The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-11-23
American Newspaper Pros. and Democracx

vile and other writers have imputed to some gross
inferiority in the nature OF the people, referable
to no such cause. We took leave altogether to
deny that any native nferiority exists and VIC init
mated our impression that the moral evils of the
couHtrv, and particularly the startling depravity of
its press in truth but the natural consequences
of its political institutions. We have supported our
opinion by argument; will now illustrate il by
example
The notorious editor of New York journal 1.-THE
New York Herald which boasts sale of nearly
80 900 copies, was lately convicted of gross libel
on two of the Judges. Judge Kent, who tried the
case, and who hears, we believe most deservedly,
the reputation of !" a man OF eminent personal and
judicial integrity" summed up tor conviction.
to the community, than paper so cheapy publish
ed as 10 be brought under the eye of everybody,
and yet dealing in fasehood and scandal from, day
to day, as its accustomed occupations; from the ma
Lightly of which no man was free; the columns of
which were open to the gossip of every one base
enough to act the part OF an nformer; from the
saults OF which neither age occupation
profession erempt which had its emissares scat
tered Ia MeLarge to,cns and piAages oe tc'oe coun
try, sending their communications to It's columns
like the informationsdropped into the lions mouth
Venice; disclosing the secrets of the family circle
dssdiiing the most sacred professions and seeking to
bring into contempt lhe sanctuary ofj,sirce itself"
Next day the libeller received sentence from the
Bench, which then consisted of Mr.. Kent, the re-
gular Judge, and two of the City Aldermen. Some
other newspapers, which speak with honest, though
coarsely expressed, indignation of the offender and
his offence acquaint that in the regular order of
things, Alderman Benson would have safe in the
case, and he would have conceded with Judge
Kent, who was for furnishing by imprisonment; but
that, instead of Mr.. Benson, Alderman Lee was got
on to the Bench by trckery;" and that this Lee and
the other Alderman, man named Purdy, oco-foco
demagogues, combined to outvote Judge Kent, and
"through iear'' of the "culpiits piratical black
guard paper, and to appease the ire of the vampire,
decided that the punishment should be email fine;
and the unprlnciped libeler was fined about 300
dollars for which he drew his check, and walked
out of the Court house bidding defiance TO Courts of
Justice" Now, what was it that inspired Lee and
Purdy with such "fear" of this "pratica black
guard paper" that they were thus moved TO betray
their duty and crouch to the assasinl The ques-
ton is bur too satisfactorily answered by another
paper, which, while it fully admits the general re-
specability Of the two aldermen, accounts for this
particular msprision thus:--" They have been can
diddtes for the popular suffrage, and they piH be
again; the convict holds in his hands the popcr Of
annoyance which he has not scrupled to apply to
the best and oisest IN the land"
that IMMUNITY Of ibel-that denel of protection TO
character-which, by leaving all reputation in the
United States at the mercy Of the traders in calum
ny, drives men to do deeds that discreditable
simply for the sake Of escaping dscredit Were il
not for the rash TO which the principles and
practices OF democracy Cat once the boast and the
bane of that people) have been pushed by their spe
nec constitution makers, this mischief could not |
have taken root II is only by the joint license Of
two democratic powers-a despotic popuace and an |
unstamped press-mschevous enough when taken |
singy but altogether intolerabe in their combins.
such a state Of things continues to defy
the Indignation of the most esmable among the |
Americans themselves, and the contempuous Won /
der of civilized strangers, When the periodical |