The Sun.
London, England, 1868-02-03 00:00:00

11HE LArE EDITION of " THE SUN " at
W. SMITH'S, " Camden Stores," 78, Park-street, Camden-

town

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LONDON, MONDAY, FEB. 3, 1868.

The majority in the House of Representatives
has very soon forgotten the lesson taught them by
the late elections. For a brief period, indeed, the
leading Radicals seemed inclined to temporise, and
to show a little more moderation, but whether they
found the effort too irksome, or whether they
arrived at the conclusion that they had better make
the most of their remaining opportunities and con-
centrate their energies for a final struggle, certain
it is that they have recently proceeded to violent
and unconstitutional extremes. The bill which
has just been passed by 123 votes to 45
is nothing less than revolutionary. In time
of war it could only be tolerated as a temporary
necessity, and in time of peace it is such as no civi-
lised community could partially bear. It declares
that no valid civil government exists in the lately
rebellious States, prohibiting their recognition as
valid by the National Executive of Judiciary. It
revokes all powers of removal or appointment con-
ferred upon the PRESIDENT by the Resonstruction
Act, and confers them upon the General of the
Army. It declares it unlawful for the PRESIDENT
to employ the national army and navy to enforce
the authority of the existing State Governments,:or
to oppose the execution of Reconstruction Acts.
It is at once evident that this bill is directed against
the PRESIDENT, as much as against the Southerners.
It deprives him of his official rights and constitu-
tional privileges, and reduces him virtually to a
sinecure. What sort of an Executive is that which ,
has no right to remove or appoint its subordinate'
officers ? The Government of the United States is,
it would seem, to be henceforth vested in the Con-
gress, and the head of the State is to take his
orders from the chance majority of an angry and
reckless party. One of the distinctive features of
the office has always been the supremacy of the
military and naval forces of the country, but of this
it is to be henceforward divested. It is to be
" unlawful" for the PRESIDENT to employ the na-
tional army and navy to enforce the authority of
the existing Provisional State Governments. As
it Lis well known that the military have been
constantly employed in suppressing riots and dis-
turbances, and in some instances, by direction of
the PRESIDENT, in supporting the Civil Courts,
this proviso is apparently intended to encourage
outbreaks and lawlessness. The House of Repre-
sentatives, in the plenitude of its wisdom, not only
assumes the complete direction of the Executive,
but of the Judiciary also. The bill prohibits the
recognition of the Southern Civil Governments by
either Executive or Judiciary. The Judiciary, one
would think, is capable of deciding for itself what
is or is not lawful ; but the Radicals, after setting
law at defiance for the last year or two, are sud-
denly growing very scrupulous about legality. They
do not trouble themselves to assign the slightest
reason for their proceedings. There is no direct
act charged against the Southern civil authorities;
there is no evidence that they have encouraged
disaffection or shown any disloyalty. They are
simply condemned as " not valid," being in the late
rebellious States. Can the Radicals pretend that
the Southern States are now in active rebellion ? If
not, why should the recognised and acting Govern-
ments be otherwise than rabid ? They have taken
good care that no voice from the States themselves
shall be raised in Congress, though the Democrats
mustered in some force against it. The majority,
however, as it at present stands, will not override
the Presidential veto, and it is possible that before
the bill is tried again the public feeling will be
strongly expressed respecting it. It is intolerable
that a measure reversing the whole order of Ame-
rican Constitutional law should be hurried through
the Legislature by a few reckless political fanatics,
without argument or deliberation. The nature of
the bill is in itself so dangerous that the most
despotic Government in Europe would shrink from
proposing it. If Austria declared her intention of
suppressing the civil authorities in Hungary, if
Russia refused to allow any judicial court in
Poland, we might well be startled ; but in America,
which claims to be the home of free thought and
free action, the majority of the popular repre-
sentatives are deliberately sanctioning an act of
unwarrantable and oppressive tyranny. It is no
excuse for the House of Representatives to
admit that their action is mainly directed
against the PRESIDENT. Their business,
in such troubled and uncertain times, should
be to seek the public good, regardless of individuals.
We need not expect any great patriotic devotion
from them, considering of what material American
representatives are usually made, but it is not too
much to demand that they should abide by the
recognised laws of the country. A sweeping inno-
vation could hardly be introduced at a more dan-
gerous or unfitting opportunity, and the transfer
of authority over States as large as half-a-dozen
European kingdoms, from civil to military gover-
nors, must be admitted to be something very new in
the United States. While commercial circles are
complaining loudly of the depression of trade;
while all parties admit the burden of the taxes to be
growing intolerable ; while the condition of the
Southern States is an openly acknowledged drag on
the energies of the North, these marvellous legisla-
tors step in to make everything ten times worse
than it was before. Capital and labour
are needed for the restoration of industry
in the plantations ; but can either be
hoped for under martial law ? Public confidence
must be restored in Southern securities. Will the
suppression of all civil governments tend to secure
it ? Trade and commerce must send their stores
to the Southern ports and bring their produce
thence if we are to see the old industries once more
flourishing. Will this terrible uncertainty, i❑ which
no man can say what is his own, encourage the
cautious dealer and the prudent merchant? We
can only suppose that the Radicals, wearied of the
struggle which has lately turned against them, de-
sire a general outbreak, the result of which may
be the substitution of a Dictator for the existing
machinery.

