The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-04-10

mander-in chief of the district, and the pro.
cureur general. These commissioners were em.
powered to examine the cases Of all prisoners.
to set such as appeared innocent at liberty, and
to inflict due punishment on the rest. This sort
of Investigation fell far short of fair trial, but
was thought favorable change from the mill
tary tribunals, especially as it was believed that
the measure was dictated by feelings of modera-
ton and humanity on the part OF the govern
ment. The result has proved that the mercifu
motives attributed to the government were not
quite deserved. Some people have been set at
liberty against whom no charge could be
brought; but, though admitted to be innocent,
almost all of them have been forced to leave
their homes, some having been orderedto leave
France. With regard to the rest, all that is
known (for the proceedings Of the commission
are as secret as, and more summary than, those
of the inquisiton) is, that some thousands of
them have been condemned to transportation to
Cayenne, Lambessa, and Algeria, and that we
almost every day find accounts in the papers of
huge conveys of those prisoners proceeding to
the different seaports on the way to their Danish
ment 279 condamnss from the departments of
the Var, Vaucluse, and the Bouches du Rhone,
were embarked on board the Scion, at Marseil
les, on the lst of NJ arch, for Algeria 298 con,
damneS, from the Herault and Bases AIpes
arrived at Algers on the 4th, in the Labrador,
where they joined another convoy of l33 who
had preceded them; 496 cOndamnes arrived at
Havre on the 9th of March, and among these
were III persons who had been arrested on the
previous day only. (the THU and who were sent
off without trial, Of course, but without any
known reason; go condamneS, from the. neigh.
borhood of Bourges and Movers, were brought
on the 18th from Orleans TO the fort of Bca
tre,. and there they probably still reman
and on the night of the 18th inst, 800 of these
unfortunates were sent off from the fort of Iyry,
in the outskirts of Paris, for Ilayre, on their way
to Cayenne. There are probably many more
conveys, but these instances appear in the pa
pers OF the last two days, and show to what an
enormous extent the system is carried
1t would be hardly credited in England If
were to attempt to describe the horrors to which
this wholesale system Of expiration gives rise.
Many instances are known in which persons in
respectable stations in life have been arrested
IN The streets for no known reason, and have
been carried from prison TO prison till their
friends have lost sight of them Where they
are now, whether in France, in Algeria, or on
their way TO Cayenne, no one can tell, for the
authorities will say nothing All that can Ger
talnIy be said is, that If alive, they cannot com
the severity exercised against The press. a Paris
paper, which has shown rather more spirit under
oppression than its contemporaries, ventures TO.
day 10 say -" IL would be important to have
details on these proscripts, to know in precise
manner what are their names, to what depart
ments they belong, what their degree of cuba.
blllty, what procedure has been followed in re-
spect to them, on what proofs or what testimony
were founded the sentences which destroy their
careers, sever them from the objects Of their
affections, and ruin their interests for what
motives some OF them have been placed at the
disposition of tie minister of the marine, to be
transported to French Guiana, while Others are
placed at the disposal of the minister of war.
to be transported to Algeria But, besides the ban.
lshment TO Guiana and Lambessa which is only
detnitive after the sanction of the Government.
the mixed commissions sentence persons accused
to the minor punishments, such as expulsion
from the French territory, temporary Danish
ment, enforcement in another department, and the
placing under the surveillance of the police.
How many parents and friends desire TO know
the category in which the objects of their afec.
tons are ranked, and of whose fate thew know
nothing beyond the fact of their being arrest. /
ed !" The Steele then states some of the m. |
mours ooze out at intervals, because thew are
men who have held public positions. Thus i'll
IS know that among those sent TO Cayenne are |
NM. NJ OF, late representative; Poonim, former |
ly in a responsible position in the prefecture of
police; Agerion, editor of the Trauailleur
Pate, notary at Chagny; Saliva, Colonel of
national guard Of Sotteyle; Leclerc de Chan |
COLBERT, advocate at Sens, &c but il adds that |
the great bulk of the condemned persons is |
unknown, and that the obscurity which weighs
upon Their fate is never-ceasing anxiety in .
great number of families" The journal II |
tsndre e. Lore gives long list Of persons who
have been simply ordered 10 leave France
Many of them have never been arrested, and do |
not know why they are expelled All the in. |
formation they receive is passport force sent
to them by the police, with orders 10 leave the
territory Of France within eight DAYS. The list
contains the names Of advocates, attorneys.
solicitors, school. masters, editors, physicians.
apothecaries, farmers, &c, &c
PANS, March 26.
Lettess received from the departments bring
fresh accounts Of the violent proceedings of the /
mixed commissions. In the department Of
the Gironde (of which Bordeaux il the cnpilal.) |
80 persons have been condemned (withon trial. /
10 exile-among whom are nearly one. half Of
the members Of the council general Of the de-
pariment, several magistrates, advocates, and
literary men. In several instances, the projects
have sent for the editors Of the newspapers. and
ordered them 70 publish articles in favor Of the
government under a penalty Of having their
papers suppressed The editors are not even
allowed to observe neutrality. Two Of the edi
tors of the Gironds are among the cxiles.
although that paper has not written line Of
comment on public affairs since the coup fetaf.
The following is an official account Of the
tate OF the pri'oDers arrested in one single de
parlineni-namely, that Of the Bases. Alpes--
in consequence OF The disturbances which sue
ceeded the COUP d'etai of the "a of December
The total number Of prisoners amounted 90
l,6i8. OF these 557 were set at liberty but
out Of this number 346 still remain under the
surveillance Of The police; 60 are banished from
the department Of the Basses .Alpes, and forced
10 take mp their residence in some distant vii