Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-03-15

TO resort to court Of law against any functionary
who acts Illegally towards him. The second is the
right 10 express and if he pleases publish his opin.
ion. IL is q right which constitutes the liberty of
the press-a liberty which can only exist in the con-
diton Of not being subjected either 70 previous au-
thOrzation or an inspection which amounts To Gen.
sure. Does the liberty Of the press exist to-day p
No doubt there are inconvenience in the liberty Of
the press No doubt the press often abuses its rights
But the public reprobaton not legal repression. is
the true remedy for these abuses. II is impossible
to ascertain the true measure of liberty of the press
but by usage. Where are we TO begul Is France
to be condemned to a perpetual minority The
question is whether il is not better to make the trial
OF free press under a strong government than I'M
der a week one To that question | want an an
swer (Cheers.) But il is not enough that the citi-
zen should enjoy the nvOability of his person and
thoughts he is entitled also TO the invoabllty OF
his preferences when he is called upon 10 choose
representative. That is what is called electoral lib
erty In principle, government has no right TO hgure
al an election: because it is not the government
but the country that is 10 be represented But
this absolute neutrality being difficult to prac-
tse the government should at any rate inter-
fere in fair and decent manner Ii certainly ought
not to use public funds behalf Of its candidates.
Qntenupton.) Once the representatives assembled
in the chamber, they should enjoy the most entire
liberty. If fleets and armies are placed on a war
footing the deputies should be entitled to ask the
government what it is going to do with them
The chamber should not be reduced 10 deplore mis-
takes and to pay for them. (Cheers.) Without the
right of Interpolation there is no guarantee for the
political rights Of the nation. A simple right Of re-
mOnstrance is not enough. The opinion of the re-
peentatves OF the people must be the rule of action
of the government. Applause on several benches)
When the opinion Ofthe nation is not in accord with
that Of the executive power republic changes the
head Of the State; but under the mOnarchial rule
which prevails in Europe, the ministers Of the crown
are changed. Not to admit this system is to deprive
the national will of all sanction. Before experience
taught people better, very severe penal laws were
exacted against responsible ministers; but expert
ence has simplifed matters, and proved that bet
ter thing than Draconian laws j. that delicacy Of
high-mnded men which makes it repugnant to them
TO govern a country without tAr arprobatOn of the
governed. These are necessary iberties-liberties
implied in the principles Of 1859. Others may be
asked for but these-cannot be dispensed with. TIE
entire world has pronounced its verdict on this ques
ton"
. We do not exactly know the limits pre-
scrbed to debate in the French Chambers, but
such freedom as was INDUCED by NJ. THEIRS is
scarcely exceeded by members of the Ameri-
can Congress, or ofthe British Parliament; and
NJ. THEIRS says that the United States and
England are the only really free countries.