Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-12-22

TriaI OF IIontaIembert.

The trial Of Montaiembertf for aIibel on Government
had just closed at the last dates from Paris. He
was convicted and sentenced 10 one month impris-
Onment and fine Of 1000 fraucs. Tae oorfsspon-
dent Of the London T,nss gives the following de-
scriptiOn Of the manner in which the trial COM
meneed:
The name Of Charles Douniol the publisher Of The
Correspondent, was then called He rose and pre-
sented himself at the bar. He was asked in the
usual form his name age place Of birth. profes sion,
Sc. To the question whether be admitted the pub
licstion Of the article IS gsrqnt director Of the
Correspondent. he replied that be had no knowledge
that il contained any guilty matter, that he had
acted with perfect good faith and that the article
was passed as usual by he secretary Of the Redac
ton Some other questions of q similar kind were
asked. and be was then desired to sit down. The
President, after intimating TO the audience that
any sign Of appreciation or disapprobation would
be Al once represssd, and that any one deteoted in
violating the order would be taken into Gu tody and
punished for contempt Of court, called upon NJ de
Moutalembsrt to stand up. In the midst Of the
deepest silence he did 30, standing By his counsel
The President said
[" What is your name Z"
"Charles, Count de MOntalemberL"
"Ehat agei"
"Forty eight"
s'What is your profession ?"
"Former Peer Of France"
Where were you born %
s'In Paris
"Do you admit the authorship Of the article en-
titled UH Ds5at FInde a,s Pariessat AHglais2'"
DO. I admit the authorship and assume ell The
responsibility Of it''
He was thea examined as to the meaning Of the
passages alleged to be libellous. and which have
already given. He was asked whether he did net
mean to describe as the Imperial Government sthe
Of ~,
ed with servle and corrupt miasmata f" and Whsiher
he did not mean BY saying that he went tO breathe
an air more pure, and take life bath In free Eng
land as an attack on the institutions Of his counS
try. M. de Montalsmbert said he meant no attack
in the sense implied by the Law; he merely stated
certain facts and 1t could be only by msiuteTpreia
tiOn that such meaning could be auaeked 10 it. He
asked whether in the passage where be said ''be
did not pretend to convert those progressive spirits
who regard Parliamentary Government as adVan-
tagsously replaced by universal suffrage, nor the
political optimists who profess that tie supreme vic
tory Of Democracy consists in sbdeating in the
hands Of q monarch the exclusive direction Of the
foreign and domestic affairs Of the country" and
that she wrote for his satisfaction, and that Of
a small number Of invslids, Of the curious, and if
you wish, Of maniacs," be did not mean an attsek
on universal suffrage Gad the rights the EmrerOr
held from the Constitution. NJ. de Montalembert
declared that his meaning vas quite clear; he meant
II
vert s'men Of progress" who differed from him-he
and those who thought with him; he merely stated
fact, and nothing more
He was asked whether be did not mean to affirm
that France had not lost her freedom when he said
that "In Canada noble French and Catholic race
Of people, unfortunately torn from cur country, but
remaining French in heart and in msnners, owes 70
England the preservation or the acquisition, with
entire religious liberty, Of all the political and mu
nicipal liberties which France had repudisted," So.
He said he simply stated an historical fact, with
which every one Wss acquainted, and which no one
could deny. There could be no doubt that when
the colony belonged 10 France France did possess
certain political and municipal ins itutiens which
she possesses no longer but which are still main
tanned in Csnsds Sarely there was no attack on
the Imperial Government BY saying that it was
France herself who repudiated these institutions.
He was asked whether be did not mean an attsek
on the laws by saying ''We have net only the habits
but even the instincts Of those wise and prrdsnt
people, who eternally minors, who permit them
selves occasionally frightful Irregularities but who
fall again into civic impotence where ne one speaks
but BY permission, with the sslutary terror Of an
apsrtsssmsRt if be venture ever little to eensure
the ideas Of the Government or Of the mob" He
said that be simply stated the fact that the aver
tsseHsats given by authority in the cases al
luded to. He was asked a few more questions to
the same PurPOrt, and then was allowed to resume
his seat.
As be sat down what was thought to be a mark Of
appreciation was heard from some near the door;
was very light for except in the immediate vioin-
ity, very few heard it. The President repeated
rather sterny his order and declared that to maiu
tain silence and deoorum in the assembly, the power
at the disposal OF the court would, if necessary be
employed.