Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-09-15

ln,ing the season, when the war will grow
q tcondrous hot" We understand, that many
Of the play-going people Of this town, will Wis
i, the opening Of the new Theatre, which is
announced TO take place on the 2ith instant.
CENSORSHIP OF THE PRESS IN FRANCE.
~ A Paris Correspondent in a Morning Pa
per gives The following as correct account Of
the manner in which the Ccnsors exercise their
functions. The gentlemen Of the Press, and
all who arc acquainted with our vocation, will
read it with interest, and deeply sympathzo
with the poor wrctches, who are connected
with the French newspapers
"Paris, Joly la.--It may not probably
prove unintercstmg IN you, TO have some idea OF
the manner in which the Ccnsors here fulfil their
thought clipping functions. These knights Of
the scissors, who have from TO 5000 fancs a
year, for curtaing the journals Of thor fair
proportions, commence their iabours Mt o
clock in the morning, by reading the daily pa
pcrs, and collatng them with the censored
proof sheet the night before, 10 ascertain that
all the Objectionable passages have been left
out The insertion of single line not sane
toned by their pisn would be sufficient TO ruin
journal, by emitting the Ccnsors 10 suspend
lis publication until a decision on t. point
should Ic pronounced by the Tribunals. II is
scarcely necessary 10 add, tina. suspension for
any length of time, is almost as fatal 10 the
existence Of n Journal as is found 10 be that
of man. Hence the triiling error Of COM
positor, or slight nattcnton OH the part Of
the corrcctor of the press, may every day put
the existence Of journal in jeopardy. This
is quite as bad as tho sword of Damocics sus-
pended by single hair. The Ccnsors again
assemble at two o'clock, and are occupied in
the process Of mutilation until four; and in the
evening from seven TO the close Of their la
bours. After O'Clock, no articles for tho
next days paper arc received. Two proof
sheets Of every article are furnished TO the
Ccnsors; one is sent back TO the Office Of the
paper, with the supprcssons that have been
deemed necessary; the other copy is kept in
the bureau CT the Ccnsors. Should the entire
of an article bo found fault with no proof sheet
is returned. When the supprcesions arc only
partial, the offending parts aic cut ont with
scissors. The scene which takes place in the
Office OF the paper when the proof sheets are
brought back, is at tho same time b-drre,
comcal, and rcvrting. There are assembled
the editors, writer's and reporters, waiting with
impaticncc the decision Of their sovereign
judges. As soon as the messenger lays the
anime his own article, and bewail the ravagcs
the Ccnsors have made in it, Then arise from
all sides the most vehement and contrary ex-
clamations. "Ah, the rascals, the Vandalsn'
says one, "thcy have cut of my best para
graph--bow atrocious-.how absurir' 60 Here
is mraclc," says another, " sec what an ar
ticc they have allowed to pass, without touch
ing it. was far from expecting this. am
of course, indebted for it TO their drowsincss
or stupidity, and not to their indulgence" &c.
The Ministerial Journals, Of course, senioy
certain degree Of favour and arc dispatched
the first, whilst many Of the articles belonging
to the Journals of opposition arc not sent back
till near IL o'clock at night. This necessn-
rily entails additional labour, embarrassment,
attendance, &c. on the part of the editors,
and all those connected with the getting up Of
the paper What observed to yos as likely
to happen, has since taken place. Tho Cen.
sors have not kept those promises Of modcra-
ton and mpartiality of which they were in the
first instances prodigal. The journals of op-
position have not been dupcd by these hollow
professions, and have, therefore followed Cha
tcaubriands advice. They at first sent some
political articles. in which strength of reason
ing was combined with moderation Of language,
and total absence of any thing personally Of
fcnsive. These articles were suppressed
CoPics, noWc'cT, nave Decn preserved, anC
will be produced to the Chambers to refatc
the ministers, when they shall como 6rwald
to eulogisc the libcrality and moJcya1ion Of
the Censorship. They now sendsfmorc po-
litical articles for approval, but Glrtheir col
umns with mere news and insignificant para
graphs, in order that the ministers, may not
be able, in few months, 10 call for tho con-
tinuation of the Censorship. and ground that
call upon tho sage liberty which the Journals
have cnjoycd.'
There can % nothing more odious than the
Censorship Of the press, and should it ever be
attempted in this country. the attempt will be
attended with the most dreadful consequences:
nothing less than anarchy and rebellion. Curtail
the province of the press, and our liberties arc
lost forever, and far better were it for the peo-
pie, that it partook Of positive liccntiousncss,
than one title Of its liberty were curtailod.-
The French editors, may bear the curtailment
with fortitude if they can, but in this country
the corps editorial, arc made of too stern a
stuff to submit to such degradation; and each
and all Of them would gladly lay down their
lives to,maintan the liberty and independence
Of the Press.
0-.NeU- York LepisI0fure The Iooislo