The Sun.
London, England, 1822-01-18 00:00:00

LAW PROJECT ON THE PRESS.

President—The order of the day calls to the Tribune the
Reporter of the Committee • appointed to.consider the law pro-
ject for the repression .of offences of the press. (This Commit-
tee consists of AIM: Chifilet, Bonnet, Nieynard, de Peyronnet,
Preveraud de la Bantresse, Chillaud, de la Rigoudu, Pardessus,
Pommeral, Florian de Kergauly.)
Chifflet, the Reporter—The law project which your Com-
mittee has directed me to report, has for its object the repression
of several offences which were not provided against by the laws
of the 17th of Alay, and the 9th of June, 1919. In generally.
adopting the proposed measures, your Committee has perceived
still too much reserve. Permit me to make some preliminary
observations. Here the Reporter entered into very long details.
He applauded the spirit which dictated Article 1, against writers
who insult or ridicule either the religion of the State, or any
other religion, the establishment of which is ree.og.eised in
France. It would be no longer imagined, as in the delirium of
party spirit it had been, that the law of France was atheistical,
and that it ought so to be. He expressed the same approba-
tion of Article '2, which provides against the insulting of the
Royal Authority ; and of Article 4, relative to instigations to
hared and contempt of the King's Government.—(Violent
murmurs on the left.)

M. derGirardin—This definition has a frightful laaitude.
Chifflet in continuationTo tranquillise, however, the'
most anxious minds, ! your. Committee.proposes..to add to this'
article " the present provision shall not militate against the !
right of discussion and the censuring of ministerial acts."—
(Agitation.) •
Voice on the left—Under the good pleasure of the Commis-
sion of Censorship and its circulars.
The Reporter woceeded—The law of the 17th of May autho-
rized the jpurnals to give accounts of the debate's of the Chan).-
ber.of Deputies, provided they were reported correctly and with
good faith ; but that law enacted no punishment against the
opposite, offence, namely, the reporting the sittings of the Chani-
ber and the Tribunals unfaithfully. The present project sup-
plies this defect. Not only the editors who publish unfaithful
accounts may be punished by fine and imprisonment, but ac-
cording to Article 7; the'proprietois and editors of the offend-
ing journal may be prohibited from giving any further accounts
Of legislative .or judicial proceedings. The Committee :is of
opinion, that a total,proltibition. would be too_rigorous, and.
that it will be sufficient to interdict the publication for a limit-
ed period. :! • .
Voice on the left-•-•If the suspension should happen during
the session of the Chambers, that will' render the journal pro-
digiously interesting.
' Other Voices—This is much the same as if, instead of con-
demning a nian to death, you merely prohibited him from
breathing for 24 hours:—(Laughter and tumult:)
The Reporter—The Committee cannot disguise to itself that
the provision of article 9, against persons who may endeavour
to disturb the public peace, by exciting contempt or hatred of
citizens against one or several classes' of perions, is somewhat
vague, 'and it has therefore rectified it. The Committee is of
opinion that the corpora,tions.reeognized by the charter deserve
at least as much respect in society as individuals.
-111. de Lanieth, and other members on the left, exclaimed, in
the midst of Much tomult-The Charter reeogulzes. no cot.
poratfons ! It will turn out at last that we shall be allowed
to speak of nothingf—not even of the MissionarieS. 'We shall!
be told also, that they are corporations recognized by the
charter.

•
The Reporter continued his • details, in the midst of a noise.
which prevented us from collecting what he stated. •
The President—The Reporter must not be interrupted.
11.1.Casimir Perrier—There is much imprudence the dis-
cussionraised by the Reporter.
Other voices —" Yes, yes ; imprudence !"
The President—The Reporter speaks in the name of the com-
mittee. You will have the opportunity of replying to him in
the debate in the public sitting. Interruptions like the present
cannot be'tolerated.

