The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-02-02 00:00:00

FRANCE.

THE CHAMBER OF PEERS, JAN. 20, 1825.

The Marquis de Cange made his report of the petition presented
by M. J. Lambert, Advocate of the King's Council, in the name
of the inhabitants of Martinico exiled to SenegaL He again
brought forward motives similar to those offered in the Chamber of
Deputies on the Bth January.
The Commission concluded with moving the order of the day.
The Chancellor then read a letter to the Chamber, which had
been tent him in the name of .1. Lambert, in which he rectified
the conclusions of the preceding petition, and confined himself to
begging the liberty of the exiles of the Senegal, reserving to film-
self the liberty of petitioning Government for favours for those who
may be able to account for their losses, and for the wives and
children of those who are dead.
Several Members observed, that the letter in question was a new
petition, on which the discussion ought to begin, and not on the
first, which was now withdrawn.
M. ('habrol de Cronsol, Minister of the Marine, mounted the
Tribune, and informed the Chamber that since the month of No.
vember last this question had been seriously considered, according
to the orders of the King in Council. It had been acknowledged
that the power of banishing from colonies those individuals whose
presence was dangerous has always been exercised by the Gover-
nors, and it was necessary to preserve them that power. The
order of 1817 had regulated the exercise of that power, which was
before unlimited, and list! created as many guarantees as the
extra-judicial measures required, by enacting that the Governor
should not pronounce sentence of banishment until he had delibe-
rated upon it with the principal functionaries ; but it is at the sante ,
time acknowledged that deportation to a detertnined place, the stir.
veillance of the chief police, and the punishments awarded
by the mei code, could rut in any case be applied by an
extra-judicial art ; that a judgment from a tribunal was in-
dispensable to inflict such punishments as exceeded the MCA-
*ores of precaution attributed to the superior authority. The
King consenting, in his goodness, that this interpretation of
the existing laws should from this time be applied to the petitioneve,
has in consequence sent orders to the Governor oh Senegal, that he
may grant passports to the exiles to go to any other place except
Marto:ten ; and with respect to their residence in France it cannot
be permitted, according to the terms of the order of the Con-
suls of 1110?, except by a permission from the Minister of Ma-
rine. The Minister gives with nliasure this information to the
Chamber. It would have been, said he, inconvenient to have com-
municated them in the public sitting of the other Chamber. in the
actual situation of the colonies. The report of what would have
been said in the tribune, might have been highly dangerous, and
have caused great agitation, and, perhaps, even excited some
horrible convulsion ; he therefore begged that the prom vertal
should be silent ; above all, what he had just confided to the
Chamber, and that they should pass to the order of the day on a
petition now without abject.
The Chancellor announced that he was abotst to put the order of
the order of the day to the vote.
The Due de Choiseul begged that the motive of the order of the
day should be given.
Comte Mole wished that the petition might be sent back to the
Minister of Marine.

