LETTERS FROM PARIS, BY 0. P. Q.

No. VII.

FRANCE—THE PROJECTED LAW AGAINST THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE OF HUMAN SOCIETY, VIZ. THAT OF ASSOCIATION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR.

Paris, 5th March 1834.

SIR—When the naked, savage, wild, untutored inhabitant of those woods which have never been felled—of those forests which have never been traversed but by the feet of beasts of prey—of those prairies which have been eternally green, but never sown and never planted—or of those deserts where the parching rays of a tropical sun stint the growth and consume the vitality of those who in the form of man, but not in the image of God, just breathe anti die,—I say when the inhabitant, barbarous, and natural as he is, is taken from his neverending rovings, and his anxious, watchful, and destroying restlessness, to be introduced to other human beings, and is made to perceive with his eyes, if he cannot comprehend with his mind, masses of men living together and aiding or in. juring, each other, he becomes at once a menthe r ot as A 5SOC1 ; for hu man society is nothing else. I might even go still lot the: back than tliS. I might follow with hasty steps the almost perpetual motion of thattId dweller in woods ; and even anion; savages, the most savage, wheat. tlw shadows a:. Mrmiter traditions appear to he lost, and where even the oloeure light of Paganism itself is unknown and unfelt—yes, even amongst them I should twee something of this principle of A SSOCIATION. When the savage, naked Indian quits his cabin or his ease, his prairie or his desert, to enter into the comparatively civilized associations of the least really civilized countries under heaven, Ile does not renounce but extend the principle of association ; and as before lie hunted the tiger in company, so now he unites with others in forming hats, mantles, and mats of the tiger's skin. The once naked Indian becomes a well-clothed, industrious, peaceable, and truth-loving artisan. Ile marries; has children ; those children marry again; and none can be more civilized than his descendants. hi proportion as civilization extends to the spot in which he resides and the country he Iris adopted, these associations are multiplied ; and instead of the sons tel IlaUghtel s if the same parents marrying together or living in a state of conculduage, as is still the case in barbarous or but partially civilized districts, the sons of the valley seek the daughters of the mountain ; the race becomes inure moral and vigorous, and both physically and intellectually healthy. In those countries where civilization has made the greatest progress, this principle of ASSOCIATION has been the most developed. SCHOOLS are established, where infants, children, and youths are educated, not separatelv, brit in lua'stotr.Erit:s and UNIVERSITIES are founded, where young mei' and men full grown associate together, to search for truth both natural nil moral ; to publish it to proclaim it, and to insure its progress in the world. RC II NTs associate, to protect their ships from wrecks, or to insure against their OWII ruin by the loss of their properties. MA NUFA CT U RERS aSSOeiale, to defend their interests against had laws, oppressive imposts, and ruinous exactions. Tits: mumt-lt associate, to be charitable anti humane; and TIIE COOR associate, to save from their earnings against winter and oil age, want and disease. There is nothing done, or to be done in the world without association : and, though the infinite Being who created the universe could have decided on a thousand ways for the propagation of the specks and the peopling of the world, yet lw selected that which clearly indicated the principle of association, with all its sympathies, its tendernesses, and its ties. All governments, whether liberal or despotic. ci•listitutional or republican, monarchical or otherwise, all are founded on the pi inciple of association ; and the first king who placed on his head some wreath of perishing flowers, bedaubed his face with colours, paints, red cal th, or blood, and proclaimed himself or was tiroclaiined by others their chief, itildri,seil himself to the common indigenous principle of association. In countries Cu here this principle is kept in abeyance, Czars or Sultans are massacred, or et huh itt their palaces ; favourites and mistresses are the agents of public though stipiiresseil indignation ; the prince knows not that he is not loved or tolerated till the dagger is applied to his breast ; and though he dies a criminal, he is almost ignorant of his crimes. Not to diminish their own influence, or decrease their own I .er, —but to lessen their own responsibility, kings have voluntarily consented, and in sonic cases even proposed at different epochs in the history of the hunian race, to be guided by councillors, to have ministers and agents, and to partake the spoil as well as the consequences of bad government with those whom they called around them. By degrees came Senates, Poplar Assemblies, Cortes and Chambers, Houses of Parliament, and even Republicau Governments. In proportion as man became civilized, he divided and subdivided the labour and the responsibility ; and so, political, charitable. scientific, religious, manufacturing, commercial, agricultural, artial, and philosophical associations, have increased and multiplied with the multiplication of human life. There is nothing in all this which is either unnatural; unreasonable, or opposed to the progress or happiness of man. Jug the contrary ;—and this is assocrarioN. To attack this principle, is then, an act of bight treason against humanity, and is a mad dim to barbarize civilized beings. Such efforts have yet been made ; hut they have always been fruitless. Suppressed as.sociations have led to associations to aid those which were suppressed—to reinstitute them—to avoid the penalties of the stupid laws which suppressed them ; and instead of a simple association of a thousand niembers, we have always had in the win hi one or more associations of hundreds of thousands to occupy its place. Yet this experiment is to be renewed in France to-day l—and a law has been introduced into the Chamber of Deputies (and which will pass too) against the fundamental principle of human society, viz, that of association. I can scat cely hope to get through this subject in one letter: as the project is to be debated in both Houses, 1 propose to devote this communication to the examination of the principle of the measure; and when this barbarous law shall have passed, to an examination of its details or provisions. You will not be surpr:sed that I attach avast deal of importance to this subject, since in it is comprieed that counter-revolution which is designed to replace on the throne the shiest branch of the house of Bourbon.