`lll-; Reporter proceeded to the offences committed by the
journals. Lie proposed to empower the courts which judge in
the last resort to suspend or suppress a journal, the editors
of which should be guilty of seditious offences a 'second
time—(An explosion of murmurs.)—This suppression is not,
as has been pretended, a confiscation ; for confiscation is what
is done for the profit of the treasury, and that is what the char-
ter has thought fit to abolish.—(New interruptions.)
Voice from the left—We cannot hear ; tis !—(A laugh.)
The Reporter-111e weapon with which a maniac would
strike his victim is taken from him. Are weapons of malevo-
lence in the posseision of a journalist less formidable,or are not
our neighbours every day obliged to destroy infected articles ?
It is proper that the proprietors should make the sacrifice.—
(Laughter and interruption in different senses.)
A Voice on the left—Do you compare did articles of journals
to the yellow fever ?
A N'alL:e on • the right—We are afraid of the tri-coloured
fever.

The Reporter—The suppression of ,a journal render mea-
sures necessary for preventing its re-appearing under another
title. Without that provision, the law would be illusory. The
Committee has not thought it necessary to enter into a conside-
ration of this subject; a Law of Police which provides against
flak case is submitted to you. The Reporter now arrived at
the 111Q4 important part of his subject, and entered into long
details on the question whether Juries ought to continue to take
cognizance of offences of the press. He observed, that it could
not be forgotten that scandalous impunities had been proclaimed
by some verdicts.
Di Sl. Girardin, Lafitte, &c.—You should rather speak of
scandalous convictions.

General ! the Reporter of a Committee speak-
ing against the judicial judgmmts.
M. Lafitte—lle is calumniating the Prefects who, appoint
Juries.

The Reporter continuing—Where, then, is the guarantee
which society wants ?
N. de Chauvelin and others—ln a Jury of which we have
only the shadow.
The Reporter—The Committee has instructed me to propose
to you to refer to the-Royal Courts the cognizance of offences
of the press, on references being, made to them by the Chamber
of Council. What just distrust can you have of Courts which
judge finally in appeals relative to your fortune and your ho-
nour ? The power proposed to be given to them will au,cp-nent
their political importance, and elevate them in public opinion.
M. de Lameth— Say, rather, that it will turn them in public
opinion.
The Reporter—lt must he remembered, that the judgment
is to be pronounced in a solemn sitting of both Chambers of the
Court, and that number of Judges present cannot be less
than 12. They will therefore constitute a sort pf Special Jury,
and there can be no reason to apprehend that the decisions will
be marked by partiality. The Members of the Committee are
unanimous in -their opinion. The Reporter concluded by ex-
_pressing his hope, that the law project and the amendments
made by the Committee would be favourably Jeccived by a
Chamber so. eminently religious and royalist.
111. de Coreelles--And constitutional.
Several voices—This is a true Report of the Committee of
General Security.
The Secretaries then
.proceedel/41 to take down the names of the
members who proposed to speak in the debate. The following
is the list :

For the law and the conclusions of the Reportzr—Mll. Du-
plessis Grt",nedan, Reyellere le General Partonneaux de Cas-
telbajac, de Bouville, de Kergorlay (Florian), de ilionthron;
Clause]. de Coussergues, Donnadieu, Pardessus, de Niartignac,
Frkilly, de -Cayrol, de Bourrienne Barthe-Labastide, de
Sesmaisons, 011ivier (de la Drome), de Bonald, Dubruel, de
llarcellus, Cornet Dincou'rt, Orignon d'Auzoner.

Ag,ainst if--M M. de Corcelles, Etienne, Sebastiani, Pavie de
Vandceuvre, Royer-Collard,.Mechin, Devaux, le General Foy,
Bignon, d'Argenson, Humann, Jobez, Keratry, de Bondy,
LAbey de Pompieres, Demaroy, Dupont (de I'Eure), de
Girardin, de Jouvencel, Florent-Saglio, Rodet, Guilhem, Ma-
nuel, Darrieux, HuMblot-Conte, Legraverand, de Saint-Au-
laire,. de Lameth, Beslay, Daimon, Lefevre Gineau, De-
laitre, Caumartin, Cabanon, Laisne de Villeveque, Deles-
sert, Bogne de Faye, Lafitte, Benjamin Constant, Casimir Pe-
rier, Robin Scevole, de 13rigode, Delaroche.
The President—The report will be printed and distributed.
The Chamber has only to fix the day for its consideration. .
A voice Olk the right.—Thursday.
The President—According to the rules of the Chamber, there
must be 24 hours between the distribution of the report and the
debate. It is not possible that the report can be distributed to-
morrow.

