New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-03-08
FRANCE.


The law upon the Press appeared in the
u..,t<w of yesterday. Ipresume that II was
alien ont BY the intervening steamer, and that
you will have published and digested 1t before
this letter reaches you. II is what was gener-
.ly anticipated except that the article laying an
additional stamp duty on journals containing TO-
pances in the form Of feuilleton, has been sup
pressed. No foreign paper can be admitted INTO
France, without an authorization, and even
when this is obtained, every number VIII De SUD-
iect TO a stamp duty, as If published IN the
eouptry. The manner of collecting this duty
one cent and ifth--wiIl be announced In fu-
ture decree 1t amounts, virtually, to an increase
in the postage. The caution-money is consider
blv increased, the penalties for offenses of all
sorts are largely augmented, and the journalists
are hedged in by as formidable set of repres-
sivs laws as were ever directed against any class
Of decent and respectable citizens. The com
msnts ofthe parties concerned in their editorials
to-day, are various. The Government journals
ore, Of course, abundantly complimentary in their
remarks The Debats dares to say but little, but
il 10 decidedly hostile. The Pays is highly laud-
atoYy. The Assemble Rationale declares that the
Press deserves what they have got-a regime
that binds them hand and foot. Journalists
have had the arrogance of late to assume the
title and the privileges of "the Fourth Estate, p"
and their pretentious foppery requires rough
handling The Presse manages to utterits opln-
ion with such sincerity, and at the same time SO
skillfuly avoids giving offense that cannot for
bear translating portion of its remarks:
eve are sure that the Government will not con-
sider itself illuminated, il say that its la has
not for ts object 10 favor the prosperity and the de-
veiopme at OF Journalism The Government does
not CONCEAL its belief that the Press is an instrument
Of disorder and Of subversion. 1t acts In harmony
with this idea, and We believe that we shall tel an
agreeable truth when say that never did any leg
islation arm Itself against this inveterate enemy,
with 20 formi1 able and so numerous precautions
"As for ourselves, we are convinced that journal
igm still possible under the present law, as under
its predecessor. We have not to renew our pro-
fesson of faith upon the utility OF restriction upon
the Press. Our opinion, that OF the eminent man,
whose ideas survive in this Journal IS we'll know
To reduce the influence OF the Press We continue to
think that there is but one plan possble-to set 1t
free and not to bind il in chains.
Thought is like air and steam, powerful and dan
geYous only when 1t 10 confined.
Moderation in expression does not exclude en-
erey in conception. ,
aJournalism gains in concentration and force all
ave do not conceal from ourselves any OF the diff
heulties which the new law scatten thick upon our
path. But the more difficult and perilous our mis-
SioD. the more honorable 1t becomes
ave know that the menace OF suspe nsion 10 al
ways suspended over our heads and that simple
decree may Vt any moment close our mouth ana an
initiate an orean but we believe that so serious
measure will be unwilliBgy taken by the Govern
ment, unless 1t be supported by public opinion.
"And it in precisely upon this support OF public
opinion the only force that Is ndesTu cble that we
count for sustenance in the difficult career upon
which We are ABOUT TO enter"
This is certainly plain spoken criticism-an
unfinching condemnation Of the Governments
elaborate law. 1t is the most daring declara-
tion Of dissidcnce of opinion between the edi.
tors of q Journal and the authorities that has
appeared since the I'd of December. If frank
ness of this sort is tolerated. the Press will find
itself certainly more at its ease than has been
supposed ., The law takes effect on the LIST of
March. cannot say whether the article CON-
pelling foreign Journals to obtain license, will
be enforced against the few American papers
that find their way into the country. 1t is espe
sially directed against those published in Eng.
land, Belgium, Germany &c, large quantities
of which are imported for daily consumption.
But the stamp duty will be undoubtedly collect
cd from the recipients by the carriers.
The Monittnr, 10 communicated article, fires
tremendous broadside at the busy propagators
Of rumors of war-whether native or foreign
and denies, energetically, all the assertions to
the effect that the Government is meditating an
expedition either across the Channel, or Rhine.
ward, or Alp.ward. Foreign correspondents,
and especially those of the London Journals, are
declared
ITO present the liberation Of the country, by the
aid OF audacious falsehocds, in a point of view
ID Of December, has not armed one additional SOL
der, has hot passed general review, and has done
netting which ought to awake the least susceptible.
lty ON the part Of our nelghbors
" All the views OF the Government are turned 10.
ward internal Improvements Unjust attacks eau
not move n IL viii not depart from its serenity,
unless the rational honor or cignisy should De at
Tackled Its attitude has not been for single instant
other than pacific. and all pieces OF intellisen
which represent II IN another aspect scurrilous
fables, Which, AFTER refatatioa 50 formal as this the
Government will only treat with contempt"
Never, in my recollection, has the courtly
Aosissw employed language so direct and un.
mistakabe. can but regard il as timely and JUS.
nfable. have read in London journals, intelli
gence purporting to come from Paris, which
would seem TO have been written in camp, by
man astride Of cannon, smoking slow-match
by way OF recreation. 1t may certainly be per.
tinently asked, how long usurping army will
be content to remain inactive, and how long a
period will elapse before it will insist on making
itself an opportunity for promotion, for plumber,
for the boisterous gayety Of season OF battle
and victory But no overt act has ye. been CON.
mitsed which can at all warrant the bread asser-
lions and differences of certain of the London
correspondents; an impending war and medi-
tssed invasion do not form the staple CONVEX.
sation in political salons these gentlemen
have pretended.
decree in the Nonitesg abolshes henceforth
and forever all the holidays, anniversaries and