But I shall be told—" Though the principle of association is the principle of human society, yet to associate to overturn society, cannot by society itself be tolerated ; and though all governments are necessarily founded on association, yet to associate to overturn governments, cannot by governnients be endured." This objection shall be met fully and fairly, and I hope I may add, succe.s.sfully. The moment the principle of association is admitted to exist everywhere and in every thing, it must be admitted to be a NATU RA r. RIGHT. But it is not only a natural, it is also a social right, since it is the basis of society. I have, then, naturally and morally, socially and inherently, a right to associate; and society itself, or in other words, the majority of that society to which I belong, cannot or ought not to deprive me of that right, unless the object of association be immoral, unnatural, and anti-social. To associate to change the religion of a country, by preaching Protestant principles and tenets when the majority are Catholics, and vice versa, might be a crime in the eyes of the majority, till the majority were satisfied that Protestantism or Romanisin, as the case might be, were indeed the better religion. And yet the majority has no right to deprive me of my natural right to associate with others to promulgate moral or religious truth: on such terms I did not and would not become a member ot society. And again—to associate to send the Bible, without note or comment, to lands where that 13.ble, if read and believed in, must tend to overthrow idolatry and Paganism, is an act of high treason against the superstitions of the countiies so proposed by me to be enlightened : and yet these associations are encouraged by Royalists and Tories, by Whigs and by Radicals, by Republicans and Princes. Take another example: to associate together (as BaRTHE, GUI ZOT, TII ERS, Da BROGLIE, and SE HASTIANI did) during the reign of a prince (say for example, Louis the Eighteenth or CHARLES the Tenth) to procure the election by the electors of a country (say France) of Deputies notoriously opposed to the then reigning family, and most desirous of driving them from the country, was.certainly an act of profound disrespect for the Bourbons and of open conspiracy against the monarchy; and yet GITIZOT, PER IER, B A RTHE, and the lest, belonged to the Society " Aide toi, et le ciel taidera." In those times, the men now in office said that association was another word for human society, and that as kings and their ministers associated against the people, the people in their turn had the right of associating against the princes. When the Carbonari conspired against the Holy Alliance, M. BA RTHE belonged to the former, and Prince TA t. LEY RA ND to thelatter; but though TALLEYIcAND has not changed, the Minister of Justice has, and avail* himself of his previously-acquired knowledge tot an " as —ciator " or .'consaitator " in crier to reach the cases of these who Lot iu larks toa,-.■1• het in small numbers seek to enlighten awl change society. Nor can t!.t: readers of the Speetttioc have ft rgotteu the " Britanny assnCia• tiOLIS," VJ sh .were estabAshed by Deputies awl Peers to excite the people to refuse the Ld. tix. s to the Poligaac associatine, io ease any attempt should be

itto:t imposts hot voted by the Chaelhers. Yet who will oleny that stedt a ate ;orlon e tr,,w-otaible ageiust Cat An Les the Tenth. Did they it begin by

.mittitt.t pessildlit v of the violation of tl:c Charter by the reignieg Stive enen and Colt exeite the peol.17• to les prepared to resist s ;on by fa.es?

i'dost to.doulot ii lv: and the result showed, that those who established them

telly el wnded the chi ratters Of the Pourbou princes. To these aseociatiotts a gr. d um .ter f those IL:longed who now speak and vote and are the Into: sy and e:orous against all political associations. 1 ant quite aware that the Ia bhotessor lanits of tote Goveroment cannot be pleaded as arguments in layout• ef a sante lioe of polls:y on the part of auother Government : awl I do not tecord thc.k. facts %vial such a view ; but my object bas been to slmw how the principle of associatiou w es understood during the Restoration, by those who now move that this principle be salvo:dell or destroyed. Well then, that which Wits tlane by BA KTDE,(ill/OF, PE RAF it, Foy, 11,tN Leh, Bee J .% MI CoNsTa NT, Si: BA STIA NI, and others during the Restoration—and done with impunity—is now cat tied on by CA Kit E I., CADET, L.

FA VETTE, MUM ...We, and multitudes of others; and nothing, has been changed except the whiney position of the paid s. B A NTH F, aS Minister of Jtestice, says that BA R1211. •■■ 'arboisaro, as member of the " Aitle tot "

and so on, was a cultribl• etetspitator, and ought to have been arrested, Mimis.tned, tjui,ii, and scourged. Rut the people lti not and e ill not understand all this filwssieg. The people s:ty—" BAK rit F: had the tight to associate peace

ranch ably with ethers to convince the majority that the Bourbons of the eldest

wete ustworthy to reign in Franee,. so otlwrs have now the light to asseciate to convince the majority, by peaceable nteans, that all sorts of Bout boos are alike, and that the majority of the nation sheuld demand and vote for a Republic."