The debate was resumed on the Press Bill on
Saturday, and the Minister of Justice, M. BAROCHE,
made a protest against the various objections which
had been made against the bill. He declared that
it was iu accordance with the liberal principles of
'B9, but still it gave the Government a sufficient
power of repression. That it does in all conscience,
and more than sufficient in the opinion of the best
judges. M. BAROCIIE admitted that the Govern-
ment would carefully examine all the amendments
proposed, and that the Chamber ought to dis.
cuss the measure in the most searching style.
The Minister concluded, however, by giving some
extraordinary definitions concerning the manner in
which the voice of the nation was represented. It
was not to be found, he averred, in the opinions of
the public Press, but rather in the electoral body,

and its representatives were the elect to " pro-
nounce judgment." If this is the way in which the
authorities regard the influence of the Press, it is
no wonder that they succeed so badly in their
regulation of it. The more they make these arbitrary
rules the worse it will be for all parties concerned,
and it is indeed vexatious that after so long a time
and so much experience the Government should
persist in their rest► ictive course and arbitrary rule.
All the Ministers who spoke laid down the same
harsh laws, from which it seems there can be no ap-
peal. All the arguments which were enforced, all
the eloquence which was employed by the opposers
of the bill, went for nothing. A pre-determined
line bad been determined upon, and hence all that
was said went to the winds. It is, however, some
relief to think that so decided a protest should have
been made, and that the members of the Legisla-
tive Body should have had spirit enough to make
such a stand against it. M. RICARD declared that
the interdiction imposed on the Press would imply
silence as regarded the debates in the Chambers.
The general discussion on the bill closed on Satur-
day, and to-day M. OLIVIER'S amendment will
come on for discussion.

