Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-05-14
THE PRESS IN FRANCE.

Our readers are already apprized, by information
brought by late arrivals from Europe, that prosccu
tions had been instituted in the French Courts for
the punishment of correspondents at Paris for jour
mails out of Paris, and, understand, even of
correspondents for journals without the limits of
France. This is carrying the supervision such
correspondence very far beyond the idea entertained
in this country of the freedom Of the press and
the immunity Of its correspondents. But this we
might expect to be the case, to certain extent, in
Government constituted as that of France now is !;
and we are not surprised therefore, to learn that
judgments have been obtained by the Police of
France, with limited penalties of fine and mprison'
ment in several Of these suits.
We have seen Letters from Americans in Paris
which represent it possible, however, that these
penalties will be RENTED in part, if not entirely,
the authorities being satisfied with having obtained
Judgment from the Courts in favor of the Gov
eminent.
In relation to this matter, Letter from an Anne
rican citizen in Paris now before US, states the
following particulars
The Government has gained two points in this affair
and will probably be content The Foreign correspond
ents have received lesson that win make them
prudent henceforh, and the Judiciary has rendered
important decision sancionng in the Police the practice
Of opening in the post office suspected private letters
Here extract from the judgment ITSELF furnished by
the Court for publication
"Consilerng that, If by the terms of existing egs
ation and particularly by Art S7 of the penal code
missionaries and agents of the Government and OF the
Post Office administration, forbidden either 10 sup
press or to open letters confded the said administa
ton this disposition reach the Project of Police
acting hy virtue OF powers conferred upon him BY Art ~
ia of mall Instr tim.
Considering that the law, in giving to him the mis-
sion to investigate Offences to collect evidence in support
Of them and hand their authors to the tribunals
charged with furnishing them has not limited the means
placed at his disposition for attaining that end:
That, in fact the right Of perquisien in aid Of ju
dica nstruconsis solemnly affirmed numerous legal
dispositions and that it is OF common law in this matter
That the seizure in question was made in order 70
follow the trace of an offence that il resulted in the dis
covcry Of useful and important facts; that finally, the
authors OF the have been prosecutedn court
of justice:
Considering moreover that the Court is not called
upon inquire into the origin Of documents submitted to
its appreciation that its mission merely TO establish
their authenticity their snceriy that in fact the let
tiers in question not denied by their authors:
For these the letters declared admissible
as evidence" &c.
The following are stated to be the terms Of Art Isl
Of the penal code which ausion is made above-a lite
ral and exact translation
Isl. Every suppression every opening Of letters
hded to the post Office, committed facilitated JV tHe
tonary agent Of The Government Of the post Office adj
ninstration shall be punished by fine Of from sixteen
francs FIVE hundred francs and BY Imprisonment OF
from three months 70 FIVE years. The osender shall
moreover, be inerdcted from filling any public function
employment for the space Of five years least and Of
ten at most
Here is the Of Art 10 Of the Cole Of Criminal
Instruction which the Court nvokcs justification Of the
opening of letters by the police
10 The projects Of the departments AMI the project
q the police at Paris may do personally may require
the judicial police officers DO, all necessary the
purpose Of establishing crimes misdemeanors, and in
fractions Of the law aud Of handing their authors
the tribunals charged with Furnishing them conformaby
to article above
" Art. g. just referred TO- is in these words
:" THE judicial police investigates crimes, misde-
eanors and infractaas Of the law collects evidence in
support Of them, and hands their authors the t
bunals charged with Furnishing them
The doctrine just announced by the French Courts Las
led correspondent to cite the following despatch
CARsor, Minister of Napoleon l. The law was the same
then To be sure, (says the wrer,) this
despatch Of Napoeons Minister written during the
Hundred Days, when his Ministry was endeayorinr 10
concate favor and recover popularity BY gnng scru-
pulous respect for law and for the fundamental pncp
Of liberty But the document is nevertheless really inte
resting st the present moment
MINISTRY OF THE IxrrR1oR
"PARIs May 3, 1915
The Minister Of tie Interior Count Of he Empire 10 w.
Prefsf Of The Department Of -.
- informed, NJ lie Prefet, that in several portion
Of the empire the secrecy Of correspondence has beer
violated by the agents Of the administration. Who
have authorized such proceedings VIII their author
say that they desired the Government and do IL
will? Conduct like this in the officers Of the Admins
traon is to the Emperor it to caumniate hi
Majesty His Majesty does ask for, he rejects th
homage Of devotion dsavowed by the laws. And tn
laws have they not all eoncurred since 1889 in declaring
that the secrecy Of letters is nvoable All misfor
during the various periods of the revolution hav
from the violation Of principles 1t is time to
turn to them. You will please therefore, Monsieur Il
Prefe be prosecuted with the whole rgor Of the
laws this violation Of Of the sacred rights Of
society The thoughts Of citizen should be free hi.
person itself
Accept Monsieur le Prefe, the assurance Of my per
feet consideration. C.RSor
Judge EDWARD Johnson, Of the seventh judicial district
Of Virginia, died Monday last at Pocahontas Court
house. where he engaged time in the discharge
OF his Official duties The disease pneumonia which