The :essociations formed in France are Republican or Carlist. They publish newspapers, prints, patephlets—give lectures to the mass; mei the fiwnier endeavour to convince tlw millions that cheap governments are better than dear— that hereditary Kings are not half as good as elective Presidents—that society is in a false and bad state—and that, hy peaceable but national and energetic

this state so deplorable should lie tanned. The■ have convinced several millions; and when a few more millions are satisfied, why the majority (an ion.. metre awl overwhehning one) will pronounce the verdict—and the changes recommended will be adopted. The Cat lists labour to convince the people that they the people really love unman:hies awl kings ; but the people say " No; we &site cheap governments, elective governments, awl representative institutions ; " although they add, that if compelled to choose between an illegitimate or a legitimate monarchy, both acting on the same principles of oppression, they will prefer the latter and for the moment proclaim IlLenv the Fifth. This is the position rif the question. But M. HA wrtiE intervenes, and proposes a law against the fundamental principle of human society—viz. association; dechning, that no " two or more persons may meet together at any time, or at any place, or for any purpose, without the permission of the Government ; that persons suspeett:d ci Isitteeing to associations may be arrested and imprisoned, and if found guilty by their WM, equa/s, i.e. by -lodges m al by the Crown, to fine and loss of per8onal freedom." M. BA RTIIE says that society cannot allow associations to overthrow society, nor govel nments submit to see associations formed to overthrow governments. This is infant nonsense. For whilst M. HAnTtot says that the majority is imposed to these associations, the Republicans maintain that the majority is in their favour. Who is to be the judge ? those attacking others ?—No ! Those to be attacked ?—No. Who then ? The Government ?—No. Why not?-Because the Government is the thing attacked. Who then ?—Why, the majority. What majority ? Why, the majority if the nation ; not of deputies and elec ms, paeked juries tottl paid functionaries, but of the nation. How are their opinions to he ascertained ? Why, by facts. What fats? Such as the following. Do the people form these associations?—Yes. Belong to them ?— Yes. Sunscribe to them ?—Yes. Take in the journals published by them ?—Yes. Receive those with aeclatuations who are condemned by the Judges for belonging to them ?—Yes. Do the people rise against these associations ?—No. Do they finni counter-assnciations to support the Government and the Throne ?No. Do they love, applaud, aid cherish in public those who oppose these 0.8sociations?—No. Are these associations coutined to one city, stile town, one province, or one district of Funtee?—No. Ott the contrary, is not this feeling of the majority ti :issociate much more extensively develorel than at any former period of French history ?— Yes. Does not the introduction of tit's very law itself prove that the Government is alarmed at the progress which the principle of association has made in the provitwes, as well as in the capital ?— Ihalouhtedly. Is Hits spirit, and is tins extension of assoeittion an evil in itself, or an indication de prior evil which exists?— Why, undoubtedly millions would not associate, but that millions feel oppressed by evils they are desirous of removing. If society then be opposed to associations to change society, such also. eiatiows must he harmless, since the majority will hold aloof from them. But if swirly feels sick, diseased, and wretched, society will seek for health, for medicine, for doctots, and thr cures. If those who form these associations be " the handful of brigands" which the Doctrinaires represent theta to be, then it were an act uf madness to put all society under the ban of prescription in order to meet the mete caprices of a few bundled individuals. But if those who form these asetwiations represent the mass and are the mass, then it is nut society which is offended by their establishment, but :Ministers, placemeu, and the Government. Amid theu comes the last question, whether society has the right of associating to improve society, or to change the principle or the men by whom it is governed ? Undoubtedly it has. I will not merely say that those Who now govern France have done this already ; but I will say that they did well to associate to improve by peaceable means and by the tiiumph of reason and philosophy, the condition of their country, whether moral, political, or Social. The associations now existing are formed for the sante object. If their principles and means be not approved by the majority, they will labour in 4uitt and spend their strength for naught. But if the people, i e. the majority, be with them—not one, nor a thousand laws wall be able to extinguish them. I maintain, then, that the associations existing in France, established to eucourage, by peaceable means, the progress of Republican prine•oks, are associations which no law can put down—which no coinbinatioo of human wisdom or wickedness call destroy—and that no goVannueut has the right in its own defence to take away from the mass (and indeed cannot and will not be able to do it), the natural right and the social right they possess to associate together to improve, by peaceable means, tbeis political, physical, national, or moral condition. Society is In it state of twogiess. The institutions now desirable may in fifty years cease to be so. Laos framed to preveat this progress must be unavailing, awl ate unjust. As they are nejest. they will not Inc influential ; null though the mode of association may ha changed, it the objeet will he followed out—because no man's reason will allow him to feel that lte has not the inherent, aye awl the social right too, Li, assort:1w and discuss with others his physical and moral condition. " Let the law will pass !" Oh yes ; there can be no doubt of that. The Doctrittaires in, 1 Jost, 3li:itsu in the Chambets are resolved on having " a «abaci. iti.-Jleiva." Pet what shall we see in the cad thereof?

1am your obedient servauti G. P. Q.