Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-02-16
Tine following are The comments Of the Unie

upon Senator Yulees motion on Wednesday.
ave speak freely, for now is the crisis. Now
is the time 10 speak out We shall be rebuked
for our plainness-we may be threatened with
prescription. Some gentlemen may refuse 10
stand with u.s. who may unfortunately mistake
the path OF their own permanent glory but we
speak in the Split of free press 10 free people.
We bide The verdict VI The counlry-having no
ambitious aspirations 10 srai!Y-havins nop'-
vale sriefs 10 avenge-content 10 leave The pos
which We occupy, whenever The republican parry
[of the country shall desire il but fearless Of all
at,arks-indifierent 10 all enemies, open or dis
Understanding up on The verge Of lie 10 what
we have always pusned-ihe principles when
We have uniformity professed and The integrity
which we trust never 10 have furnished"
When we published these hasy lines in the
last nights "Unon," We had NJ idea that we
should be called upon AT so early an hour 10 re-
deem our word But The resolutions which have
been this day submitted by Mr.. Yulee, senator
OF the United States from The State of Florida.
have made an issue which we are prepared 10
meet with all possible irmncss and with all re-
spect for the body whose prescription has been in
voked upon our heads. His first resolution charges
US with Entering" in The last nights Union "a
pubic libel upon The character OF this body
uhe Senate) The second charges "parIial and
unjust" report OF The proceedings Of the Senate
on The army bill and for This transgression il
excludes the reporters OF The Union" from the
gallery of the Senate.
As for our reporter, he will make out his own
case in The way most agreeable 10 himself. We
have no doubt he uilI clear himself Of all inien-
ton TO make out "a partial and unjust report =
For ourselves, we knew nothing oil The report he
was about to make. We knew nothing OF any
part Of the debate appearing in last nights Union.
AS 10 The "pub!ic libel" which we are said 10
have cut cred" in The editorials or in any COM
muniralion in The Union, we must say in Tie
"spirit of free press addressing tree people,
that we have no pleasure in publishing libels
upon any one; and, least OF ALL in libelling the Sc
male Of The Uni ed States For louy.one years
we remained at the head OF free press in Virgil
mia, and never was any complaint of libel, OF a
public or Of private chaIa cieT, brought 10 our
door. We came 10 Washington with a full sense
of The respect which is due 10 The Congress OF the
United States; but with an equally firm deermi-
/ nation 10 maintain our principles and our inde-
pendence-as we'll as the rights and honor OF our
country. Wehod the liberty OF free discussion,
and Tile freedom OF the press, as essential elements
ofthe virtue OF our free institutions. But when,
in the midst Of foreign war; when patriotic
people are anxious 10 assert our rights and TO pro
cure an honorable peace by its vigorous prosecu-
III.
Of the action OF their representatives, we ask
whether the press is 10 be muzzled-whelher
every indignant expression, censuring The course
of The Senate, on a most material measure
for prosecuting this war, is 10 I've cut down
TO suit The iasidious feelings Of Senator
who has participated in its rejection We ask
whether the freedom OF The press-he birth.
right OF the American citizen, the palladium
Of our lberty-is 10 be cloven down in the per
son of an editor at the seat of The Federal Go
vernmen? This resolution would deny us The
privilege OF seat on the floor We would en-.
Ioy this honor when il can be attained without
The loss of our independence. But We will mo-
secure this privilege" by sacrifice Of the dear
er "priviIeses" and rights OF the press. Where
will the punishment sop7 Will The Senate Sent
their seTgeant-at.ai ms To arrest an Independent
editor. TO commit him To custody, and revive If
his person the odious scene which was exhibited
in the Senate of the United States in February
1900, when, in the black -cockade days of ancien
federalism, the fiat went forth TO punish MIR
Duane, The editor OF The "Aurora," for ''somt
paragraphs detamatory Of The Senate" in his pa
per? And is the blow against the liberty OF The
press TO come from The youngest Senator OF The
Youngest southern Stale in The Union, who pro
fesses himself 10 be friend 10 The Tree people
our enlightened democracyf
What is our own case, is The case OF The whole
press Of the Union. Whatwe may suffer 10 day
they may all suffer tomorrow. The penalty
threatened against US for The alleged qualification
OF public libel" may assume new and serne
form on some oiher press in the country We
await the decision of the Senate upon these re-
solutions with perfect equanimiy II such bt
the behests Of the Senate Of the United States, We
shall, of course, submit to them. Bull we do trust
for our own instruction as we'll as for the direc.
lion OF the whole American press, that Congfcs:
will al once pass law telling us what i:
meant hy IA public libel on The character OF The
Senate OF the uniied States" Lei US know
what we or others may safely say. Tell US how
far we NAV utter srrictnres on the public conduc
of members OF the Senate, and TO what key we
must modulale our voices, so as 10 avoid he
penalties OF the law against "rnbiic libels.'
Then, perhaps, II may be in cur power 10 avoic
all disespect towards The most distinguished body
in The world-all prosecutions for public libels
and every appearance of violating The immunity
which one OF lis members may think proper lc
claim for that body. They would then, in The
language Of Mr. Jefferson. "hang up a rule, fo
the inspection OF ALL which may direct The con
duct OF the citizen, and, al the same time, les
the judgments they shall themselves pronounce ia
their own case"-flM Jefferson on Duanes Case
We cannol publish without having the name
Of writer, Several voIers," addressed to The De