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

suppose that the object of the SENATOR submitting that pro-
position, eude the action Of this body upon this sub
ject suppose committee appointed. 1t must be
days before they could act and when they back
with report, what would be the condition in which the Sc
nate would find ITSELF Ii would be full up 70 the chin with
business and the Senator fully aware this but
ring matter in comparison with the subjects which would
have engage their attention II would, therefore, be
much better to determine ut once while they had the sub
ect fresh within their minds The inevitable result of re-
ference committee would be TO defeat the action Of the
body The Senator from South Carolina not the
he took him 70 be he persisted in the proposition which he
had made lie believed the Senator TO be who
dy to meet the question boldly and he hoped he would not
have eason this OCCASION 10 change his opinion What
was the purpose of instung COMMITTEES Was IT not for
the Of facts But what facts did the Senator
from South Carolina in this case Were there any
facts be asceraned which they already in posses
sion of They had before them the paper containing the
libel and they found in the paper of each succeeding day
strong endorsement of the libel direct indication that
no mitigation withdrawal or apology was to be expected
but that the stand that had been absolutely taken the begin
ming be maintained in defiance Of the expressions Of
dispeasure the part of the Senae and not only but
further insults had been added This was the course taken
by the editor Of the Union, he might say by the Executive
Of whom he known be the interruptions organ, and
these all before the Senate He appealed then,
the Senator from South Carolina Where was the necessity
Of institung examination by committee
Mr.. BUTLER said he thought that he had been explicit
enough day when he addressed the Senate upon this
subject He had then said, frankly, that it give the
the Union Sucn explanation
might have make, authorship and publication
the article question: order to relieve himself
the intention design to libel the Senate But if he still
pecvered and refused to exonerae himself from this espon
sbiy, why he would then pronounce the honorable Senator'S
course much agreeable TO himself He had always been
inclined the opinion that it better that such matters
should be settled in accordance with the principles which pre-
vailed in Jurisprudence, by permitting the party accused
opportunity himself from the charge made against
him He should notshrnk from the performance of any duty,
but he did not know that it at all necessary to court
desire the performance of painful duty N
Mr. ARCHER said he merely desired the Senator listen
the consequences Of his proposition The Senator DESIRED he
said give opportunity TO the editor Of the Union
plain to He had already had four days in which he
might have done if he had thought proper and in what
way had he treated the opportunity thus afforded him He
had employed himself actually aggravang the original
offence at3 es 800 WI
Mr. BUTLER remarked that perhaps it would be better
relieve the Senate from the proposition which he bad made,
he did know that it very likely that it would
prevail. @
Mr. ARCHER If the Senator does not to press his
propositions
Mr.. BUTLER. ! do not withdraw it.
Mr. ARCHER have only one thing further to saw and
that is that if the mind of the Senator yacates the
course proper to be pursued, was additional with
him for not accedng to his proposition He thought would
be highly mexpedent solicit from acknowledged de-
amer apology which he had already four days had
opportunity to make and now, if committee appoint
cd would have the character of coming Of compo-
ston for the insult offered to the Senate If there any
to vote for the committee he did envy that for the
position in which he would thus place himself.
MrCALHOUN said he very highly appreciated the high
and delicate of justice which his honorable colleague
was known to possess and which induced him to make this
motion II was made, he knew, with desire to a
ford to Mr. Richie opportunity make explanation
he desired to do in regard to these publications. upon
the high ground that any who charged with
offence ought to have opportunity to excupae himself
But he did think nd he trusted that his honorable colleague
would agree with him) that the progress of this thing had
clearly shown that nothing available could be done in this
In the first place. the editor of the Unon since the
proposition of his honorable colleague bad been submitted had
reiterated his charges showing entire obnacy and in the
next place. gentlemen upon this floor who indicated him
placed their vindicaon the ground that the eous
article published without the knowledge and consent
the editor but upof the ground that our action relation
it would have the effect of invading the liberty of the press
II did appear to him that II better Of
upon the resolution and this he thought genera
sense entertained on all sides.
Being up, he would say that it struck him that the grounds
upon which they put this matter presented most serious
between what assumed to be the liberty of the
e and the rights of this body control the conduct
individual occupying the position printer this body
the other It put upon the ground that printer had
business relations to the Senate which required him
there and hold intercourse with the members of that body
and let his offence be what it might if they undertook to
withhold from him the privilege Of coming there, would
have done him wrong and that that wrong antamount
to an invasion Of the liberty Of the press.
Mr. MASON here restaed the ground he had taken
Il
Carolina 1t presumed that the office he held rendered
proper that he should have the Senate, and that
this privilege taken from him. he would be deprived
right to which he entitled and il this privilege
away of any thing published by him. would
in that view be striking the freedom of the press
Mr. CALHOUN. Precisely. If you take away certain
privileges which considered proper be enjoyed for the
conducting Of his business of public printer it will impair the
liberty Of the press Now, you carry out this principle,
where will il end Suppose he into this House and
insults member upon this floor Suppose he proves to be
noisy, and dsurb the OF high prerogave,
would not be proper exercise Of power part pre-
vent the continuance Of such disturbance But if the lib
ery OF the Is to be set for orbea
in the casen the of aocious be upon the
SeDatet may also in the other Where is be its limit
The limit is not to be found any assumed liberty OF the
press II is TO be found in sole discretion This is Just
much domicie the home of citizen is his and
equally entitled 10 exercise discretion whom
will admit and whom will exclude from this place. the
citizen has in regard his home Here supreme
and who shall enter and who shall not matter of pure OPP
ton with AS TO the accidental results, whether il
may affect the interests of Mr. Richie, that have pos
sble bearing upon the question before If he shall have
sustained injury by the violation OF any existing compact
he has right To appeal to of Justice But de-
pve him of any right that he may have enter this cham
be is infringement Of the liberty of the press than
il would be for subscriber newspaper withdraw his
subscription if he nsulted No. sir the liberty of the
press secured by the constitution another and very DIFF
ferent thing The constitution declares that law shall
passed which shall interfere with the liberty of speech the
freedom of the press
lafr Il