Jenks's Portland Gazette

POLITICS.

Liberty of the Press, in France.

[As many of the Jacobins continue harping upon their
old theme of the liberty of the press, and referring us to
France as the acme of refined republicanism, it may be well
to insert the following extract from the proceedings of
the French Legislature on the 18th of August last.]

THE Council of Elders transmitted their
order, by which they denounced to the Directo-
ry Nos. 58 and 59 of the Journal des Hommes
Libres,

Cabanis rose.--" By setting the Public Press
at perfect liberty, you flattered yourselves that
it would have an useful effect upon the public
mind ; but did not suppose that it would become
an active instrument for the subversion of the
republic. It has ever been by calumny that free
governments have been destroyed--it was that which
led Condorcet, Vergniaud, & others who were Foun-
ders of the republic, to the scaffold--it will soon
be impossible to stop this impetuous torrent.--
That spirit of calumny now pursues the same
men which it did before the 5th of September.
which proves that it proceeds from our enemies
without : it accuses Sieyes of royalism, who in
1788, published such able pamphlets against
royalty ; it accuses that man of Treason, whose
severe integrity is recognised by all parties.-
But the object of the calumniator is, first to
separate the cause of the two Directors from
that of the other three, that he may afterwards
attack the latter with more efficacy. I move a
similar Message to that sent by the Council of
Elders, and that the Committee be instructed to
present a Provisional Plan against those who
vilify the National Representation, and the
Directory."