The Marquis de lilarbois seconded the motion of the Due de
Choiseul, and said, that as the Noble Peer had governed the
colonies, he knew the strength of the prejudice. which reigeinl
there ; he feared the rigour used towards the petitioner,. flight
have the appearauce of precipitation ; nothieg coald have war-
ranted a deportation to the burning deserts of Senegal. Ile knew
as well as any person what such a punishment was, and that under
the pretext of the public safety, it is applied without judgment.
The interest which the Chamber would show in the fate of the
exiles, would only appear the expression of a sentiment which
seemed generally shared.
The Keeper of the Seals then mounted the tribune. He called
upon them to pass to the order of the day really and truly ? ‘Vliat
did the petitioners claim ? In their first petition they attacked •
regular order, the necessity. of which was acknowledged. The
Chamber ought not to grant its approbation to • petition in which
the legality of the proceedings at elartinico was doubted. There
was a movement prepared in the colony, which had coincided with
others in other parts of the western islands. The authorities were
bound to show fimmese, and use the powers which had been
confided to them by the King. The Chamber was not ignorant f
the precarious state of the colonies, and one imprudent word might
raise • commotion. With respect to the new conclusions of the
petitioners, he (the Keeper of the Seals) saw with satisfaction that
they were better admired in confining themselves to imploring the
clemency of the King ; the Chamber had heard that this clemency
had even forestalled their desires, so that all discussion would be
useless, besides, disgrace would no longer intervene in the exer-
cise of the :oyal authority. The Chamber would exceed its au-
thority, and set a dangerous example. The Minister concluded with
praying the Chamber to pass to the Order of the Day really and
truly.
Viscount I.aine, Minister of State, begged leave to address the
Chamber. (Signs of attention.) Ile ebset red, that It was true
that the claimants implored the King's clemency, but that their
expressions ought not to be taken in an official and legal sense ;
what they beg for above all is, that the cruel treatment that has
been it:ft:etc(' on them may cease; they begged it as a mattet of
right, but if they saw any difficulties they conceded it to be a matter
of grace. The advocate who has undertaken to defer.d the cause
of the unfortunate, had only their raliif in view; we must not
take advantage of the words he employed to represent the peti-
tioners as agreeing to all diet is imputed ro them ; the facts are
too serious—humanity speaks too loud in favour of the ur fortunate
exiles of the Senegal, that the Chamber shonici not testify it lifts
been interested in their fate. The class of men of colour is not
hostile towatds the whites and creoles ; on the contrary, that class
had defended their lives and property. npoa several occasions,
against the slave population, and even recently in the revolt of Mount
Label. The class of men of dolour has given multiplied proofs of
their attachment to the King's Government ; they are industrious,
and serve as a shelter and means of defence for the whites; to that
so far from disturbing that class of men, they ought to be encom
raged to acquire property. The most enlightened minds in the
colonies call for ameliorations in the fate of the black poyfulation ;
and as the Minister of Marine might inform them, his Majesty heel
deigned already to order measures to be taken to assure them ear.
min gunrantees in any casein which personal liberty might be sus-
pended. The colonies were placed in such a situation that mede-
rate measures were indispensable, but it was possible to conciliate
them with justice. if the rights of banishment and es pulsion were
sometimes necessary, never was deportation essential to the safety
of colonies. In the circumstances, however, which have given
rise to the claims before the Chamber, there has not only been ba-
nishment—there is deportation to Senegal. Those who, by
means of a shameful traffic, have been robbed of the means of
transporting themselves to the other French colonies, hare been
sent to perish in the burning sands of Africa. I should undoubtedly
be sorry if one of my words was of such a rature as to (Solent din.
turbance ; but I believe, on the contrary, they are such as will calm
that disturbance. The interest which the Chamber should mani-
fest for tee exiles of Senegal can have no ill effects. On the other
hand, the Chamber could not pass to the order of the day simply
on such a petition ; it would be a mark of disapproval.
M. de Barente did not clearly see why it was proposed to the
Chamber not to indicate in the prate verbal the nature of the ex-
planations given by the Minister of Marine, why no publicity
should he given to the discussion, why to mention was to be made
of the opinions which each of them might show in support of what
he conceived. The Alinisters think there is great danger in it to
, the colonies; they might, on that ground, respect their fears and
even theirscruplee, but that was nut the question. The Minister
of Marine had informed diem what was the sten• of law on banish-
ment. Will he pretend that the law which is acknowledged to-day
remains unknown ? Ile has told us that the King had ordered
that • certain interpretation of • test,—which seemed, hove.
ever, clear one eh,—should, from the present time, be applied so the
petitioners. 'l'hisactsufevace and repuration (murmurs) was it to
be so made ?—wa3, this payment ?—nest it rot be known in France
and at Martinique that the exiles of Sette-nil have received passports,
and that it has been acknowledged that they were only tubjecte.l to
banishment? Such a decision is too honourable to the King's do.
vernment for it to be hid ; it must, on the contrary, receive the tri-
bute of gratitude and public approbation which is chair due. lf,
then, slits is the true motive which influences the Chamber to
.taus
to the order of the day,—if it is the argument the Alinistem
use to deceive us, why not say so ? The Keeper of the Sash
had illeged against this proposition an argument which has
not been heard without sotne. surprise. . Lie said the ('ham.
bee would interfere with the exercise of the right of dis.
grace ; but If he (M. de Barente) had well understood the Illtester
of Marine, the act by which the unhappy exiles were de oled was
extra-judicial,—it was s decision of the administration...--it was a
ministerial measure. With whatever iteemutions it had teen Fur.
rounded, the arbitrary rature of it appear-LI ; it emanated frau a
teeptinsible authority, we eat therefore examine it; they eordel beg
tee King to cause an account to •be given by hie Minister:is—they
could tell him that, supposing there has nit been a stretch of power,
that it seemed to them that that power ought to receive a milder
and more humane application ; they could remark that precaution
was turned into punishment ; nothing in all this has the appearance
of a forgery. Our duty is, without doubt, to 'pest; with prudence
and reserve, not to answer without doors what might he d. 'vertu ‘;
but to say that we have passed to the order of the day on ueetilit of
a fact which must necessarily soon become public, ma certainly rea-
sonable. The Chamber owe it to themselves and the Ministers
to express why it has not been able to discuss the prayer of the
petitioners.
The Keeper of the Seals admitted that, in the haste of discussion.
he had madea mistake in assimilating the petitions to a rettou-ae to
grace. Ale spoke with warmth against the wo-d repara-
tion which had been used ; first consider the critical state of the celo•
flies and the conspiracy. acknowledged by & judgment of the Royal
Court of Martino:a, which has given occasion to juridical condem-
nations; then the measures of precaution which are in question.
He begged for the order of the day simply.
Viscount Leine prepay d &u tile following resolution to ;he Chem.
ber, on the explanations given by the Minister of Marine, relatively
to the fate of the petidoners, sl ould eons to the order of the day ; in
this resolution, nothing could be sae but an interest for humanity ;
Besides, the Chaniber could adopt no other resolution than that
rust proper to make known to his Majesty that it partakes his so-
licitude, and that it has received with joy thecommunications which
the Minister of Marine had stated to them." 1 think the resolu-
tion presented is liable to no inconvenience.
The Marquis de lastly Tollendal seconded this resolution, sad
said, the explanations given by the Minister of Marine, were,
without doubt, satisfactory. and the Chamber has brad them with
pleasure ibut did that suffice ?----can a testimony of interest be re-
fused to such it great mistbrtung that it is brought hume te' evol•