Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-02-20

printer who imprisoned under the sedton law coud
perform the functions of his business while immued ia
the walls OF jail and SO the freedom of the press might be
said TO be nnged And this might equally the case if he
were only fined Shylock said you take my life when YOU
do take the whereby live r. and the printer whose
money taken from hmby Judicial sentence was deprived
the Of carrying his trade of printing and thus the
liberty ofthe press said to be abridged But this resou
ton will leave the editor of the Union just free any other
editor in the country TO publish the deamaory at
lacks upon parties and individuals If he shall fit so
But sir does any believe that the who framed our
constitution and its amendments designed to throw shield
SANDER to build up shelter for aehood, erect con-
stuona guards and barriers to- protect wanton deracton
and malignant calumny Never, sir Their aims were too
pure and high for such They did design without
doubt TO protect freedom of opinion, and the free, fair, and
full expression Of it. They designed neither to abidge the
liberty Of the press nor to sanction and encourage its lcen
toune but leave the abuses of this great right only
the condemnation Of public opinion but to certain we'll
known forms OF legal remedy.
Why sir it notorious that SANDERS and libes con-
sany the subject Of legal proceedings in State and
the courts OF the United States too In OF the States
they do not permit the libel to be justified by proof Of its
truth And well is that there should be some legal
strain TO the cenous abuse Of the press since otherwise
no could be safe in property liberty, or reputation
whchis deare than either, than life itself Now, sir, the
articles in the Union which have occasoned these resolutions
are in my opinion grossly deamaory Of majority "a the
Senate they assa with wanton males6lence public men,
whose pure spoess and characters have given
reputation the country, which part Of its glory, and
to be cherished and SUCH never doubted the
right of the Senate to mark its sense the vile injustice done
to the majority by this malignant attack but did doubt the
expediency of doing thought would be giving too
much Importance to the fugitive but envenomed ISLANDERS of
the Union But to-day see the caumny endorsed and
reiterated by printer who defes the Senate and declares
his intention to repeat the SANDER often suits his
pose while in the declared upon extraord
nary and aacous constitutional views that pass
these resolutions without abrdgng the freedom of the press
Under these circumstances cannot refuse my OPT
MON by my vote and to mark this caumny, far as can
do it, with my indignant reprobaion.
Mr.. BUTLER, Of South Carolina, said that he had sug
gested the other day. the proprety Of referring this whole
matter special committee The suggestion had been made
in spirit Of justice and with hope that atonement
would be made this body for the insult to its character and
dignity by satisfactory explanations the part Of the editors
Of the Union. 1t not Mr. b. s understanding that such
committee would have the power TO the attendance OF
those editors All that it could, perhaps that it would do
would be to send copy Of the resolutions the parties
cerned with declaration that they might at their option
avail themselves Of opportunity to make such showing
would relieve themselves from intentional assault on this
body This, Mr.. b. said, going very far, further than
seemed to be regarded becoming and properespecialy
since the editors had assumed position Of defiance, with
peaed avowas that they would write what they pleased and
that they would cndescend to make such explanations
certainly due from gentleman to another because they
meant to maintain what they pleased regard right
under the guaranty Of the liberty of the press And the
marks Of the honorable Senator from Virginia have gone very
far to countenance the doctrine.
Mr. b. thoughts position had been assumed that wholly
untenabe II had been commended by than Senator
that the editors Of public paper occupying the relation to
this body OF being its public printers and private Journalists
could be excluded from the floor of the Senate,
without violating the constitution and laws of the land
which guaranty the freedom of the press How it that
The prnsrs had right to into the hall of the Senate
Why, Mr. b. understood it. they admitted by inn
piled license arising from acquescence Was this to be re-
gard franchise, vested interest in the nature of
property, and that could be enjoyed perfect right
So the printers had evocable license that could not
be controlled by this body that could be forfeited
pl Lin L that The
be deprived of their right consequence of any pub
cation matter what might be its character That they
have right to insult the Senate in any they think
proper provided is done in their newspaper, and not by
-.i--i - IS -olf protec-
on by excluding its recognised printers from minplne in the
body Such position dangerous and exravaeant and it
predicts this ISSUE either that this body the editors of the
Union must yield The position only fortified by general
ues by popular terms the freedom of the press" the
freedom OF the press Regarding the subject in this way
the Senate might be forced to vindcae its authority for the
purpose of exposing the true of these dangerous
uslve popular pretensions Their popularity rather depended
honorable preudce in favor Of freedom Of the press
than upon just doctrine sound reason.
Mr. b said he wished the assume such tangible
shape to enable the country whether the editors
would undertake TO claim the right abuse the Senate
IN as hcentious language they might choose without
mourning forfeiture of the courtesy extended 10 them
II they were to deny the jurisdiction of committee the
subject by insisting right, refusing be heard then
there would be but there could be alternative
dealing with individuals, 60 very far extend them
opportunity of having justice done them, doing JUS
ce to themselves Those who claim this floor be the
friends Of the printers did not seem TO thank him for the
course which he had suggested and Mr. b. said he had
been tainted the other side of the house for his ndugent
suggestions He would, however, do bis duty and would
have this consolation, that if he should be called per-
form painful duty, he had done all his power to the
OCCASION would disguise the that he had regret
ted that such resolutions had been offered But could
not relieve him from the necessity Of doing his duty when the
matter should come up for his decision He would then
shrink from It's performance from regard any consequences
In any view, all that could be done by the Senate
resolutions, would be to revoke implied license. Such
license had been given surely the ground that the journal
lists OF the body would do justice, with mpaay giving
account of its proceedings Good faith would least require
that they would abstain from the mputaon Of unworthy
hves to Of the members The article in the Union adj
mtied by all, with one exception to be grossly beous IL
was nothing less than charging the majority of the
Senate with unworthy design defeat great from
criminal movesof design favor the purposes Of pub
nc enemyo design TO cooperate in giving that enemy
laid and comfort by defeating the plans for prosecuting
the war.
Mr. b. said he sincerely hoped that the editors could relieve
against the body He would deny them the opportunity
of doing
Mr. HUNTINGTON said he had hoped that his friend
from South Carolina (Mr BurLEn) would further re-
Fiction have deemed proper withdraw proposition
enion to press vote, for the appointment Of committee
lie supposed that he of those who alluded in
hp in tho ITrto.