The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-12

AT meeting OF the democratic party OF the county OF
Isle of Wight held at the Court House the first OF
March, 1917, being court dayoD motion of Doctor Rob
e Butler, the meeting was organized by calling Colonel
Arthur Smith 10 the char, and ~ p. Young was al-
The chairman having briefly stated that the meeting
had been called for the purpose OF obtaining express
sion of opinion from the democratic party of the county,
in relation TO the late unconstitutional assault made by the
Senate OF the United States upon the liberty OF the press
by their expulsion from their floor of the editor Of the
Unon" for alleged libel upon their body, published in
that paper
On motion of c. B. Hayden, it was
Resolved. That committee of - b. appointed draft
preamble and resolutions expressive of the of the
meeting relation the subject for which they had met
On motion of James NJ Jordan, the blank in said reso-
luton filed with thirteen; whereupon the chairman
appointed the following persons to constitute committee
Butler, j. NJ Jordan. Josiah w Jordan, JOS s. Holland
w. w Norseworthy, DR.. John B. Butler. Robt Dignum
w. H. Day, M Clements, A. A. Whitehead, Reuben
The committee, after retirement reported through their
chairman, C. B. Haden, the following preamble and eso-
utions
Whereas FREE PRESS is The palladium our republic,
whose Independence can only be preserved by preserving
that of the PRESS and whose freedom will ever DO enda,
geed whenever the freedom OF the press is volaed and
whereas tins privilege is the more valuable TO free people,
because necessary to the exercise OF all their other rights
The duty of free people to cherish the freedom Of s press
as one oltheir dearest rights 10 hold il sacred aud lnyoa
ble guard il with Jealous vigilance, and 10 resist ts
slightest Invasion with unyeldng rnness therefore be il
Resolred, That we have witnessed with surprise and re-
United States of the editor of the Unon and that by the
said the Senate violated tlat freedom OF the press
guaranteed by the constitutional freedom Invaluable TO
free people, and formidable only to tyrauts."
Reoired, That the Senate, by thus constituting itse the
Censor of the press committed usurpaon upon the
liberties of the people becoming the starchamber OF
the tynnca days OF the Tudors than the Senate OF free
people.
Resorsd That the said act of the Senate virtual
revival of the odouS feature oil the sedion law, with
the protection afforded the accused by the proviso in
TINT law which enabled him plead in his defence the
truth OF the writing complained OF.
Resotced That the said violation by the Senate of the
freedom OF the press merits the indignant rebuke OF the
public.
The report of the committee having been unanimously
adopted by the meeting, DR. Robert Butler offered the
following resolutions, which UNANIMOUSLY adopted
Resolrsd That the Hon. James NJ Mason, the newly
elected senator from Virginia. deserves the thanks OF every
true democratic republican in the United States for his
able and eloquent maiden speech in the United States Sem
ate in defence of the liberty Of the press
Resolved That the editors of the Unon" "a paper edited
in Washington deserve and ought TO receive the liberal
support of free people for their mness and able defence
of the liberty and freedom Of the press.
Resoged That the proceedings of this meeting be pub
lsled in the Union, Richmond Enquirer, and New Era
and copies of the be to Mr. Richie and the
Hon James M Mason.
On motion, the meeting adjourned
A. SMITH, Chairman.
n p YOUNG, Secretary.