The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-02-16


"pRIyIIEGE"--THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS
Mr. HUNTINGTON next addressed the Senate. He
NOD boped that his friend from South Carolina Mr. But
1 would on further reflection, have deemed IT proper
L5 thdraw the proposition which he had made, and
h;sb no had again signied his intention to press to
,,a for the appointment OF committee to investigate
his subject and make report TO the Senate ne sup
III that he was of those who Were alluded to IN
r. nrtce in the Union associate with the officers
and soldiers OF the Mexican army, inasmuch as II so hap
"aned that he had taken somewhat OF an active part in
he proceedings of this body which had resulted IN the
mblcation and reiieaton OF the article alluded to- And
he had expected that the pensioned press would be
bouoht 10 bear upon those who should dare to speak anu
IN EXERCISE their Conscientious and honest Judgments IN
eaon 10 matters OF grave import coming before this
boj He had fully expected it. But so far as any per-
sonaI considerations We're concerned It had passed by
with The contempt they deserved. whether they proceeded
rom the youth who printed the village paper and gave
bcity 10 deamatoy articles for the sake OF notoriey
or from the veteran editor OF city paper who might take
b;rhe, and broader scope But it due, his judg
men to this body il was due to It's character, ITS honor
rs reputation; il due to the States OF this Union and
n the people OF this Union that they shoad put upon
him who attempted through his press, whether he were
the public printer not-who attempted by means
Of his press to overawe the deliberations OF this body
10 influence improperly their judgment, or to utter
libel upon them for any purpose whateveritwa due to
their own dignity that they should put upon hun and
upon his the impress OF their Reproduction, IN man
laws and with those principles which regulate the con-
duct of men of honor and that the object OF the re-
solution of the from Flordaa 1t sought to inlet
no punishment upon the editor OF the Union either by
fine, imprisonment or any other form What did it pro-
pose to do? proposed that person who, by the cour-
esy of this body had been permitted to come upon the
floor OF this chamber, should, when his conduct evnced
that he was unworthy OF the courey that had been extend
ed to him. not be permitted to there again. This was
the object and meaning of the resolution IT meant TINS
and more. 1t was saying to the editor OF the pnlon'
az they would say any under like circumstances,
that the privilege of entering here and occupying seat
belongs only of honor and character and was not
to be enyed by who made of his press Tor the
purpose OF libeling this body The senator from South
Carolina seemed TO think that they had better appoint
committee to investigate the matter. Why should this
not no u acting in judicial capacity They had the article
before them; no could doubt its meaning. Where,
then, the of sending tito committee to nvest-
gate and report upon it Where was the necessity lor
making an inquiry concerning that which was manifest
upon the face of the article itself Was It Tor the pur
pose of ascerainng from the editor what he meant by
the language he used? 1t would not be very credape
to the body to take such course To ask whether he
meant to insult them and, If so, whether he would
apologize for it, and say that it was an act OF ndscre-
on or that arose from want Of Judgment OF renee ao
ton Why look at the papers which had ISSUED since
the introduction OF this resolution 1t was very Clear
by reference to Them that the article to which the reso
luton referred was not inserted without reflection ana
deliberations that it was inserted with the knowledge
and appreciation of the editor himself He had since as
serted that he would publish what he pleased whether
we passed this resolution or not was true, inc reso
publish what he pleased il was not intended to interfere
with any such power; but it intended to say to h,
and very properly, eff you choose to conduct yourself In
this manner YOU are unworthy to come upon this floor
They had been told that the article was written without
the knowledge OF the editor OF the Union; 1t had not
beenreracted however had there been any apology
for its Insertions should they then go and humbly ask
him, through the medium OF their committee, what ne
meant by the article, what he proposed to do Tor the
purpose of satisfying the Senate that his conduct JUS
tfable He thought not only that there was no propriey
in the act but he thought it would be dshonorable to
the Senate if they TO do 1t was on this ground
from South Carolina He desired the Senate meet this
question in the proper way and to decide upon it. II
they believed that the editor of newspaper had published
in his paper libel upon the body knowingly and de-
sgnedy he wanted them at once to declare not that he
should be deprived of any right which appertaned to
citizen of the country but that he should be told that
henceforh so far regarded the privilege of entering
this chamber, he should be deprived of that That was
all he intended
Mr. YULEE desired very briefly to vindicate his
luton from the charge involved in the argument OF the
senator from Virginia. as aiming blow at the liberty of
the press No gentleman upon that floor, ne said would
be farther from attempting any movement or persstng
in il when commenced, which could even lean to such
consequence He agreed that free press was great
buwark of liberty and the freedom Of the public press
principle dear to freemen But there were other prln-
cples not less important to be Northumberland less
dear TO the friends of republican government. Among
these the independence of the legislature, and the
sovereignty and dignity of the States These were the
principles which lay at the base Of his resoluton and he
called upon his democratic friends around hlm-upon the
friends of State rghts-to come to the rescue once
abandon the representatives OF the sovereign States upon
this floor to be subdued BY the power ola press
TO the will of the federal Executive. and you will have
broken down of the chief barriers to consolidation
and tyranny He would be far from noticing any pubica-
ton, whatever its character, in the way proposed by his
resolution, if appearing in any other newspaper printed
throughout this broad land 1t precisely because the
offensive publication had appeared in the Union newspa-
per- that he had thought it worthy and proper to be mo-
nced. And why so Because the Union was the ExECU
To be sure, there Is public law or edlct
which establishes it such But the practice OF the
executive department from the first organization of
the government, has been to bestow It's patron
age upon some one paper, which was IN return
expected TO convey to the public the purposes and
will OF the executive department; and which has
been recognised by universal assent and custom, equally
potent with law, the appendage of executive power,
and exponent OF executive purpose The government
press was TO all ntens and purposes an instrument OF
executive power; and in this aspect held distinct rea-
ton to the public from the general press OF the coun
try. Now, no one could have failed to notice
and TO notice with alarm-the extent to which the
power of the executive press formidable by the
the circulation and weight which its official character
gave it, being brought bear of late years upon the
independence of legislation He did not mean, when he
said late years. apply his remark TO this particular adj
mnlstratlop. IL had been growing evil and was ten
dency which had been increasing from one adminisra
zion 10 another To overawe and subjugate the will OF
the legislature by violent denpnciaton, and by hold
ing up the body, or individuals OF ITS members to
unjust and partial judgmen--to weaken the power,
and degrade the dignity of the legislative depart
men by disappearing and villiiymg It's proceed
ings when not subservien to executive requirements,
one Of the means by which press, sustained by an
almost boundless public patronage, can minister 10 he
supremacy of the federal executive Legislative subser
viency is offering which such press may pronta6ly
carry to the feet OF executive tyranny 10 check tS
tendency which il is time some means should be adopted
10 arrest-to assert the independence OF the repre-
sentatiyes of the States upon this foor-he had
thought proper to make the movement which he dId