The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-07


males could by possibility have recor ed theil
votes. But despotism has no true principle O
government to fear.
fhe popular support of universal suffrage wa,
not enough as long as it was not backed BY ter
lrr; and, accordingly, these seizures and depor
Ions have been made, not only to remove from
france persons obnoxious to the government
but to strike terror into the whole community
No class Of society has been spared. TIE ban
ished or deported representatives include moi
only the leaders of secret societies, but men like
Agricol Perdiguier, justly endeared to the work
ing classes to which they belong the army il
outraged by the expulsion of Generals Changa-
nier and Lamoriciere the bar by that of NJ
Baze the press by that of Mr.. Girardin litera.
Isture and society by that of Mr. de Remusat, M
Victor Hugo, NJ. Quinet, and nj. Theirs. A
government which proscribes its opponents
while itrepresents them as powerless minori
ty, can have little confidence in the justice or Sc
curity of its cause. We have reason to believe
that it was seriously proposed by General st.
Arnaud and another Of the ministers, to trans
port Gen. Changarpier and Colonel Charras to
Cayenne, though the government was saved from
the infan.y OF such proceeding by the resist.
ance ofM. de Morny. SO much ostensible snc-
cess might at least have pleaded for little less
oppression.
10 most Of those TINS abruptly torn from
their homes, their professions aud their country,
exile is total ruin. 1t has even been limited that
representations OF property, and npon The largest
scale, are held in terrorem over the heads of
those who may be supposed to be most hottie
to the present state OF things, though they no
longer inhabt the territory of France. The un
fortunate wretches now on the point Of sailing
for Cayenne will be landed on swampy island
in South America, cut off by river league
wide from the mainland Of French Guiana,
situated only four degreesnorth Of the equator
and utterly devoid even Of the resources Of
manual industry. The population Of Cayenne
does not exceed 1000 whites and 5000 negroes,
Ind the colony is totally unprepared for the re-
ceptions of a large immigration Of men who have
figured in the political and social life of France.
To call it penal settlement would be an out
rage on the former government of Ffance, for,
none Of them would have dared TO found a penal
settlementin climate VIGOROUSLY destructive
to European life. 1t is bagne for liberal
opinions transported within The tropics, and
filled with journalists and politicians, not by the
courts of justice, but by the authority Of the
police.
All that we have heard before with dread and
disgust of the military colonies of Russia, of
Siberian exile, Of the prisons of Naples, or the
carcere dro of the Spieiberg, sinks into nothing
compared with the wholesale confinement of
such a class Of men in such part of the globe
as Snamar or Cayenne. The measure taken
by General Cavaignac in June, I84S, was severe
and extra legal, when be sent thousands of
prisoners taken on the barricades to the hulks
of Cherbdurg and Btest; but il is absurd to
compare the fate of men taken in arms against
The legal government of their country, with
that of men whose only crime is that they.
would have defended the legal insti utions of
their country against military and absoluti.t
it they had possessed the means of
doing so. The punishment of lS48 may have
been harsh, but that of 1852, with no provoca-
ton, is inhuman.
The generals and statesmen, prescribed by
authority and expelled from France, will be re.
ceived in this country with the respect due To-
their personal emineace, their political opinions.
AID their innocence for it is vain to deny that
England now affords the only secure refu1e to
men who have represented their country in her
embassies, in her paramenis, and in her armies.
Belgium and switzerland are already intimidatedl
by their powerful neighbors, 1.-the mainten.
aDce OF their neutrality and indenlence renders
it iuexpedient for them to rid themselves as
much as possible of foreign refugees. But If
we are told as we believe Lord Paltnerston was
told some weeks ago, that the presence Of these
refugees upon our shores il a source OF danger
To foreign States, we would ask by whose act
II Is that these persons are here! When the
French government banishes by decree 80 or 90
persons of political or literary eminence, where
are they expected to 60 Ito what port are they
consigned what countryis mentioned in their
passports and their feniiie DE- -oute? 1t Is GER
tain that We should have but few emiprants 10
tins country, where everything is strange and
everything dear, IL they were not virtually sent
here blythe very powers which afterwards accuse
ms Of harboring their encmies.
Aslong as Frenchmen, be their opinions what
they my, live 10 France, they areboYud TO obey
the exiting laws. and they may be punished for
breaking them. Bot when government sends
It's adyersaries across TIE frontier 10 adjoining
territories, where u ceases to have sny control
over their persons or their actions and where Il
knows that the law takes no ccgaiz ince of what
are regarded elsewhereas political offences, that
government is debarred by IL, own act from re.
monstranee. Thesa fresh Iists Of French pro-
scription consisi Of men virtually sent here by
order Of the French government; and IL their
presence in uds free country causes any annoy
ance 10 u. Lonis Nnpt leon, he must be content
10 remember that they are now in the position
which he employed 10 direct bis own conspira.
cies and expeditions against tae constitutional
monarchy Of France.
From Broom Sr.Shipleg's Circular.