The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-01-31

Correspondence Of the Herald
WAsHINoTos, Jan. 2Sth, 1874.
Reporting-C Cave JohNsor-L Liberty Of the Press.
beg to call the special attention Of the public to
somewhat alarming proposition, which owes its
paternity to the Hon. Cave Johnson, Of Tennessee.
He has partly stated his proposition TO the House,
and from private interview with him have re-
ceived the full particulars, with liberty to publish
the same
This resolution, OF which he has given notlce
requires the House OF Representatives., In the mrs
sworn to report what the House shall require, ano
to be paid out of the public purse. Over these re-
porters the House will have full and exclusive con
rol-aeconrol adequate, OF course, TO compel them
TO exclude from, 10 include in their reports, what
might be said or done within the walls OF the
House.
In the second place, the resolution will expel from
the floor of the House all those reporters who hap
pen to write for newspapers published In any one
OF the twentysix States OF this tree republic. The
sworn reporters, who write for Washington papers,
will alone enjoy the privileges the floor. All other
reporters will be driven either out OF the House, OF
into the gallery, into the midst OF the crowd always
there congregated, without desks or accommoda-
tlons and at such distance as would entirely pre-
clude the possibility OF hearing and reporting.
Even in the gallery OF the Senate chamber, which
is about one fourth the size of the Hall of Repre-
sentatlves, II Is often impossible with the closest
attention, to hear what is said upon the floor |
take it, therefore, that proposition 10 expel report
ers frsm the floor OF the House is equivalent to ex-
polling them from the House itself, and dc facto, al
together from Washington To report in the gal
lery of the House must be totally lmpracticable,
and 10 of course so regarded by the Hon. Cave
Johnson, whose object, III suppressing all reports
over which the House has not control, could not
otherwise be accomplished. If reporters can report
equally well in the gallery upon the floor, then
why eXpel them from the floor?
Mr. Johnson's resolution, therefore, amounts TO
an expulsion from Washington of the entire news
paper press Of the whole twenty-sx United States,
not solitary one of which would be allowed the
privilege OF sending man to Congress to report
back to the sovereign people what their own ser
wants might say or do. II this be not violation OF
the letter, (qui hatrt tera, hasr,t in corice II
must be OF the spirit OF the constitution, which
says, Tin the first article Of the amendments) Con-
gress shall make no law abridg,ng the freedom Of
speech or OF THE Press"
admit this resolution of Mr.. Johnson does not
abrldge the freedom of Speech" for under such a
rule, members might freely say what they please
give the lie many times as they please, whether
1t be one time or nlne-and hight upon the floor as
they please, whether it be with fist with cane
the people could at all times be kept innocent OF
the whole through simple resolution OF these
same representatives that their own paid reporters
might suppress their reports as useless waste OF
paper.
This measure originates with the Hon. Cave
Johnson he assumes its responsibility nor, II |
understand him, has he any fear of that press,
of the people whose pleasure 1t is TO support it.,
whose rights in my humble opinion this resolution
seriously violates.
He replies, that this is the only plan which will
effectually put stop to quarreiling and duelhng
that there il one duel already the apls (allu-
ding, as | suppose, TO w. Cost Johnson and Mr.:
Weler,) growing out of the report OF reporter Il
presume MIR. Shrvers, OF the Baltimore PatrloD,
and how many more he knows not, (perhaps re-
ferring TO the case of Nathan Sargent Charles j.
lngerson, Mr. Stewart, &c.)
SO that for the errors asserted but not proved),
lntta
to be taken against the entire innocent press Of the
United States-the ninety nine innocent punished
the same as the one guilty, If he he guilty. ! en-
terrain the highest possible respect TOR the Hon.
Cave Johns0ns courage, which can readily be-
ieve would neither vince at the frown, nor finch
at the threat, of the entire IL 100000 OF free and
enlightened people, whose rights he proposes to IN
wade; but cannot entertain the same respect for
his sense OF justice and discretion. ). Is.
VERY LATE FROM TExAs.-We have received
by the way Of the Mississippi, advices from Calves
| ton to the 10th instant These advices reached
New Orleans on the 18th instant, in the Neptune
and then went to Natchez, whence they have come
| to us. Our last accounts from New Orleans direc
were to the 18th, and ten mails are therefore due
| from that city.
The news from Texas is of some importance.
The bill which passed by the House OF Representa-
tives ordering Of the heads Of Departments
Austin, defeated in the Senateon its arst reading.
Col Ward, Commissioner OF the General Land Office
has been ordered by the President to Austin TO open the
the land Office and take charge Of the government
chives
Thos Bryson died near Washington, while on his way
the latter place with dispatches from Galveston.
In TO call made upon President Houston by the
House oil Representatives Tor information reiatve to Eng
land &c he sent message on the LIST instant declining TO
comply with the requison. The paper IL we'll reason
ed and would be as well suited to our own country as
had previously been called upon for correspondence by
both houses He then offered to submit every thing the
Senate with closed doors-he offers to allow the
Speaker Of the House and the members Of the Committee
Foreign Affairs to examine all the correspondence OF
the Executive with foreign powers he Ju.t6e. his re
following supplementary hint, with which his message
somewhat abruptly concludes -
The Executive is also admonished, by recent publ
cation in newspapers that communications made TO the
honorable Congress under the seal Of sscresy liable
to receive publicity without the seal of secrecy having
been first removed Hence he anxious preserve
tho interest Of the nation from being subject the grea
prejudice which perfdy and fahlessnsss to official nunc
tons might entail upon them"
The senate having adopted resolutions requesting thu
President to recall Charles H. Raymond bearer Of des
psche. to the United states government. he promptly
refused and in his reply took occasion to defend his po
Icy and motives against the thousand preudcial rumo
IN circulation as to his Official action.
Star, of late date -
Mr. Lindsey, who lately arrived at Washington from
Bexa reported that several traders from the RIO Grande
informed him that II was currently reported in Mexico
that the negotiations between our commissioners and
those of Mexico had been broken Off and that the
Of the mission had entirely failed The reports received
by way of the Rio Grande generally unworthy Of
credit that seldom place much reliance upon them
There is probability, however that this IL correct for ii
is confirmed in part by another report received by way
Of Corpus Christi from Maamorss According to the lat
ter report the commissioners had been informed by Gen
Wolf that he had authority TO treat with them unless
they authorized to acknowledge the supremacy
Mexico We understand that special messenger, with
dispatches for them, left Galveston few days since for
Corpus Christi. They will probably remain in Mexico
until these dispatches are received.
The editor Of the Houston Telegraph has received the
following intelligence from Bexar:"A few traders have
arrived from the Rio Grande within thu last eight
weeks but they brought only few hundred dollars to
purchase goods They confirmed the report circulated
few weeks since that Agaron, the bandit who has long
been terror TO the border settlers killed about three
months since while In pursuit Of party OF traders The
latter having received intelligence that he follow
ing their trail to attack them suddenly turned back and
lay in ambush in thickst Agaron and afew followers
after appeared and lille passing intent capturing
his supposed victims shot down aud killed instantly