The Associations Suppression Bill passed the French Chamber of Deputies
on Tuesday, by a majority of 2416 to 15-1. No amend- ment of any consequence was made in it ; and no limit is fixed to its duration. It is to become part of the French constitution; if a country can be said to possess a constitution, where a deadly despotism is maintained by the ruling powers. Several members of the Societe des Droits de l'Homme, who expected to become the first victims of the new law, have left the country. The state of France under the Doctrinaires, the sub- servient instruments of the King in the oppression of his people, is eloquently described in the following extract from the letter of a correspondent, written, it will be seen, before the bill had passed.
" The law against Associations moves on, making havoc as it goes among all the guarantees of public freedom. Here is a Ministry loudly proclaiming, that If twenty citizens are allowed to meet together, it cannot answer for its own existence ! Truly, this is a miserable plight for le grande nation. Bastinadoell in the street by the Police—laughed at to side.splitting by its Repre.,entatives, when the tale is told them of the assassinations of the people—the Jury really suppressed—and the newspapers of the Holy Alliance avowing that Louis Pirmir lees purified himself in the quarantine of despotism—here are the results of the glorious three dogs! here is the exhibition of the popular sove- reignty! Will it last?—Why should it not ? What does popular opinion, what do the people count on, in that wretched work of monopoly which they call their Charter Y What right has that Charter recognized ? The right of a two-hun- dredth part of the nation.
" In England, at all events, there are, there always have been, some local and popular influences. In France there ne none : France presents the very beau ideal of Walpolian policy. There are about one hundred places in every arrondissement: every one of them, to the last and least, is in the gift of the Government ; and is given through tile Ministerial Deputy. Do you wonder at the servility of the Centres? or at the majorities which the Cabinet reckons in the Chambers? If you do, how blind you must be ! " But why du the people bear it ?—The inople, alas ! what can the people do? They cannot vote ; they dare not even assemble ; they must pay the taxes —that is their privilege, their citizenship ; but beyond that—they are nothing.
" Cannot they write? cannot they establish newspapers ? 0 yes! if they can place 200,000 francs in bard money in the hands of the Government, which is necessary as a preliminary measure : 0 yes! if they can submit to have their pro- perty seized day after day—without judge or jury—without any means of resis- tance, in hope of restitution ! " Why do not the different parts of France communicate with one another, and get rid of the yoke of ignominy ?—Why not ! You cannot stir a step with- out a passport ; you must tell the Police where you are going, and what you are doing. Know you not, there is a tutelary Government, to prevent your med- dling with public affairs ?
"And what have you to do with public affairs? What, indeed! Is not the Government especially appointed to watch them? You would meddle—St. Pelagic is too good for you! There is a barren rock called St. Michel in the midst of the ocean—go and meditate on reforms there. "Seriously-1 have lived among despots and slaves, but have seldom seen the insolence of the one or the humiliation of the other more strikingly exhibited than here among the dominant few and the subjugcted many."
Our correspondent takes a desponding view of the state of public feeling in France; yet we cannot believe that the people of that country will long submit to the odious tyranny under which they seem destined to groan for a time. In the mean while, we may repeat our last week's exhortation, that while we hold the conduct of the French Government in abhorrence, we should let slip no opportunity of cementing the closest alliance between the English and French People.
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