Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-02-13

The National Intelligence exhibits, 1t must be con-
essed most liberal spt in all conscience. We had some
for hoping that would testify disposition
to uphold the liberty Of the press But, if that supposon
entirely out of the question: too much expect
that would orbear throwing weight into the scale against
another press such position Is the liberty of the press
OF 50 little moment in free Government that the "Naiona
nteligencer" is willing to only every editor OF the
press "crbbed and ccumscribed but every citizen, who
wishes to address the country the most important public
measures sweated down phrase, imagi-
nary standard of public bel"-Unon Of yesterday.
Our readers will bear us witness, with one ac-
cord, that we expressed no opinion, one way or
the other, to the proposition depending in the
Senate, for an expression of its sense of its prvi-
eges, outraged, in the case before it, by an officer
of its own, and by press which is, when it speaks
of measures under consideration of the Senate,
universally understood to speak the voice of the
President Of the United States. The fact that
proposition Of this description, touching the privi-
leges of the Senate, was yet depending-was under
grave and deliberate consideration by the Senate
was sufficient reason for our not expressing any
opinion touching that proposition. Our own view
of what would be, if not the wisest, the least
troublesome course for the Senate, might be infer
red from the course of this paper when very nearly
the same sort of aspersion has been cast upon
it. as has now been upon the Senate, in reference,
first, to the Oregon dispute, next to the Mexican
question, and as, quite probably, would be the
case in regard to any debatable question of which
we and the Administration took different views.
We have passed it by in silence. We have dis
dained to notice it,
But did the government paper expect from us that
we should chime in with it in stigmatzing the ST.
NATE as Mexcans," and the Senators as CON-
patriots friends, and fellow-solders y of Santa
Anna, Ampudia, {" or any other Mexican General.!'
How could we do otherwise than denounce to our
readers such violation Of the respect due to the
elevated body thus vilifed in gross as well as in
detail j.?
The Editor mistakes his position altogether when
he would shield himself from responsibility for out
RACES such as this behind the Egis which protects
the freedom Of the press. 1t is not the Liberty
of the Press" but the .abuse Of the Press, which
we deprecate, not because of its positive crime,
in the before u.s. but because its direct and OBJ
vous tendency is TO undermine the proper nhu-
ence of the Press by destroying all confidence in it.
Certainly, not willing that, in the language
of the Union," every Editor Of the Press, who
wishes to address the country, should be "cribbed
and circumscribed," or sweated down to some set
phrases" but we are Of opinion that the control of
press gives no right to make assertions which
have no truth in them, or to hurl forth the most in
solent and degrading imputations, for which there
cannot be pretended even shadow of foundation.
When, scarcely yet year ago, imputations less
vile were cast upon the Senate from another press
in this city, and the Senate took the matter up, it