The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-08-01
FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE.

On Tuesday last, had the pleasure Of hearing
Victor Hugo's eloquent defence Of the liberty Of
the press noble cause and noble advocate
Had not the cause been condemned in advance
the advocate would have gained it. His style Of
eloquence is worthy of the French Assembly, the
first forum in the world Polished and sonorous,
every sentence fell from the lips Of the orator, as
it will be transmitted to posterity. The personal
appearance of Victor Hugois highly prepossessing
Above the middle height, well formed, the outlines
of his person elegant and voluptuous, rather than
severe, his manner composed and graceful, he does
not disappoint the anticipaions Of those who have
admired him in his works. His blond hair and
rudy complexion do not bear the marks which
half century rarely fails to make. Like his rival
Montalembert, he seems TO have bathed in the
fountain OF DArnA,psl vonth. A stranger would
not suppose MIN to be older than thirty OF thirty
five, although he is now between fifty and sixty.
He scarcely seems older than his two grown sons,
the editors of LEUenement.
The Right were evidently determined to put
him out Of countenance, and salute his appearance
at the tribune with an uproarious burst of hlarity
What peals of sardonic laughter! Montalembert
the great Jesuit leader of the Assembly, elapped
his glass to his right eye, after the manner Of q
London cockney, slapped his yellow nankeen pan
falcons with great emphasis, as il to say, in true
Dick Swiveller style my eyes, what go. such
a chap as that at the tribune. Tascheresu, whose
business it is to lead in interruptions, wriggled
on his seat, grinned horribly with his unfurnish-
ed mouth, and emitted indescribable sounds.
Minister Baroche turned his broad back to the
orator. Minister Rouher sometimes scrubbed, but
generally occupied himself with admiring his white
hands and pretty rings General Changarnier
crossed his long thin legs, and rested his lantern
face on his hands, while MS ssNSk blue eyes were
fixed languidly on the orator. M. Theirs and
NJ Barrot were both absent The general aspect
of the Right was by no means encouraging On
the Lefs thsrsxss evidently a lively interest.
There was the venerable Arsgo, the chief Of mod
ern science, the military figure Of Colonel Char
ras the pensive and intellectual face of Lamen-
nais the philosopher the sarcastic and fiery Mi
chal de Bourges, the pale and fierce looking
Lagrange, apparently consumed by the revolu-
tionary fires within. At the further end of the
hall, is Eugene Sue. There he sits with his ell
bow on his desk, and his round moon face resting
on his left hand. He is very neat in his person,
for you see that wristband Of snowy wilderness
hides part of his very fair hand, and his short
blond hair is curled somewhat foppishly on his
head which we ask his pardon for saying is as
round as bullet. His figure is full, too full for
elegance but his movements are far from awk-
ward, and he appears quick and energetic Re-
port says that he is an excellent horseman and
skilful hunter He listens to Victor Hugo with
the interest Of man who knows that attention is
tribute due to genius. Lamartine Is not there
He has gone to Asia Minor, to take possession
of the manor given him by the Sultan.
Why should add that the eloquent appeals OF
Victor Hugo were without effect. You, who are
a passed high master in the science of liberty,
know that the law against the press was necessary
the moment the law against universal suffrage
was passed The one implied the other. Class
privileges, corruption and injustice, may be sus-
tanned 20 long as they are hid from public view ;
.S they are axr-~~d, sA.y AZ like hidcses
night birds before the light Of day Convince the
intelligent poor man, if you can, that he should
submit to be paris in society, that he should be
willing to intrust his fortunes and dearest inter-
ests to bankers, rich Jews, and men incrusted
with selhshness and corrupted by luxury. You
cannot convince him, and If you persist, you must
Kill him or put out the light of his intelligence
| know that there are in the United States many
avaricious Christians of tender consciences, who
would wish to compound for the sin Of holding
slaves by instructing them. This is pitiable fee
bleness. The Southern stakeholder and the
French Reaction know that the only safe way to
perpetrate oppression is to do it in the dark The
former forbids teaching the slave to read, and
the latter destroys the press This is the mex
orable logic of tyranny, whether it is in Europe
or America
The institution Of the jury must next be mod
flied so as to conform to the laws on suffrage and
the press II a privileged class has alone the
right to vote and to print, il must have that of
judging and furnishing This is the wanting term
Of the proportion. The jury must go next, and
would risk the favor Of your readers on the
prediction.
What shall | say Of the new law against the
press, except that it will destroy nne-tenths of
the French newspapers, and place the rest at the
mercy of the Ministry for the time being Those
that survive the stamp-tax may be prosecuted for
a dozen offences in one day. and found in one ar
ticle. On each prosecution, the journal must
deposite in advance one-half Of the highest 6ue
that may be imposed for the offence. As the trial
may be postponed for any time and the number
Of prosecutions is unlimited, the Ministry may
demand deposite Of several millions from the
publisher. What capitalist will risk his capital
in publishing an opposition paper, on conditions
30 hard as these2
There are members of the legislative majority |
who regret deeply having entered on the high |
road to reaction for they tremble for the conse-
quences. But they cannot stop now. You re-
member the fable Of the horse, which, to CRAFTY
his animosity against the stag, permitted the man
to mount him and hunt down the stag. After his |
enemy was killed, he found it impossible to dsem
barrass himself Of his rider. This unfortunate
beast is the type Of that repeutant fraction Of the
majority.
The Reaction is becoming more and more hardy |
Last Monday, M Rouher, the Minister Of Justice, |
called the Revolution of February "a verita bic |
catastrophe" and President Dupin did not call |
him to order, nor did the majority disavow hin.
This insult to the Revolution which drew him |
out of Obscurity was unbeoomiDg, to say the
least in the Minister of Louis Bonaparte, the re-
turned exile. But it indicates very surely the
determination Of the administration TO patch up |
some sort of royalty for the benefit of Louis
Bonaparte. The ingratitude Of the President
to the Republic is only another proof that men
without intellect are, almost without exception.