The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-02-15
T HE UNION.

well expressed by English wrer--he committed
the fault OF madvertency but the fault OF adverence in
omlnng to look al IT, know that in this country there
IL freedom OF the press which, with many degeneraes
INTO righteousness. do ascrbe II TO this paper be-
cause as lar as my judgment goes II does not apply But
mean to say this that great the freedom of the press
Is, would give 1t the most unbounded RIGHTEOUSNESS,
rather than manace II for one insan-for instant
wen, now, what s the fact have been told that this
resolution does not interfere with the liberty OF the press
that proposes only the exercise of undoubted right
on the part OF the Senate to withhold courtesy from
certain individual. deny the proposition. have taken
some pains TO inquire by what authority the editors of
this paper have TO the floor could find it
the rules anywhere could find in the rules of the Sen
ate that the privilege of this floor, is called was
tended to certain class OF citizens, really courtesy
and as compment-exended to those citizens who had
rendered important public servces-hose who by name
had received vote of thanks from Congress-those who
from their positions, entitled to 1t, but could not
see any rule allowing the editors OF newspapers admis
son-none found rule requiring of the Secretary of
the Senate AS pure business matter TO assign the
porers of newspapers appropriate places the gallery
giving that privilege to them because they reporters
for the press, but authorizing the editors of the pa
pers TO upon the floor of this chamber sought
further for information, and found this that whether
the editors of the paper be be not officers of the Sen
ate that the editors who contractors for the public
printing, held such business relations with the Senate
made convenient for the Senate, and for them and for
the floor of the Senate That gives them this right The
editors with whom this contract has been made hold at
least official relation to the Senate for they the
printers of the Senate all matters requiring
cresy But in that relation, what mean to say is, that
the to the floor of this chamber which given TO
editors holding the public printing, arising out of
the business relations of this body. Ii is not mat
ter of privilege; it is not extended to them pr-
viege it is not embraced within the rules where
the courtesy is extended 1t arises by the ac admission
of the Senate and its officers out of the business relations
which subssts between the editors and the Senate.
Well, now. what do you propose to do Your propose
to deprive the editor of the to this floor And
why Because in the paper which he controls, there
has alleged appeared public libel upon the Senate
hat then Let the resolution pass, and the inevitable
| consequence.is, to hold rod over the editor The
freedom OF the press restrained to that extent at least
that what gentlemen occupying seats here may consider
libel, the body of the Senate may consider libel upon
Them is the freedom OF the press which you will not al
low under the penalty OF being oppressed in your private
Observation-Disclosures arising out OF contracts with this SEN
ate. 1t enough for to know that this strikes blow
whether hard or light blow is immatcrial-at the
business of those who conduct the public press and that
the penalty what have named Sir, by what authori-
ty do you pass this resolution trust have shown to
the Senate that il is not mere courtesy which shall be
Withdrawn 1t is seeking to affect them in their business
in their private pursuitsand there this restraint at
least that you should publish nothing which consider
lbellous Now, by what authority? speak with def
erence becomes but ask it of you statesman
and urst by what authority will the Senate pass this
solution to restrain the freedom OF the press Will any
gentleman in his place and say that have not had
stern admonition the days OF 1885, in the sediion
law which was cited and | thought apty cited by an
honorable senator who has preceded me- What were
the terms OF that sediion aw' The terms that, if
any should print publish any defamaory matter of the
President or the Congress, or either House with intent
to bring them into contempt or dsrepute they should be
fined and imprisoned Now what is the extent of this
resolution 1t Is that the printer to the Senate shall
print or publish libel matter defamatory of the Sen
ate, tending bring into contempt and disrepute
that they shall be fined imprisoned but that they shall
be cut off in their business relations and intercourse with
this chamber apprehend penalty equal to fine, if
not very heavy fine, if not equal to Imprisonment,
That law limited IN the enactment TO two years, and
II EXPIRED have amid the execrations OF the
American people 1t was attempt to manacle the
pessto interfere with The freedom of the pressa law
which suffered to expire within years by lis
limitation, and far my knowledge extends, there
have been since none SO poor as do it any reverence
confess difference in the principle whatever
i can difference in the fact-l differ
in its consequences between the re-enactment of
this sediton law and the passage OF the resolution which
is on your table So Tar the State which have
the honor to represent in part upon this floor
has expressed itself upon this important subject,
OF the freedom of the press its language has been most
emphatic, and conveys admoniton which IN part led
to address you and which am not at liberty to DIS
regard In her bill of rights, adopted in May, l776,
before the independence OF tins country was declared
there Incorporated provision intended IN the most
emphatic manner to guard the liberty OF the press.
FIT years afterwards the expiration OF half a
cenury-the State OF Virginia in revising her lnsiltu.
tutons readopted that bill OF rights without the change
OF letter, OF retaining that very article to which
have Just referred am not at liberty. them as one
that Commonwealth this floor, TO disregard that ad
monlton. What are IFS terms f? Here M. read them
| Now do we not all know and acknowledge that the
press amenabe to the courts of Justice, where the cit
liens of the land are amenable 1t is amenable to pub
lie opinion wherever citizen amenable But 1t is
not amenabe to any legislative hall whatever-far less
to acting separated yar less to onehowever dgni-
! fled such body may be--who by its authority alone
would undertake abridge in the slightest degree the
utmost freedom of the press These the reasons,
Mr. President, which will compel me to vote against
these propositions any form whatever whether it be
in the original resolutions submitted by the senator from
Florida, the resolution proposed by the senator from
South Carolina Mr.. BuTLER 1t is subject that can
not touch. ] can do nothing; can counsel nothing
which will have even tendency to impair the freedom
of the press. should depore the hour when would be
found the policy oil this government to exercise power
which it may possess such way even to tend to
the abrdgmeni of the freedom of the press Sir, ii
the bulwark of liberyw Ii is the only hope of the
American people If their liberties ever are stricken
down by the corrupng processes of the government,
by an autocrat will be only when the press is man.
aeed and dares speak Now, appeal to you person
ally No senator holds in higher estimation than do
the dignity of this body. No senator will be more
prompt to repe IN any MANNER any rudeness or assault
that may be committed upon it. But cannot do it I'M
less see authority in the constitution Least of all can
do it-can believe il must be done at alla the
pense OF that which have been taught to hold the
most sacred buwark OF liberty-the freedom of the
Mr. JOHN M. CLAYTON then rose and said re-
get Mr. President, that the honorable gentleman who
has just dawn has thought proper make his maiden
speech question of this character especially when
he has taken the ground that the expression of dsappro
baton of the conduct of the executive organ, which the
resolution before the Senate proposes is an attack upon
the liberty OF the press confess, sir that was sur
psed to hear such doctrine from his lips attack up
on the freedom of the press Why, the honorable
tor from iorlaa in introducing the resolutions distinctly
dlsavowed such intention ana, IN "a, omen'' snow
ed very concluslvely that the resolution was simply
Wihaawa OF the privilege OF access to the floor OF the
Senate OF those who had the publication referred to
grossly outraged the BODY The resolution doas NJ