Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-02-23

AtSu Huos - PiSoScS, 10 dSS6umlnQ the rlpl
|of defining the degree u liberty it shall possess
What is this but a censorship BY what rule shall
the Legislature ascertsnth degree of liberty tina,
the press shall or ought to exercises The charte,
its liberty as gaafied BY the constitution, is il
hnitabie. II the.LegHl3ture may impose one res
friction, why may ii not Rtherf Why may it not
erect censor in Richmond r Hheresoever there is
press, with powers to essnine whatsoever is de-
signed to be published. aRd oexclude, what IN his
opinion has, tendency however remote, however the
publication vas designed, or however arbitrary may
be the concluson to ncte Instruction or rebelion
The conductors of the press, like ao,hcr citizens,
are and ought tobe. responsible law for the mis-
chief they may iafljet. but not in ths way--not by
restrictions which compel them to consult not
their o,c. bat the discretion ofothers in what they
shall or shalt not print. The press canuot be
said to be free, which is denied the right of
Judging for ITSELF what it may publish. 1t is not like
the chartered bertine the air. to which Lord Chat
nam compared IT, i'll the language of Shakespeare but
IS cramPed and crbbed by prohibition, and previous
demarcation of its limits. Whatever necessity may
exist for the enactment of penalties protect the
public safety against the assaults of such agitious in
cendiaries as the author of the Boston pamphlet
and though In our opinion it would have been more
discreet in the Executive to have raised that pub
cation into consequences by making it the subject Of
formal communication to the General Assembly
we say. whatever necessity there may be for new
penalties, and as matters stand, fully admit the
aecessy-we do net perceive the necessity of curing
one evil by the introductionof another
If the first section infringes the rights of the Press
the rights ofproperty and of conscience seem to us
invaded by the fourth and ftha he value of slave
is IN many cases enhanced, doubled, by his ability to
read and write. Has the Legislature right to do
that which materially mpars the value OF property?
Many religious persons fanatics if you please to calf
them so, esteem it the highest and most indspensa-
Bile Christian duty to teach their slaves to read the
Bible. Has the Legislature right 70 interfere be-
tween them and their conscences. To be sure if the
plea of necessity be sustained and if the nature of
this necessity be of that high and stern description
supposed, there is end of all argument But this
latter supposition, we deny.
Before we conclude, we request to draw the atten-
ton OF the negro philanhropist of the North, THAT
oicous lnterineddlcr, who negectng the whteslaves
around him, must needs exercise his sck1y sensbili-
ties on those who are thousand times better off,
to tins statute, and to grapD in Gen. Haynes
iata speech IN the Senate os the II. States "sir,
all our difficulties on this subject, have arisen from in
reference from abroad, which has disturbed, and
may again disturb, domestic tranquility Just so
far as to bring down punishment upon the heads Of
lie aoo'tunate uciims Of fa'saticaI and mistaken
humanity" This has been, will and must be, the
fruit of such interference. We do believe that the
views Of the people of the North collectively, are in
the highest degree, just and liberal upon this subject
1t is only the phanthropic fool who has any DISPOSE
ton to be neddling.
The Senate has yet to act before the above bill
becomes law.