Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-05-23

II The CASE OF DIXON. have al
ready noticed that Dixon, by tho advice
of counsel, plead guilty to the charge OF
u libel on DIR. Hawkes., and was yester-
day brought up for sentence. DIR.
Hawkes. wrote a letter TO the Court
creditable to his good feelings, in which
he expressed no wish or desire to punish
The offender his only object being de-
fence of his character against his accus-
era. The Court read the libcllous mat
Ter, and sentenced Dixon to Imprisonment
in The Penitentiary for six months, indi.
eating clearly that hereafter decided
course will be observed to keep the
Press free from such SANDERS.
The punishment, under all the circum-
stances OF the case, cannot be consider
ed as either harsh or unmeriled. The
laws must afford some prote ction TO char
actcr, or character will not be worth
protecting.
Within few years certain class OF
the Press, in this city, has INDUCED in
the most wanton personal slander on in
dlviduals in private liie-in public sta
lions and prolessions-on ladies' Of re-
sPectabiliiy-on men in business (; and
nothing has escaped the shafts OF ell
venomed pens that could excite NOR
bid appetite for calumny, or give to the
wreiched libeller a circulation for his
degraded sheet. 1t has appeared to us
that for the purpose of gain nothirg has
been spared-the peace Of females has
been destroyed-domestic events have
been dragged forth to the light-,be
business Of the merchants, their credit
and character, have been assailed aud
ruined and course has been pursued
calculated TO make the press vehicle
of vile abuse aud odious slandeI instead
of useful intelligence and innocent re-
creation the most vulgar and gross
events, real and fictitious, have been
spread in coarse language in the shape
of police reports and trials before juries;
and what has been called and understood
as the liberty of the Press, has sunk into
licentiousness, cruelty and tyranny, de-
manding the interposiiion of the strong
arm of the law and the force Of public
opinion. The attacks which one editor
makes upon another, although frequent
" uncalleG for and unmeried, a,e still
attacks Of one public man on another
each, if he pleases, can hurl back the
dart, for each has the power OF repelling
the assaiiant but who is to protect the
slandered who has not press nj com.
nand. Thousands read the attack upon
his character and morals, and he has no
me ans to undeceive the world and clear
his reputation Of unmerited aspersions.
Take, for example, a minister, whose
whole congreg alton look up to him as
guide-as a practical proof of the virtue
he preaches--see him charged with Sc
duclion and adultery-a whole cOmmu-
nifty in him is plunged in the deepest
distress, and himself and family made
wretched by reports which they know
aud feel are slanders, and yet have no,
the power of entirely eradicating such
injurious impressions from the public
mind.
What reparation can be made to that
congregation and its injured pastor, by
the editor coming into court, and plead
ing guilty to the libel The blow is
s,ruck-lhousands read the libel who
never hear the refuiation. We do not
attach to minister Of religion an in(al-
libility which belongs not TO other men
Men in every pursuit and calling have
their weaknesses, but the press was not
intended 10 correct the errors and irail-
ties OF human nature by pointing the fin
ger of scorn, merited or unmerited, at
individuals. Again, take a merchant
with large family, in good credit, and
see him wantonly gazetted rs having
failed in business, or about to fail take,
in short, the whole chain Of publications
in the class Of journals referred to, and
nine out Of ten are SANDERS which should
render the publishers an,enable to the
law.
We are in favor always Of the liberty
Of the press legi,imately exercised, and
for good public objects, but never have
or will defend its licentiousness errors
may occur, characters may be unjustly
assailed by accident, but rcparation is
always open to the injured in the hands
of an honorable editor. In the case OF
Dixon, it is to be regretted that the pun
ish,nent has not fallen on The real Offend
crs-tho panders-those who paid mo-
ney to push on SANDER and mischief, and
not the instrument Of their malicious de-
sign ". Y. Ere. Star.
INpJGENous SuGAR.-The last No. Of the