Great excitement prevails on the subject, how-
ever, and according to accounts it appears that the
members of the Privy Council and of the Council
of Ministers held " special meetings" on Satur-
day morning, and that a meeting of Deputies
was held under the presidency of M. JERO3IE
DAVID. It was then and there decided to vote
against the Bill on the Press, and hence many
suppose that Government may withdraw the mea-
sure altogether. It is not probable, however, that
such will be the result, because something definite
must be accomplished in the affair, and the ex-
citement that prevails on the subject is far greater
than any that has been felt on any previous occa-
sion forsome time past. IVe would earnestly commend
to the notice of all who take an interest in this matter
the long and exhaustive speech of M. TRIERS. It
is, in every sense of the word, a masterpiece in its
way, and well worthy of the occasion which called
it forth. Perhaps some may be surprised when they
study more completely the mode in which the
French Press is regulated nowadays, and it is in-
deed outrageous that a journal may not even repeat
in what order the speakers in the Legislative Body
follow each other. Well may La France express
a hope that some forty years hence they may be
permitted to make remarks upon the debates of
1868. M. TRIERS puts the present state of things
very forcibly before us. France naturally desires
to know all that is going on, and such a desire is
in accordance with the spirit of the age. The
telegraph quickens thought, and the Press appro-
priates the means of importance. " I ask you,
gentlemen, can you do without that slanderous
[ journal against which you wish to defend your-
selves ?" Very effective is also
_that passage
in which the great orator points out
the advantages that accrue from freedom
of expression. Liberty is an immense lottery, in
which nations may take shares without fear or
compunction, because if they sometimes lose they
more often gain. As for the talk of moderating the
power of the journals, there is only one way of
moderating liberty, and that is by the " use of it."
In 1848 great confusion prevailed, but France was
saved from the horrors of a great revolution. And
why ? Because her assemblies were free. And how
can we conceive political liberty without a
free Press? as M. Timms most justly asks.
" No, I say it with respect, the princes of the earth
must make up their minds to the fact that the na-
tions desire to govern themselves." As for the
citizen of France, he naturally feels anxious to know
about the affairs of the world, and how can he
thepos-
sibly
restrictions All
wwith
that that h
ialtuthpeprreuess s upon
impressive
vvee
rnwn
warning
do that if the Press is encumbered as it is with
ntn Government
gwould t
itsakgeivetno
heart the very
speech. If they did, it
iunre tntihsat country against much
d themselves defeat and mortification
tituouirgmhtothi el,msaene
at a subsequent period. There is a decisive mo-
ment for all Governments, and take care, exclaims
M. TRIERS to the present rulers of France, that
" History may not have to place you among those
who have had an opportunity of seizing it but
allow it to escape." It is long since the
walls of the
French Chamber have heard such impassioned lan-
guage as that contained in this discussion, and
it will long be remembered as a grand
display of eloquence, and also as a noble viudica -
tion of the rights of the Press and the just claims
of the
M. 'nuns saw the power of
liberty
when he almost trembled for the
consequences of the turn events had taken. Twenty
n.
years have passel, an ,I he cannot peril the
triumph of free principles in the
nation then
so earnestly desiring to be free in h •
t e right course.
It may be that some change for the better will
be the result of these deliberations, but at any rate
it can confidently be affirmed that DI. TRIERS has
done his duty in the awkward task he
perform. lle neither flattered nor threatened, he
neither extenuated DOC set down aught in
malice,
but fully, freely, and fairly he laid before the
Legislative Chamber an exposition of the state of
the case. He showed the necessity existed
for t
a
for free discussion, and for freedom to the
be accorded to the Press, and he denounced the
course that was now being pursued by the autho-
rities in this respect. The more we dwell upon
this speech, the greater hardship does it appear
that it will not be fully published or freely com-
mented upon by the journals of France ;:and it is in
itself a protest against the injustice that it so ably
exposes, and the inconsistencies it points to hi so
meaning a manner. The French Legislative Cham-
ber have, indeed, seen the handwriting on the wall,
and it reinains for us to see the result of it. Now
is the time to act ; but if the opportunity be ne-
glected, the future will only afford the chance for
repentance. _ _

CAMBRIDGE MATHEMATICAL TRIPOS LISTS.—In
the list, published last week we rejoice to find that Mr.
Watson, son of Mr. Watson, of Liverpool, obtained the high
position of fifth wrangler. In 1862 Mr. Watson gained the
First Albert Memorial scholarship, founded by this town
in memory of the late Prince Consort. In the above lists
occur the names of Mr. Marshall, 38th wrangler, and Mr.
Bayley, fifth senior optime. These gentlemen were edu-
cated by the ltev. -Richard Wall, formerly of Birkenhead,
now head master of the Grammar School, Brewood, Staf-
fordshire.

THE MASTERS' AND SERVANTS' ACT, 1867.—The
first attempt to bring a female servant under the
provisions of this act was made at the Norton (Eastßiding)
monthly sessions on Saturday. Mr. R. Levers, as agent
for his mother, Mrs. Ann Levers, farmer, Fimber, York-
shire Welds, charged Jane Harrison, 19, of Wharram, an
alleged servant i❑ husbandry, with absconding from ser-
vice. Plaintiff had hired defendant at Dlalton on the 28th
of December, but a month after the statute Wrings. Ho
had hired her at a register office iu Mahon, as a servant
iu husbandry, and it was explained to her that she would
have to milk the cows, r nd go out to field work in harvest
time or when required. She went on the Tcesday follow-
ing, and left on Saturday morning, because fault had been
found with her for not milking the cows "clean," as
much as a quart of milk having been left. The wage
was ten guineas, with 33. 6J. first 1110110". The defen-
dant was sworn and said she was not hired to clean the
cows out, which she had had to do twice, nor yet to go
out to the harvest field. She was only required to milk
the cows besides housework, and she swore ,positively
that the words " servant in husbandry" were never men-
tioned to her. She had had sticks to chop and the calves
to serve. Plaintiff denied the girl's statement in tote. The
Bench were of opinion he had quite failed to prove his case,
and dismissed the charge with costs, expressing an opinion
that if the girl's statement were true she had been put to
improper work.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS,

.FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, SUNDAY, Feb. 6:

The Avenir National appears to-day with the remark,
"We cannot speak of the sittings of the Corps L4gislatif,
but we can read the debates. We could not without ex-
posing ourselves to the risk of appearing before the sixth
chamber appreciate ' the discourse of Jules Favre, but
we can announce to him the admiration and the gratitude
of liberal and democratic France." Jules Favre made a
long and eloquent speech. In many respects Eugene
Pelletan bad anticipated him ; but on the ques-
tion of the moment, the comptes rendus, he
spoke with unequalled effect. In the course
of it he remarked : " Now, while I am speaking,
journals, whose good faith has never been questioned
have been doomed to silence. We are ostracised. We
are treated as though we were excommunicated by the
press like pestiferous beings. They cannot speak of our
debates without exposing themselves to fines and impri-
sonment." As if it were to give the lie to Jules Favre,
the Constittitionnel and the Etenclard, the Ministerial
organs, have been discussing the speech of M. Pinard,
praising it and making extracts. If the dependent press
may do this for the Minister of the Interior, why may not
the independent press do the same for Pelletan, Simon,
Tillers, and Favre ? We must, however, wait to see
whether the Minister of the Interior will summon his own
()Van for appreciating his own speech?
It is not to be concealed that there are in France, as well
as in the Corps Legislatif, a large number of persons who
have a great fear of a free press producing anarchy.
Granier de Cassagnac, who followed Jules Favre, was the
spokesman of this party. In his eyes the press has liberty
enough, and there ought to be no more concessions till
Political parties have ceased to be bitter against each
other. Now, Granter de Cassagnao is the directeur of the
Pays, the journal of the Empire, and his speech gave rise
to the most diverse interpretations, and very considerable
curiosity. Had the Emperor told him to hint that the law had
Later be withdrawn, illaslllllol 4$ the Opposition appeared to
prefer the gams quo ? He was cheered loudly by the
Right, and when lie finished, the France tells us, there was
the liveliest emotion in the lobbies of the Chamber. The
•
reactionary club in the Rue 4'A-wade have, it is said, de-
termined to have the law withdrawn if possible, while the
extreme Liberals will, it is understood, vote against it unless
amendments are carried to make it worth having. The
first of these is to be moved by M. 011ivier, who has
sufficiently recovered from his late serious fall to be able
to do so. The Etendard denies that there is any likeli-
hood of the bill being withdrawn. Ido not think that the
Opposition press care much for it as it stands.
It is a noticeable fact that several of our provincial
papers have refused to publish the official resume of the
debates, and given merely the names of the speakers. It
is a question whether this is not actionable.

It is well for you to know how English institutions are
regarded abroad. The Etendard, I observe, appears rather
anxious to depreciate them. lore is its latest attempt :
" England owes the great but precarious advantages of its
governmental regime to its social institutions and habits—
that is to say, to the absence of absolute equality and real
liberty—and not to its political forms." What these pre-
carious advantages are the Etendard does not say, and I
do not know.

We have very emphatic denials of the alleged negotia-
tions between France and Italy for a fresh convention. It
must not be forgotten, however, that the same sort of
4ficial denial, equally emphatic, preceded the campaign
of 1859.

From Rome we learn that the decree of the Papal Go-
vernment of the 30th November; which se pestrated the
property of persons who were compromised in the Gari-
baldian invasion, has been withdrawn, entirely, it is said,
through the personal favour of the Pore.
It has been stated that portions of the expeditionary
force to Rome were being withdrawn. It may be as well
to say that there still remain a battalion of chasseurs,
four regiments of infantry, three battalions of artillery,
and two squadrons of mounted chasseurs.
Further Mexican revelations are said to be preparing for
us. Really they are not wanted. M. de Mentlonry, chief
of Maximilian's staff, is to be the writer of a work to
appear at Stuttgard and at New York. It is rumoured that
Maximilian's Minister of Foreign Affairs is about to pub-
lish the correspondence whioh passed between the two
Emperors.