M M. de Corcelles, Mechin, Girtirdin, &c.—Theri nialc6Mon-
day the day.
Voice on the right—That cannot be. You forget that Monday
is the 21st of January. There can be no sitting on that day.
M. de Corcelles—Then put off the debate till next year if
you like.—(Laughter.)
M. Benjamin Constant.—l propose that the discussion be
adjourned to Tuesday the 22d. It is impossible that' a law
which has been completely modified by the Committee, which

changes the whole of our jurisprudence, which destroys tile na-
tural order of jurisdictions, and Which I maintain is hostile to
the charter, can be discussed until .ive have had time to read
and reflect on the voluminous report which you have just heard.
This law, in fact, introduces into jurisprudence principles
which I shall not now attempt to characterise, but which re-
quire'a lone; and profound examination. By acting hastily, the
Chamber-would do injustice to itself:—(Laughter.)—The pro-
posed raw is contrary
.to • every principle hitherto recognized.
For my part, I declare that I cannot discuss such a report
within 24 hours.

A number of voices.—Do not discuss it now; this is not the
time.

Amidst great - turnult. the President repeatedly rang his bell,
but found it impossible to procure silence, and M. Benjamin
Constant, after some farther observations, left the tribune, de-
claring that discussion was impossible in an assembly which
possessed such a majority. -
The President then put the question on the consideration of
the report for Tuesday. This vfs negatived, and Saturday
was fixed for the date.

There will be a .public ' sitting on Wednesday, for • a report
from the CoMmittee of Petitions.

VIENNA, JAN. 3.—13 y the post-office courier,
who left Constantinople on the 10th of Dec., (one
day later than the previous news,) we learn► that
the lirmans published on the 30th Not. against
the disturbers of the public tranquillity, had not
been with Out effect. Some violators of the So-
vereign's orders had been punished with death ;
and since these examples no other excesses had
been heard of.

'The following details had reached Constanti-
nople respecting the events in the Morel
" On the 4th October, the Greek insurgents
took TripolitZa by assault.; they were favoured
in their operations by means of a secret under-
standing with Limas Aga, Chief of the Albanians.
When the Greeks assaulted the place the
makan retired with other Turkish Chiefs, and en-
trenched himself in the fortified Seraglio of the
Governor; but this, vas 'also taken after three
days' contest ; and all who breathed, without
excepting the women or children, were cut to
pieces.. This barbarous lot was common to all
the Turkish Inhabitants of Tripolitza, to the
number of 36,000, including many Musata-
man families who had taken refuge there, con-
fiding in the strength of the town, but who fell
victims to the cruel fanaticism of the Greeks.
—LIn the midst of the general carnage, the Greeks
spared the son of the Turkish Commandant of
Corinth, who happened to be at Tripolitza,
in the hope that. he might be useful to them
in their enterprise against Corinth, for which
they are preparhig.After the Conquest of
Tripolitza, 6,000 Greeks, commanded by Go-
locohoni, undertook an expedition against Pa-
'tras, and appeared to be arranging a general
attack by- sea and land. A division of this corps
having- arrived on, the 2d of November in the
suburb, the Turks set tire to it, and retired into
the fortress. In the mean time 3tissuf Pacha
being at Lepanto, took the most energetic-mea-
sures for the defence of Patras ; he ordered
away all the Turkish' families, and sent in pro.
visions and ammunition, assuring the Garrison
that a sufficient number of auxiliary-tropps should
be at hand in case'of need, furnished from Le-
panto by. sea. It is supposed, therefore, that
the Greeks, who have no artillery .for a siege,
will be again obliged to abandon their designs
upon Patras."•

According to the most recent letters from Te-
heran, the Court of Persia hatV again declared
that
,the hostilities! commenced by the Prince of
Kermanschah, in the GoVernment of Bagdad,
had no connection with the present events in the
Ottoman Empire, but- that their' motive was the
old frontier disputes, occasioned' by the incur-
sions of the Curds.

