COLONIES. FRENCH INDIA. Count Pierre PANON DESBASSAYNS DE RI - Lot 667

COLONIES. FRENCH INDIA. Count Pierre PANON DESBASSAYNS DE RICHEMONT (Paris 1833–1912) Archaeologist, Deputy for the French Settlements in India from 1876 to 1882, Senator. He came from a wealthy family of slave-owning planters on Bourbon Island. His father was a colonial administrator—Autograph letter signed “Count DESBASSAYNS DE RICHEMONT, Deputy for French India, to a newspaper editor, Versailles, June 21, 1874,” in which he defends colonial representation in the National Assembly. 4 pages in-4° on 2 separate sheets: “Dear Editor. I have already seen, on several occasions, in the newspaper you edit—whose services and talents I do not intend to question—very sharp attacks against the principle of colonial representation in the National Assembly. Out of respect for freedom of opinion, I have so far refrained from taking part in a debate in which the final word rests solely with the Assembly. But I cannot let the passage I found this morning in your latest issue go unmentioned… I am, Sir, one of the members of that delegation which you attacked with such vehemence, and while my monarchist views—which are easily contested in the footnotes—set me apart from my colleagues from overseas, I cannot accept, on behalf of any party, certain assertions made by the Colonial Representation in which respect for the facts is all too often sacrificed to the colorfulness of the language… I maintain that the Colonies are as legitimately represented in the current Parliament as any part of French territory. But what will become of this in the future? At a time when the expansion of our distant trade relations and the outward expansion of our people are the only means, by broadening our sphere of action, to meet the needs of our national life, will this great and patriotic Assembly wish to expel from the country’s councils the representatives of those parts of French territory most naturally called upon to help solve these great problems? For my part, I refuse to believe it. What I can say, in any case, as of now, is that the issue has been strangely distorted in the press, and that when the Assembly sees it laid before it in all its scope and with all its gravity, it will decide— I am convinced of this, without regard to any individual, and solely based on the powerful interests it safeguards and which are at stake here. I ask you, Mr. Editor, to please include this letter in your next issue…’