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


UNJUST prejudice and presume his reference was
the hurry OF debate Surely he could seriously have
70 ken this resoutiono under the sedon law
OF lI9S We have had Judge Pecks referred 10 also nv
the honorable Senator from Arkansas and the doctrine Of
Judicial contempts for publishing bes on Judges
OBJ as II this case was dependant the principles properly or
Improperly commended for IN such This is case
under the law OF contemp The character scope effect
OF my colleagues resolution be strangely and totally
misunderstood.
It's no invasion of any right Of the editor or reporters Of
e onon no encroachment upon their prcogaves citizens
q as editors or repoes-nolhing Of the II has
peen enormously called questioned pricge II is No
one contends that prrgeol any of the
mas been invaded by them. There is no Dripese" about
1t though the consideration and decision of the resolution
respecting the order and proceedings the It's
rules privileged question, and takes precedence of Others
YET there - no privilege of others involved in it,
and do noefs apd ISLANDERS this body s members have
humbles citizen. And yetits argued here that my
exercise extraordinary poweor breach
OF special pnvegesome sedon contempt against the
members OF ths body that he invoking extraord-
nary punishment for scaldoum uagnatun Of the Senate
No such thing nothing like it. Why sir if he had moved
TO send the for the venerable editor of the
Union had him caught and brought here then required
MN TO beg pardon OF the Senate his Bonded knees be
put In prison the po take his press and types into
custody stronger denuncaon could have well been used
lhan has been heard here Of his assang that edit and
through him the liberty of the press and carrying
principles OF the old sedon and the law of contempts and
punishment for breach of privilege, and SO forth.
Nor do Mr. President regard the position which the ed-
tors OF the Union hold to this body its printers any way
affecting this subject having bearing the question
All The Senate properly do, with respect their printers
y to require them to do their printing faithfully What pro-
pretty may of the printers their towards the
BODY which elected Them such Office, if be called
olhce OF the Senate, different matter This is
motion TO dismiss them printers and, If such motion had
been made should not have felt myself liberty for
even the assault had been outrageous than that
which had been made The action of the Senate invoked by
me resolution way ntereed with impaired any rights
privileges the editors have in their capacity printers
OF the Senate.
The resolution if adopted is my opinion but the
cse by the Senate body of the right that any cit
zen Las to exclude from hshouse and OF declining hold inter-
Coarse within his domc with any person that he believes
lbeled slandered him. done him any gross njus
ce This is the and substance oft nothing more and
nothing else Will any contend that the Senate have
full control of this chamber Will any contend that any
man may, under all circumstances insist upon his right
admission this floor in the reporters gallery without the
permission OF the Senate ask what right has the editor
of any newspaper such admission superior to that
Of other citizen From whence such aesed right de-
rived ask Senators who contend for TO show what
founded The plain and simple fact this by your rules,
by the courtesy of the Senate without express rule, and
have examined whether there such express rule
referring such editors reporters printers OF the Senate
or not for regard it imnateria inasmuch if such rule
exists say the courtesy cannot be Withdrawn by
in this mode by the Senate you have allowed them
| such fauor. = 1ssFass
stds fABest comports may con-
for the practice hitherto observed, wner5i Iounu
like other citizens, take their chances for getting
the public gallery go into the reporters gallery If the
Senate deems best make both galleries and pub
lie and not now one for reporters exclusively
the printers OF the Senate and the reporters would still have
the right and the privileges any other citizen
The resolution under consideration does propose de-
pnve Mr. Richie Of any such privilege impair any such
right IL only goes withdraw courtesy extended to him,
extended other citizens because Of gross injustice done
by himto Senators his Suppose there express
rule giving him the entire this floor Can it be that
hands tied to restrain from altering this rule Can it
be that if do guilty Of violation of the liberty
the pessthat virtually reenac the principles of the
don awthat enforcing the doctrine of judicial
temptso areexercising extraordinary Senatorial pr
ylege Sir conceive of any principle controlling
here that would degrade the Senate low compel
admit this floor any asaan of this body The rules OF
selfrcspec and selfpotection forbid such principle.
The be likened with great propnety of
ISOLATION in private life II ask you Mr. President if editor
assaed you his press accused you Of crimes such b
berry and treasonwoud you regard breach Of good
enforcement of the old sedion law of the law
judicial contempt, invasion Of the liberty Of the press
his visiting your mansion OF public levees
aud taking notes Of what passed your house srepresent
the public prints your conduct and your movesto direct
one Of your intimate him that his presence
disagreeabet you The honorable Senators from Ohio,
Arkansas, and Tennessee may believe that il is the duty of
Senators who have been assacd fellow soldiers and
patriots OF Santa Anna to submit IN meek silence to the
assault and that if they decline with the editor Of
the press making this floor and ask the Senate rescnd
order which obge them receive him here they hatch
ing a sedition law into existence.
SO far from extraordinary 'prvig being claimed by
these resolutions for the Senate for Senator'S those Senators
who resist claim most extraordinary privilege for the editor
OF the Union 1t the privilege of coming the floor Of this
chamber when he peaes against the pleasure Of the Senate
privilege not claimed for other czens-and that, too,
when his press is made the vehicle for the indecorous
and caumnious charge against Senators included
in the charges under consideration voted for the
regiment bill with the clause in that majority Of this cham
Der decided unconstitutional
did not regard it. listened the able arguments of
the Senators from Connecticut M HuSTISsros, and from
North Carolina (M BADsER,) and from the Senator from
Carolina, (Mr CALHOUN but they did not convince IL
proper for say however, that the presidents cited for
alleged similar had weight with me. looked only
to the constitution, and did it prohibiting
the clause referred Asto the Of Isl3 for voting for
which inconsistency imputed to The Senator from South
Carolina, do regard that law, if he voted for it,
if the objection had been rasedas all affecting the
precedent And the other cited were, many Of
tem dssmar in their provisions, taking them of the
objection urged by the Senator that bill opposed the
clause referred to. M
Being satisfied, r to the right and duty Of the Senate
to act the resolutions of my colleague sugges pro.
per existsthe remaining inquiry is is the present such
case knew nothing Of the resolutions Of my colleague till
after they had been submitted was not consulted with
spect to them. had read the article signed yndica
to" till after the resolutions offered That article
here elsewhere that have heard has defended IL