The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-11-08
SATURDAY. NOVEMBER 8. 1851
Kew they Manage In Europe.

old world, SO is the violence aud anarchy
which accompany revolutionary changes.
Many persons. who invariably sympathize
with the ruling class abroad, of which they know
nothing beyond the graces and grimaces of the
drawing take up with the prejudces and
passions of that class, and rapidly imbibe its
terrors and panics, without calculating their
soundness, or still less approaching their in
stinctive causes.
which the government is formed in Europe, are
not to be blamed for the vicious systems which
there universally prevail. They are only cul
pable for their blindness in perpetu,ting what is
morally injurious to themselves, and degrading,
by its effects aud example, on the nations.
Perhaps nothing has tended more to keep
down humanity than the low tone Of govern
mental action. If any good mas ever sprung
from the ruling class, it has been by the forma-
ton of merely exterior good manners and po-
likeness; but the truth need pot, and should
not, be hid.
So fictitious is the whole system, so hypo.
critical and base, that those who rule, instructive
ly believe their power can be based alone on de-
ceplion, t.ickery, and oppression. Few men
among those educated under that system can
comprehend an honest, straightforward, and
liberal government They have too great
contempt for humanity, which they have helped
to keep down and degrade--they have had too
many proofs Of its vengeance, when let loose,
to believe in any real cipability Of sef'govern-
ment by the masses. Hence, the excuse for pro
longing systems, which, so long as they exist
more effectually prevent the people from i'm
proving and learning to rule, than if they were
let loose for ten or twenty years TO manage az
they could
These reflections have been created in our
mind by the following anecdotes, which have
been circulating in the papers:
Mr. Buchanan is reported to have said that,
while he was minister to Russia, the government
was quite az well informed as he was of all cor
respondence of diplomatic nature. 1t is
well known fact that Louis XIV. of France, &C
tuaIly kept twenty clerks secretly occupied in
intercepting letters by mail, and making ex.
tracts from them. II was in that manner Louis
discovered that one of his minister's (ths Count
d'Argensson,) upon whom he had lavished ia
vors, was in the habit of writing to favorite
MISTRESS in which he spoke without reserve or
respect of the kings character. Such things,
however, are very rare at this time. Not obso-
lete, however, We imagine"
The conclusion, /" Such things, however, are
very rare at this time" is sufficiently amusing,
and denotes in the writer an amount of igno-
rance in European matters, that but too gener-
ally prevails in this country.
The organization of the police system is one
of the most extraordinary parts of the despotic
government of Europe. Just much as with it
no truly republican government can exist, so no
despotism can maintain itself without it. What
is bad and oppressive, is alone maintained by
what is artful, hypocritical, and lying.
The police system TO which the above anec-
does relate, is even more perfect now than it
ever was before; and the examination Of private
correspondence is an essential part of it. In.
deed, the one could hardly exist without the
other. The police has its agents in every class
of society-the very highest not excepted-and
the actions of all are watched, and the rery
words if need be, are reported to the chefs"
or heads of bureaux, and by them, when neces-
sary, to the government. The police, again, is
watched by counter police, unknown to the
first personally. Thus, failure of duty is in
stantly reported; and the agent is arrested and
punished without his ever knowing who be-
trayed him.
The most perfect system is generally sup
posed to be that of France-and perhaps the
best proof that it is so, may be derived from the
circumstance that applications have frequently
been made TO the French Project to send some
of his most skilfu agents to Russia and Austria,
to assis. in perfecting the police in those coun-
tres. And these applications have always been
complied with.
Every stranger that sets foot on the continent ;,
is watched and reported for time and il he be
found quiet and respectable" no further aiten-
ton Is paid to him. But should he have strong
opinions and ever express them. he will never
be lost sight Of.
The police Of all countries have an under.
standing with each other. There is scarcely an
action Of any government that is not imme diatey
known to all the others and that through an
agency independent of each government, and
beyond its reach. To perfect such system the
opening of letters becomes a necessary part
since the agents cannot see everything, although
they may communicate information as to plans
and intentions.
In Paris. one bureau for this purpose exists at
the minister of the interior. and the "chef" or
head receives salary of u 900 francs, or S24oo
The organization in other countries is much the
same. In England precisely the same thing
exists, with all the apparatus for the opening
and re-soaing of letters, without the appearance
of infrnction. Complaints have been repeatedly
made to Parliament aga,ost scandaous an in
reference with the rights Of citizens; but even
Parliament was impotent to medd,e with this
essential provision of European poyerumepl