published in Paris, gives some curious details ab Noir," as the department for opening letters from s is called in France. Letters were opened under Louis Phillippe, but under the Second Empire the acquired an importance previously unknown. The d of opener of letters was occupied by a man named from M. Lambry's account, seems to have been sing for the post he held. At first Simonel only stoppe dience to a list sent to him from the Prefecture of letters were put in a bag and forwarded to the P they were opened and read. Simonel's way of pr follows: When a suspected letter fell into his hands. point of a very thin knife, specially made for the the seal, then, by dint of steady pressure, and tha acquired by long practice, he removed the seal who tearing the envelope. The letter read, and if nec Simonel slightly warmed the bottom of the seal, s wax sufficiently to attach it again to the paper. By was enabled to defy detection. When letters wer gum or a wafer, it was still easier to open them; a f water were all that was necessary. Foreign ma through Paris were not respected any more than le livered in France.

tails about the "Cabinet s from suspected persons d under Charles X, and pire the "Cabinet Noir"

. The dishonorable office nnamed Simonel, who, een singularly well-fitted y stopped letters in obecture of Police. These o the Prefecture, where ay of proceeding was as is hands, he inserted the for the purpose, under and thanks to the skill seal whole, and without nd if necessary, copied, e seal, so as to melt the Der. By this means he ers were fastened with hem; a few drops of hot eign mail-bags passing than letters to be de

145. To what extent is the privilege of free as availed of in the United States?

To a degree that astonishes those foreigners in countries this principle is disallowed. Almos person belongs to one or more voluntary assoc Societies are numerous in proportion to the pop Many of them exist even in small villages of onl hundred inhabitants, and in large cities they can be counted. In fact, many forms of association over the whole Union, having branches in every t 146. How are these various associations classified? They may be arranged with reference to their o thus:

Religion, which includes all churches, Sunday so Bible societies, religious orders, ladies sewing Christian associations, missionary societies, and th

Moral Reform, including all societies design promote morality. Such are temperance, and pris aid associations.

Politics. To this division belong political pa such as the present Republican and Democratic, an old Whig and Know-Nothing parties. The Abo Society, the Knights of the Golden Circle, and Union League, were all political associations.

Benevolence. This object is sought by an imm variety of societies. Prominent among them are Masons, Odd Fellows, Druids, Red Men and secret associations, national benevolent societies, h tals and charitable institutions.

Trades Unions, whereby mechanics and trades

145. How far is voluntary association availed of in the United States? 146. Classify the various kinds of associations? organized to promote religion? What kind of Societie

Morel Das

band themselves together for the purpose the interests of their own trade.

There are also many societies organize literature, science, the learned pro education, emigration, colonization, manufactures, commerce, and for te poses without number. nos

Lastly, under the term Business Corp included all those joint stock associatio ital, which are organized under the 1 purpose of carrying on some branch of quiring more money than one or two p be expected to furnish. Such are banks surance, toll road, mining, manufacturin express, and transportation companies others. Snood a dingy

0147. How do these societies operate in pro of liberty, the knowledge of law, progress, an ion among the people?

Their effect in educating the people gether in the furtherance of common o great, that if the principle of free assoc abolished, the entire character of the na be changed. Their result upon national shown in several particulars, e. g.

A. In familiarizing the members w mentary law, or the law governing

FREE ASSOCIATION.

meetings, whereby only can the united opinio members be fairly ascertained.

B. In cultivating the habit of public spea C. In preparing private citizens for pub for the officers of associations differ from public only in the extent of their sphere of duty, and weight, not character, of their responsibilities. society has its constitution, its laws, its legislati executive, and sometimes its judicial functions State government in miniature; and whoever le administer a society becomes thereby fitted to se State.

D. In training the members in the respe the rights of others, which constitutes the sp political liberty.

E. In developing the spirit of mutual conc or compromise, which is indispensable in mai ing union of any kind, or producing united eff

F. In forming opinion under the constant of opposition, whence results public opinion or opinions of individuals modified by one another."*

G. In the study of those branches of the which affect the objects of the society, and its tions with those who deal with it.

H. Corporations exist solely by operatio law, which provides that for certain purposes on number of persons may act together, in the same ner as one person may do by nature. Thus, in lav individual is called a natural person, and a corpora an artificial person. It is by these artificial pers that a very large proportion of all the heavy busines the country is carried on. To the principle of free a

"

ciation therefore is due a great part of th gress which has distinguished the Unite all the countries in the world.

I. Associations of all kinds have influence in forming public opinion. of them are created for this purpose only attain their objects by the use of f free speech, free press, and free asse dressing the facts and arguments favoring views to all listeners and readers, so as to many as possible to think as they do.

148. Are there not many associations pe United States whose objects are foreign to the tem, and if attained, the societies would h pressed by the power of the Government?

There are. But were the Governme fere with them before they had com wrong act, it would be violating their association.

149. Is the object of the Fenian society co American ideas?

It is not, in so far as it is an organizatio who seek to make Ireland independent of military operations organized in the U Now, so long as the United States are at Great Britain, this society cannot be allo mence a war from our territories upon Engl would be a violation of our treaties with and as we have already seen, treaties with tions are a part of the supreme law of th

140 Why does our Government permit associations whose o