Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-11-27


bic TO, and not obligatory in the latter
The nature of Governments elective, limited and
responsible in all their branches, may well be supposed
10 require greater freedom of animadverson, than
might be tolerated by the genius Of such Go,
that Of Great Britain In the latter il IS Il maxim,
that the King, hereditary, not responsible magis-
trate, do wrong; and that the Legislature, which
two thirds of its composition, also hereditary, no,
responsible, do what il peases In the U. s., the
Executive magistrates not held TO be nallibe, nor
the Legislatures 10 be omnpotent and both be,ng cleo
tive, both responsible. Is it mt natural and neces
sary, under such different circumstances, that differ
ent degree ofreedo the Of the press should be
contemplated.
Is such an inference favored by what is observa
BILE in Great Britain itself? Notwithstanding the gene
raj doctrine Of the law, the subject of the
press and the occasional punishment OF those who use
II with freedom offensive To the Government; II IS well
known, that with respect the responsible members OF
the Government, where the reasons operating here
become applicable there, the freedom exercised by
the press, and protected By the public opinion, far
exceeds the limits prescribed by the ordinary rules
of law. The ministry, who responsible to i'm.
parchment, are at all times, anim1drerted on, Ivy
the press, with peculiar freedom and during the
elections for the House of Commons the other respon
sible part Of the Government the press is employed
with as little reserve towards the candidates.
The practice in America must be entitled To much
more respect In every State, probably in the Union
the press has exerted freedom in canvassing the
rs and of public men, OF every description
common law On this footing the freedom Of the press
has stood; on this footing it yet stands And it will
not be n breach either of truth or of candor TO say
that no persons or presses in the habit of
restrained anmadversions the proceedings and tunc
,onares of the State Governments than the persons
and presses Jealous in vindcatng tho act of Con
gross for Furnishing similar annadversions on the 10
vernment of the United States.
The last remark will not be understood as claiming
for the Stnte Governments, immunity greater than
they have heretofore enjoyed Some degree ofabnse
inseparable from the proper oevey thing and in no
instance is this true, than in that of the press
It has accordingly been decided by the practice of the
States that it is better to leave few Of its noxous
branches to their luxuriant growth, than by pruning
them away to injure the vigor Of those yielding the
proper fruits. And can the wisdom of this policy be
doubted by any who reflect that the press alone, che
auered as it is with abuses, the world is indebted for
all the triumphs which have been gained b. reason and
humanity, over error and oppression; who reflect that
TO the same benefcemt source, the United States owe
much of the lights which conducted them to the rank
of free and independent nation; and which have i'm
proved their political system into shape so suspicious
10 their happiness. Had "sed0n Acts, ior'idd'ns