New-York tribune., 1867-03-29
PARIS.
THE NEW LAWS ON THE PRESS AND PUBLIC MEETINGS
THE sUSPENsIvK VETO IN TIE sENATE-oTHER
POLITICAL ToPICs-THE EXIIBuION-MUs!C AND
THE DRAMA

THE SUSPENsIYK VETO IN TIE SENAIE-OIHER
POLITICAL ToPIcs-THE EXIIBuION-MUs'c AND
THE DRAMA.
From SPECIAL Correspondent
PARIS, March 10. 1867.
We have now the official text of the proposed new
law, on that il ssdlnst, the pres and public meet
ipgs ] nave only room to speak Of their moro im-
portant provisions. Any French person persons i'll
full standing may start political periodical without
previous authorization obtained of the Government,
and may set mp aprinting press booksellers shop
without a special license; and in case Of committing
any one of the numerous crimes offenses to which
the dangerous professions of writing printing pub
fishing and bOOkselling are exposed shall be pun
isbed after trial without ury) by the decision of
judicial instead of at the discretion Of an admnistra
tive officer This the permssive and liberal side OF
the new law OF its restrictive side well of exist
ing restrictions outside Of it in other laws will say
nothing nOw but come to the Tcprcssive penal side.
The penalties fines rising from 800 to 5000 francs
suspension of publication of journal for from two to
SIR months lby which time suspension will be the same
as hangng suppression and deprivation Of the guilty
parys o1cse Of The eectire franchise for period not
erceeding fre gears. These penalties inflicted by
Judge of "a lower court who is appointed and may
be promoted by Government after trial without jury,
instituted by prosecuting officer who is also ap-
pointed by and looking to promotion from Govern
ment The penalties of suspension, suppression, and
fine may be Professionally enforced, awaiting the re-
suit of new trial appeal SO much for the present
reform
Frenchmen NAV meet together on the following
among other conditions: that neither politics nor
religion arc treated of at the meeting; that seven
inhabitants OF the commune where 1t is to be
held submit a statement of the place, day, opening
hour and object of the meeting at least day be-
fOTehand TO the project or subprefoct obtain re-
ceipt from hIm Of the same, and hold said re-
ceipt ready to show at call OF the Government
hat GoVeTumQnf he who
may dissolve the assembly the moment when qucs-
tons foreign to its declared object introduced, or
when IL becomes tumultuOus that 1t diSSOIyes itself
at before the usual hour for closing cafes etc;
that il be held under prefect may adjourn,
and the Minister of the Interior prohibit any meeting
which seems to him likely to be" troublesome.
Between the issuing of the Imperial decree for cleo
tOns of deputies TO the Legislature and the five days
last preceding the opening OF the polls. political
meetings may be held under various restrictions adj
ditlonai 10 those Just enumerated. Violation Of the
prescriptions of this law, also of those of other
istng laws bearing on public meetings is punishable
by fine, Imprisonment and deprivation OF electoral
rights SO much for free speech reform.
few hopeful persons expected, great body of
conservatives dreaded more than this from the letter
OF the 18th January There is reason for thinking
that the author of that ambiguous paper intended
something at the date of it-a little mOrc-but
has been over persuaded by the argument of his
servative counselOTs, who alarmed even at such
slight progress. And their alarm is reasonable for
here is progress, AS was saying III the other letter
the measure OF progress, is not to be tried by the
distance yet to be travelled, but by the distance
gained from the point Of departure; the worth of
the movement lies certainly not in the rate of speed
In this case, but i'll the fact that it is movement
the old QUE as fsadins of the organic decree OF
February. 1852. will show yoh. The new law, hamp-
erng and restricting public meetings is better than
the old law, that suppressed them entirely. But
what g better neither of these laws can be long for
this life Each contains suicidal elements-a little
yeasty element that will gradually eaven the whole
mass II it be let rise, or else burst the cover off
They cannot stand unchanged for fifteen years
must be modified, forward to prevent or backward
TO hasten revolution 10 is from intelligent or in
they arc 50 dstasteful to thorough conservatives.
lucy will pass by al unwilling majority vote Of tho