Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-08-03
FROM OUR Paris CORRESPONDENT.

PARIS, July IL, 1850.
The discussion in the Assembly on the bill al
luded to in my last, limiting the liberty of the Press,
commenced on Monday, and is yet progressing.
Urgency was declared, after short and able ar
gument by E. de Girardin against it, by vote of
365 to 25l. 1t is well worthy Of note in what
manner the wise and conservative rule which re-
quires three readings of bill in modern Legislative
assemblies is practised in France. In theory it is
intended to prevent injury to the public interest by
hasty, ill-advsed determinations. This was well
understood and expressed by the trainers OF the con-
stitution In practice, however, it suices that the
subject matter of bill introduced should be highly
important and generally interesting to induce the
Assembly to take advantage of the discretion allow
ed by the constitution, and vote that the three read
ings be dispensed with by declaration of urgency.
Nearly all, if not quite all, the laws which have
been voted by this Assembly, regulating, limiting
annulng the fundamental and constitutional rights
Of Frenchmen, have been thus passed after one dis
cussion only. The bill was not Withdrawn, as ma
ny supposed it would be, and it may be considered
as certain to pass, without any amendment that will
prove relaxation of its severe provisions. The
close of the sitting on Monday was distinguished
by uproar and violence worthy of the best days Of
the first revolution. The new Montagnard member,
GIRARDIN, was the most prominent actor. The
Minister of Justice, M. Rouer, was in the tribune,
urging, in support Of the law, the insuficency Of
the amount of security money actually required by
law, to ensure payment Of the fines which, un-
der the present very imperfect mode of trial. Govern
ment could succeed in having inflicted for offences
of the press. He gave upon this subject some in
formation not uninteresting. From llth August,
ls4S, to lst April, 1850, there have been pro-
nounced within the limits of the republic one hun
dred and nineteen condemnaons for offences of the
press. Sixy-six Of these remain une1ecued, wholly
part by of the nsuciency Of the security money! or
from the defects of actual legislation The gross amount Of
fines imposed s42 sss, Of this only 1850 has been
collected Then followed structures upon the or
ganizaon Of the ues by which these offences tried in
the Of which occurred the expression which gave rise
to the tumult which brought the sitting a close.
" These condemnatons," said the Minister shave been
pronounced during the period which has followed the great
social convusion Of the Gath Of February shock of which
M. Mader Monjan has just been expressing his admiration
but which, for my part shall always consider vertabe
(Noisy interruptions the left repeated
cries Of call him to order call him ORDERLY certain num-
Der Of the members sitting the left leave their seats
and go down to the foot Of the tribune for the purpose Of ad
dressing to the Minister their expostuatons BaneeL
"Wha you before the revolution and what would you
be but fer the republic I" extreme agitation the e)
The President. "Le the Minister explain his thought"