the electoral comedy is played, and it is not long before no trouble
whatever is taken to play it. After January, 1806, by virtue of a
decree which has passed himself, Napoleon is the only one[4120] who will
directly fill every vacancy in the municipal councils; from now on these
councils are to owe their existence wholly to him. The two qualities
which constitute them, and which, according to Sieyes, are derived from
two distinct sources, are now derived from only one source. Only the
Emperor can confer upon them both public confidence and legal power.

The second act of the comedy begins; this act is more complicated, and
comprises several scenes which end, some of them, in the appointment of
the arrondissement councils, and others in that of the council-general
of the department. We will take only the latter, the most
important;[4121] there are two, one following the other, and in
different places.--The first one[4122] is played in the cantonal
assembly above described; the president, who has just directed the
choice of municipal candidates, draws from his portfolio another list,
likewise furnished to him by the prefect, and on which six hundred names
of those who pay the heaviest taxes in the department are printed. It is
from among these six hundred that the cantonal assembly must elect ten
or twelve members who, with their fellows, chosen