The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-05-25
F o r E I G N .
THE MAILS OF THE NIAGARA.
POLITICAL DISCUSSIONS IN FRANCE.

fOLlIlCAII DISCUSSlONS In fhANCE.
The Paris correspondent of the Times says:-The
statement that freedom of Speech and even severe
criticism of governmental administration is every
where and on all occasions ruthlessy prohibited in
France, must be received with considerable mOdit-
cation. 1t is certainly true that discussions lnyol
wing systematic opposition to the government are
not permitted in the periodical press, but also be-
lieve that the spontaneous servility of writers
meets more than halfway official eXactions; and,
moreover, that many of the restrictions imposed on
what may be termed social intercourse, and the re-
pressive measures which may disturb it, are often
attributable to the excessive zeal of subordinates,
irrespectively of the commands or wishes of the
government and its chief
Doubtless when the origin OF the right of the i'm
perial government is called in question, liberty of
discussion is inexorably suppressed But If its legi-
timacy were once accepted by political parties as
| an accomplished fact, | believe that no great re-
straint would be laid upon the fair criticism of its
acts. have heard of impartial persons, well ac-
quanted with the society ofParis-persons of who ac-
quired great emnence in the service OF previous
governments, who are far from friendly to the
imperial regime, and who rightly or wrongly, doubt
its duration-who declare that social intercourse is
now as free as it has been within their memory
in Frances and that if the Empire could be seriously
accepted, searching criticism would not be regarded
with much disfavor
few months since the scientific writers for the
Paris press founded club; and, with view to pro-
mote the diffusion of scientific knowledge, held a
meeting every Monday, in the Chaussee dAntin,
branches of science debated. The Society of polti-
cal Economists, too, meet and dine together once a
month-not in private house. but in of the
most public resorts in Paris; and they discuss with
the utmost latitude all questions bearing policy
in matters of trade and expose, with complete free
dom the evils inflicted on France, by the stupidi-
ty, bigotry, and selishness of the Protectorate.
Purely political questions interdicted by the
rules of the Society," which has existed for the last
Is years. To it belong of the most eminent
economists of the day, including exPeers of France
ex-Deputies and even Ministers of Louis Phlllppe
They have President, Vice-Presidents, and Secre-
taries and their circulars of convocatl0n are regu
larly sent round through thepOstoihce us TINS So
cety which continues wholesome agitation In favor
of a cause to which several members OF the lmpe-
rial Government are notoriously hostile.
After the first meeting or two of the Scientific
Society in the Chaussee dAntn the police agent of
the district waited the occuper of the apartment
where IL is held-for it is contrary to the law which
existed long before the Empire, for more than
twenty people to meet without previous permission
from the auhoritiesto inquire as to the object of
the meeting On learning its nature he withdrew
and, am assured that not the slightest hindrance
has since been offered, although 20 or so people
accustomed to assemble, and occasionally criticse
Government administration pretty freely.
The DUKE OF WELLINGToN's ToMB.-The following
letter, dated Place, Fowey, Cornwall, April -, and
signed "E. j. Treffry," has been addressed to the
editor of the Times: ga short notification OF the
fact that the final slab has been placed over the re-
mains of the late Duke of Wellington, &C., mas mp-
peared in several of the London Journals J r me tho
writer states that the tomb is constructed Oh tue
purest porphyry, and has been hlghly pohsIeu ny
Messrs Maleott Il Co., the well-known marble lner
chants and manufacturers OF mura monuments
Snow sir have no wish to say one Word IN ols-
paragement of Messrs. Maleott Co., or to take