No. 235.
Mr. Washburne to Mr. Fish.

No. 982.]

Sir: The reactionists in the Assembly met with a serious check on Wednesday. The committee on constitutional laws had reported a provision fixing the age of twenty-five years for voters in municipal elections. If this proposition had been adopted by the Assembly, the same limit would have been applied to voters at all elections. Hence its great importance. When the question came up for discussion, Mr. Oscar de Lafayette, the grandson of General Lafayette, moved an amendment fixing the age at twenty-one years, and to the surprise, I think, of almost every one, this amendment was carried by a majority of thirteen votes. Most of the Bonapartists voted for the amendment, but Mr. Magne, the Bonapartist minister of the finances, voted against it. This vote gives hopes that the friends of universal suffrage have a majority even in this Assembly. It was remarked that the Prince de Joinville separated himself from his Orleanist friends, and voted for the amendment of Mr. de Lafayette.

I am, &c.,

E. B. WASHBURNE.