It appears that Prussia has been favouring amongst the
Poles a German propagandism of late. M. Bismarck has
sounded the emigrants in Paris on this subject. The
latter, it is reported, have replied very much as follows :
First, that the Poles do not entertain a chronic hostility
to Prussia ; second, that if M. Bismarck really desires to
range them among his friends, he has only to follow in
Posen the example which Austria has set him in Gallicia.
Surely the Western Powers are going to revolutionise
Turkey. The last invasion is that of the Snider rifle. It
is reported here that two battalions of the line at Constan-
tinople have been supplied with this arm. A Belgian
firm had, it is said, undertaken to convert a large number
of pieces into rifles at the rate of 151 f. each, and, finding
it impossible at that figure, the Porte is about to establish
a factory of its own at Zeitoren-Bournon, and by the end
of the year 100,000 rifles are expected to be ready.
M. Goltz, the Minister of the North German Confede-
ration, has, in a measure, recovered his speech, and will be
allowed by Dr. Nelaton to receive visitors this week.
The effect of the severe w_Yather we had in January is
shewn in the railway returns just published. Most of
them shew a decline.

Prussia appears to have entered, like Austria, upon a
thoroughly constitutional course. The announcement of
M. Bismarck that the 'Ministry would resign if defeated
on the question of indemnities is considered on the Conti-
nent ais'a.etry significant—especially taken in connection with
t
that the Liberals could not govern the country
six months. This is the first recognition of the principle
that the Ministers must be in accord with Parliament.
Hitherto it has been held that they were the servants of the
Crown, and independent of any vote of the Legislature.

France has shewn goodwill towards Prussia in allowing
her treaty with King William to override the treaty she
had with Mecklenburg. By the latter the duty on French
wine was only Bf. per tun. The Zollverein duty was 16f.
per tun. France, however, gains by the transaction, the
throughout the Zollverem being now reduced
dutytlof.o

The Austrian Minister of Public Instruction is about to
introduce a bill on the subject of public schools, providing
for the application of the system which prevails in Bel-
gium and Switzerland. The same Minister has introduced
a bill on the subject of the confessional. Both these mea-
sures are a direct condemnation of the Concordat.

The Government of Finland has concluded a loan of 5
million thalers with the house of Erlanger and Co. The
loan will be issued at Berlin, Hamburg, an 1 Frankfort.

Indian advices report an outbreak among the ryot indigo
cultivators in the Tirhoot district. It appears that the
compulsory contract system under which indigo is culti-
vated has become unremunerative, and the ryots have re-
fused to continue sowing.

The act for the better government of India will have
been ten years in operation on the Ist of September next.
The revision of the Act being regarded one of the cer-
tainties of the.next session, the East India Association are
beginning to consider what amendments they can suggest
to Parliament. A paper has Leen read by Mr. Eastwick,
C. 8., on the representation of India. The writer argued
that the dependency /night be directly represented in the
House of Commons by removing the restriction upon
members of the Indian Council which prevents them
sitting in Parliament. At present our only choice in India,
as Mr. Mill has said, is a choice of despotisms ; but Mr.
Eastwick holds that the people might be gradually trained
to understand elective institutions, and that it is time to
begin the experiment.

According to a Brazilian telegram, President Lopez is
attempting to open up
a route to the Nest through the
Chaco. The Brazilian forces are manceuvring to prevent
this. A general attack on the Paraguayans, who were
short of provisions, was said to be imminent. If it suc-
ceeds, this useless and sanguinary strife will probably
come to an end.

The Lord• Advocate of Scotland has informed a deputa-
tion from Glasgow that the Government had been giving
their most anxious consideration to the subject of educa-
tion, and that he was in hopes he would be able to intro-
duce an Education Bill for Scotland very early in the
present session of Parliament.

Mr. J. W. Miles, the Conservative candidate for the
representation of Bristol, has issued his address to the elec-
tors of that city. He is prepared to support the present
Government, who have " done well for their country'' in
having passed a Reform Bill with a basis of a ratepaying
household suffrage in the boroughs. He would assist the
Administration by all means in his power "to complete
their Reform measures for the three kingdoms."

With a Miles in the field on the Conservative side, it
will now be for the Liberals to settle their differences
and close up their ranks for a contest. On four occa-
sions since the passing of the Reform Act has a
member of that well-known banking house been re-
turned for Bristol, and three times out of the four he
was at the head of the poll. In 1859, the late Sir F. W.
Slade polled over 4,200 votes, and ran within eighty of the
second Liberal candidate. In 1865, however, Mr. Free-
mantle, the Conservative, was nearly 1,000 votes behind
Sir Morton Peto, the second on the von.