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

man who read il could msapprehend its meaning ;
libel only OF the gosses character il imputed % honora
BILE Senators upon that floor that they had been auaed IN the
which they had gytn not by love OF count but by
principles and motives which would rue degrade and dis
grace them That the character Of the libel and came
from who occupying the situation OF Pnnerto mat
body and Who by the courtesy OF the body, permitted
to upon the floor OF the chamber All that lt was pro-
posed do was say him, nasmuch have been
guilty conduct which that you ought not to be hee
will remove from you this privilege. That was all Had
they right do this Was ii not right that the body
should protect % far regarded the mere exclusion from
the privilege here, and from associatng with those
whom he bad DETAINED Had really to this that the
liberty of the press sacred that although used
the vehicle of SANDER and of libel they were not permitted
to declare that they would longer associate with the defa
and sanderer Why, the alien and sedion laws the
provision of the constitution relation the liberty of the
press had do with that which they
sdeng than any other law which be found upon the
statute book. s. ~ ~
The from South Carolina seemed think that they
had better appoint committee investigate the
Why should this be done He could for it.
They were not acting in Judicial capacity They had the
article before them could doubt its meaning Where,
then, the of sending it to committee to investigate
and report upon Where the necessity for making
inquiry concerning that which manifest upon the face Of
the article itself Was it for the purpose of ascertaning from
the editor what he by the language he used 1t would
not be very credabe to the body take such To
ask whether he meant insult them; and, if whether he
would apologize for it and say that act of ndcre-
ton, or that from want of judgment reflection
Why look the papers which had issued since The introduce
ton of this resolution II very clear by reference to
hem that the article which the resolution referred
inserted without reflection and delteraon that in
serted with the knowledge and appreciation of the editor
himself He had since asserted that he would publish what
he pleased, whether passed this resolution or not IT
true the resolution would not infringe upon bis to write
and publish what he pleased it intended interfere
with any such power but intended say him, and
properly you choose to conduct yourself in this
you unworthy to upon this floor" They had
been told that the article written without the knowledge
OF the editor OF the Unon had not been etraced how
ever nor had there been apology for its insertions should
they then go and humbly ask him, through the medium Of
their committee, what he meant by the article what he pro-
posed to do for the purpose Of satisfying the Senate that his
conduct jusabe He thought only that there
poprey in the act but he thought would be dshonora
BILE to the Senate if they do twas this ground
that he opposed to the proposition Of the Senator from
South Carolina He desired the Senate this question
in the proper way and decide upon it. they believed
that the editor of newspaper had published in his paper
libel upon the body knowingly and desgnedly, he wanted
them at to declare not that he should be deprived
right which appertained citizen Of the county, but that
he should be told that henceorh far regarded the pv
ege of entering this chamber he should be deprived Of that
That was all he intended. IA
At this late period of the discussion he would not go into
the subject Of libel all that he had intended was
offer few remarks in regard TO the proposition for the APP
pontment of committee This be had DONE and he would
therefore orbear from espassng further upon the time Of the
Senate.
Mr. YULEE vndcated his resolutions from the impuaton
Of being designed operate any Infringement upon the
liberty of the press His remarks were taking wide range
when
Mr. MANGUM to question Of order. He did So he
said, the readily from the fact that he the Sem
ator from Florida would perceive that it done with the
most respect towards him. If the Senator would permit him
ne would make point of order The Senate had already
listened patiently to long and wandering debate, which could
scarcely be characterized otherwise than family quarrel
They quite ready upon the resolutions and he
did hope that this debate which had taken certainly range
of very great latitude and had been hitherto tolerated. would
be no further continued Il was, he constrained say
much like +.
can into tempest tost,
ITO walt feather or to drown n.y."
this thing going to be magnifed into matter OF SO
much importance, he would be compelled against the
proposition out and out the ground of de minimum non
curm He was opposed to dgnifyng in this way thing
that was utterly beneath contempt.
Mr. SEWER suggested that the Senator from North Caro-
lima had stated point of ORDER and therefore quite
irregular for him to make speech.
Mr. MANGUM said he intended to make no speech all
he desired was that time should be thus useessy
consumed, but that the Senate should come vote He
intended express by the which he should give
Mr. YULEE said he regretted himself that the debate upon
these resolutions had been protraced to such He
was DESTROYS that the Senate should VOTE and he
would therefore fobear from occupying the time Of the Senate
In the hope that the vote would now be taken.
Mr. HANNEGAN said before giving his vote he deemed
proper in order avoid all msconstruction lay before
the Senate the for the he about give He
had seen with much Indignation, he presumed, felt
by any member OF the Senate, the article in the Union
the signature of indicator. He had expressed the
ment ne cherished strong feelings of dsappobaon in
ference TO il any member of the Senate could do He
would however, against the resolutions of the Senator
from Florida and upon constitutional grounds, ably
signed by the Senator from Virginia, mr. Masos) because
he regarded the action of the Senate directed the
nor editor Of the Union being action directed towards
an officer Of that body than toward individual
being merely the conductor of public journal He also
placed on other grounds whchhe believed sacred
those constitutional grounds which had been referred He
placed his the ground that the character the Senate
too high elevated be injured by the attacks any
newspaper scbbler high be injured by the attacks Of
all the newspaper scrbbcrs in this Union combined He be-
eved that the confidence Of the people Of this country the
character Of this body too great permit them for
ment to attach any degree Of importance TO such attacks
had been made upon them this instance for he around
him men who had grown gray the councils Of their
try and bad evnced throughout oag life character above
reproachhad evnced only fidelity their country in its
legislation but had exhibited their strong attachment to it in
the battlefield When the hour should when the pub
lie mind should be prepared to tolerate the RIGHTEOUSNESS of
the press what would strike the dignity reputation oft he
Senate, the day would be distant when Syla
Maus should be at hand put the yoke of tyranny upon the
necks free people The liberty Of the press and the lib
critics OF the people would be then swallowed mere song.
he concurred with the Senator from Virginia belief that
neither OF the editors Of the Union the article to
which those resolutions have reference until was in print
Had they done 50 he entertained high opinion OF
gentlemen to believe possible that they would have permit
ted its publication but they had been of the nature
oil the article and yet consented publish it, the only course