FRANKFORT, JAN.B.—Letters from Constanti-
nople of the 10th of December state, that on the
4th the Porte transmitted a note to the Austrian
Internuncio, admitting the principles of the four
demands of Russia, but proposing modifications
in the mode of carrying them into effect.—Let-
ters from Vienna state, that the Turks had begun
to evacuate Moldavia.

CONSTANTINOPLE, DEC. 10.---(Extract of a
Private Letter.)—" It is observed that since the
arrival of dispatches from Hanover, Lord Strang-
ford has been more active than ever in his nego-
tiations with the Porte. The latter has not
ceasedlrom collecting fresh forces, whose chief
object would appear to be an invasion of the
Morea, in order to overwhelm that province.—
But in the present,moment, when it sees itself
threatened on all sides by insurrections and hos-
tilities, this object will be difficult of attain-
ment. The tranquillity and security of the
capital are somewhat restored ; but the heads
of Greeks, exhibited day after day upon the
gates of the Seraglio, continue to spread terror in
every direction. It. is endeavoured to create a
'
belief that they are really the heads of those
Greeks taken with arms in their hands.--The
letters from Aleppo, dated the 30th November,
do not appear to announce a cessation of hos-
tilities with Persia. The eldest 'son of the
Schah, Mahomed Ali, Prince of Kerman, ex-
cluded from the succession, has conceived the
project for some time past of conquering. a
kingdom for himself. He has been long quar-
relling with his father, and he believes that
the epoch 'has arrived for mastering the Pacha-
licks _of Bagdad and Erzerum.—lfiere the
Editor of the Journal des DAats says, that these
two Governments are not situated so as geogra-
phically to constitute a kingdom. lie adds,
that the Prince, Mahomed Ali, master of Ker-
man •and of Kurdistan, has neither the means
nor ambition to conquer Armenia, which fortn4
the Government of Erzerum.]—lt is much to
be doubted if, after all, the Prince will sub-
mit to the orders of his father, should even
these be communicated to him. He commands
a considerable force, has allies in Armenia, and
is assured of the protection of Russia."

the regiment of Farneze had declared for the
Ministers, and that in consequence Velasco and
Escovedo had withdrawn from Seville.to the Isle
of Leon.

The army or Catalonia has declared, with re-
spect to the conduct of Cadiz, Seville, &c. that
it disapproved not only all disobedience to the
Authorities which the Constitution directed
should be obeyed, but of all revolt against them
and the sacred code sworn to by the whole
nation ; and that it was ready to maintain its
oath at any price, and by all possible sacrifices,
should circumstances require it, and to punish
those who,, deviating from the sacred duties of

Spanish citizens, refuse obedience to the Autho
titles legitimately constituted, and in•respec
to the laws under tl►e specious pretence of wish
ingto support and defend them.

General Moreno Daoiz is returned to Madrid
from Cordova.

PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE.]

The Council of State is assembled again this
night in consequence of events in Murcia and
Grenada, and has decided that under all circum-
stances there remained no other alternative to
avoid a civil war., than to recommend a change of
Ministry, thereby forcing the rebels to obe-
dience, and afterwards to bring to trial the
authors of the revolt, and the authorities who had
participated in it. The King, it is said, remains
steady to his first determination, yet it is generally
believed that his Majesty will give to-the nation
this proof of his devotion and condescension, and
that the Ministers will not remain long in office.
[Another Letter of the same datc,written after the
Post Office had been shat up.]

The Council of State, who, during the Sitting
at which the King. Presided, were of opinion that
the Ministry ought to he supported, delivered at
the sitting on the night of the 9,d, a contrary
opinion. Some attributed this change to the re-
cent knowledge that the regiments on whom
they relied, participate in most of the senti-
ments expressed by the citizens of Seville
and Cadiz ; others say that the Council, after
a full investigation and the receipt of the
last representation
deemed it advisable to examine more closely into
the causes of the discontents. In consequence
of this determination, the change of the Ministry
would seem to have been recommended. We are
informed that Sr. 13ardaxi is appointed Ambassa-
dor to the Court of London, and Sr. Sanchez
Salvador to that of Petersburgh.

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