The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-17

residence on Il street, in this city, on Saturday
last.
The Press-Congress and the Democracy.
In his celebrated 7th Of March speech Mr.
WEBsTKR said, in allusion to complaint of the
violence of the northern press: The press
violent! Why, sir, the press is violent
everywhere There are outrageous reproaches
in the North against the South, and there are
reproaches as vehement i'll the South against
the North. Sir, the extremists Of both parts
of this country are violent they mistake loud
and violent talk for eloquence and for reason.
: They think that he who talks loudest reasons
best. And this we must expect, when the
press is free as it is here, and | trust always
will be; for, with all its RIGHTEOUSNESS and all
its evil, the entire aud absolute freedom of
the press is essential to the preservation of
Government on the basis of free constitu-
ton. Wherever it exists there will be foolish
and violent paragraphs in the newspapers, as
there are, am sorry to say, foolish and violent
speeches in both Houses Of Congress. In
truth, sir, must say that, in my opinion. the
vernacular tongue Of the country has become
greatly vitiated, depravcd and corrupted, by
the style of our Congressional debates. And
Il il Were possible for those debates TO vi,iate
the principles Of the people as much as they
have depraved their tastes, should cry out
God save the Repubic!'"
This passage was called to our recollection
by the speech Of Mr.. FITCH, of Indiana, on
the report Of the Printing Committee. delivered
IN the House Of Representatives on Wednes-
day last, and reported in the Globe of Friday
Indeed, it has frequently occurred to US during
the debate ON the question of the Public Print
ing, which has led to more unlicensed talking
than any subject that We know of has led to
unlicensed writing. Corruption" "plun-
der" robbery" have been charged without
stint by members Of the House upon Mcssrs.
DosELsos & Armstrong and upon Messrs.
GIDEoS CO., the proprietors and editors Of
the Union and the Republic. One honorable
member went so far rs TO compare the gentle
men connected with these journals-the first
named 10 the thieves who broke into the Patent
Office to steal the jewels and the last named
10 the thieves who were called upon as accom-
plces to stand outside and receive the booty.
Did that member beiiere that gentlemen whose
position before the community and the country
is in no regard less respectable than his own,
were really standing IN consin,ile casu with the
robbers Of the Patent Office and their accom-
plices7
And now comes in Mr.. FIrcB, of Indiana.
and we have nothing to say 10 him in regard
TO his appreciation Of the Union. That matter
we leave him 10 settle with his friends. But
when he speaks Of GIDEoS < Co., or, what is
the same thing Of the Republic, we have
word 10 say in that behalf. That paper"
says Mr.. FTcH, "has abOunded in unnea-
sured and unwauanted misrepresentation Of
the Democratic party It's men aud It's princi-
pies" lie then speaks Of the contract Of the
committee as furnishing the Republic with The
means Of multiplying "lts misrepresentation,
and propagaiing them more extensively
through the country" In another place he
questions the propreiy Of a Democratic Con
gress bestowing bonus upon somewhat
unscrupulous partisan paper Of the opposite
party, and thus giving 1t the means Of rem
dsring itself more mischievOus."
Mr. FIrcH charges tie RepuJiic, not with
stealing, but with violating that commandment
of the ten which iurblds us 10 bear false wit
ness against our neighbur. "Unmeasurcd aud
unwauanted misrepresentation" of Democratic
men aud principles, is neither more nor less. We
apprehend. than habitual Justification pariicu
larly when We couple with II ;he idea Of "mIs
chevIous" and "unscfupulous." Now, strange
Is Mr. FrTcn may consider IT, we regard
charge Of this nature quite az seriously rs a
charge of plumber; and should think "a III Of
ourselves, il we believed it jusifabc, as il We
believed ourselves justly obnoxious to com
parson with the robbers Of the Patent Office.
A general allegation Of this nature is very east
Nv made-the proof in the present instance
will be very difficult. We defy Mr.. Fircu Ia
produce from our editorial columns dny misrc.
presentation any untrue or INSCRIPTIONS state.
mcnt-in regard TO the Democratic party or IFS
principles. That some 0f our representations
and statements may have been "mischcvIous'
10 Democratic mrn and principles, We dare say
but they have been mischevious only because
they were true. We speak now Of our editorial
columns In our disposition 10 oblige our friends,
Democrats as well as Whigs,) we have
sometimes admitted, on the suggestion Of good
Democrats, articles from Democratic journals
or correspondents for which we are in no wise
responsible; and if they contain any thing IN
warranted. " unmeasured. or Inscriptions,
Mr.. Frcn must not lay the blame upon our