The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-11
TIL E REPU B Lie.
w WASHINGTON:
Senatorial Privileges and the Liberty Of tn,
Press.
MONDAY MORNING, MARCH IL. 1850.


Senatorial Privileges and the Liberty OF the
Press.
We publish this morning full report of
the extraordinary proceedings in the Sen
ate on Friday, in which an honorable SEN
ator undertook to arraign the Republic
newspaper for an article which will be
found in the report to which we refer.
In that article we said that it was "shabby
and shameful that, when the public
mind throughout the country is deeply
agitated on question which is said to in
volve the very existence of the Govern
ment, documents so important as to be
made the subject of simultaneous calls in
both houses of Congress, and indispensa-
BILE to the proper understanding of this
great question, should not be promptly
laid before the press, the legislature, and
the people of the country. We reafirm
what we said. 1t is shabby and shame
ful-and we have nc doubt that the peo-
pie and the press in every section will
agree with us in the opinion. This is an
age Of steam presses and electric tele-
graphs. 1t is an age in which many
newspapers throughout the country throw
off daily an amount of matter that would
soon absorb all the contents of those
documents, if they are as voluminous
as they are represented to be. Congress
has unlimited means to command all the
improvements and facilities of the age;
and here is subject involving the desti-
MES of millions of people, and the exist
ence of our priceless Constitution-and
the editors of the country, the people, ay,
the very Legislators who are to dispose of
it, are not furnished with the papers which
involve vital points in the discussion. We
take it that such an extraordinary fact
must be attributed to motives and inten-
tons; for we suppose that some men do
not legislate without motives and inten-
tons. What those motives and inten-
tons are, must be gathered from the course
and conduct of gentlemen. We know DO
other way of reaching them.
And for this state of things who are re-
sponsiblel Not the Administration minor
titles in the two Houses. They are not
responsible for any thing that is done or
left undone. The opposition majorities
are alone responsible for good or bad legis-
lation; and, if the documents in which
General TAYLOR explains his policy and
exhibits his conduct are not laid before
the country in seasonable time and in
proper manner, the combination of Loco
focos, Abolitionists, and Disunionists, who
are arrayed against him, are responsible,
and solely responsible.
So much for the fact upon which we
have been arraigned; and now for the
manner of our arrsignment, and the tribu-
nal before which we have been called.
Mr.. BoRLAND's attack upon the Republic
was supplementary, and gross invasion
Of the rights and Liberties of an independ-
ent press; and on this point we are sure
that we shall have with us every Journal
in the country 1--WE care not what may be
its political complexion which has Just
appreciation of the position, the character,
and the dignity of the public press. Mr..
BoRLAND oyer-estimates his own position
exceedingly, and undervalnes ours, if he
supposes that, as a member of the Sen
ate of the United States, he exercises
more important or a more responsible in
1uence upon public opinion-the great
power which makes and unmakes legis-
lators and legislation--than is exercised
by the conductors of a central politi-
cal journal. And when he insults the
editors of such journal with the charge
that they are under CONTROL" he
must not be surprised if he is told that
the insinuation that this press is under
any control, or influence, or management,
except that Of its responsible conductors,
is utterly untrue. In any form that the
charge may take-whether Of assertion or
sinuation-whether it comes from hos
tile press or q Senator Of the United
States-it has not even foundation in
truth. We hope that this point, therefore,
is so far disposed of that it will never be
mooted again in the Senate. The Admin
istration exercises no control over US, and
we are under no obligation in the world to
the Administration. We have established
here an independent journal, which is no