Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-06-10
WASHINGTON, d. C.
SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 1854.
The PUBLIC PRESS AND CONGRESS.

| II may have been observed that no quorum
voted on the resolution of Mr. Giddngs, intro
duced last Thursday, to expel the editor and
reporters Of tho Washington Union. AS the
subject may come up again next Monday, a
few rminiscenccs may be Of service to mem
bers.
Some years ago, Washington correspond.
emit of the New York Tribune, in u letter print
cd in that journal, held up to ridicule the per-
sonal habits of a member who, while the House
was in session, RECALLED himself upon Bologna
sausage The assault was not very serious
one no attempt was made to excite vindictive
feelings towards the member; merely u laugh
was provoked against him, and thir, it was
thought, might prove serviccable to the gentle
man, by leading him to cultivate better man
ners But the House seemed to think more Of
it's own dignity than the improvement Of his
habits and passed resolution expellng oil the
reporters and letter-writers Of the Tribune who
had been admitted to the floor of the House
February 9th, l847, Mr.. Wentworth, of H.
linos, attempting to make personal explana-
ton, out of order, aroused a strong feeling of
opposition among the members, who INDUCED
in various expressions Of impatience, and final
iy he was obliged to st down. The regular
Congressional report Of the Union represented
him as having been put down by all SORTS Of
contemptuous EXPLANATIONS
The next Monday, February 8th) Mr.
Douglas Of Illinois, brought the subject to the
notice of the House AZ q question of privilege
making a full statement of the grievance COM
planned Of, before he introduced any resolution
He said that the most friendly relations existed
between him and tho editor of the Union, and
30 far az he knew the reporters, he had al
ways been on good terms with them 1t was
no personal feeling that indnced him to take
the present step but the reportrepresented u
member Of tho Honae AZ having been insulted
and degraded, and the House itself as having
assented to the insult and degradation. He
pronounced this false, scandalous, and inju-
rious both to that member and to tho House,
and moved
"That tho reporters of the Union newspa-
per, published in this city, DO expelled from
this House p
Adding subsequently, the words
"On account of the false slanderous, and
disrespcctful report Of the proceedings of the
Honse, Of Saturday last 80 far AZ it relates to
the conduct Of tho House, on tho occasion of
tho Hon. Mr.. Wentworth's remarks"
Mr. Douglas quoted two extracts from the
report tho burden Of which was, that MIR.
Wentworth was interrupted whenever he at
tempted to speak, by such cries ~ Sit down."
aOh, no ~ @Bah bah &C.
Meantime, Mr.. Douglas having received in
formation that the regular reporters of the
Union were absent when the obnoxious report
appeared, modified his resolution 30 as to move
for the appointment of o committee Of five, to
inquire into tho truth of the report made in
the Union, its authorship, and the names of
the members engaged in creating disorder in
the House On the day referred to. A motion to
lay this ON the table failed-yeas "a, nays 80
and the resolution was then adopted-yeas 1873,
nays "a. So the House at that time manifest
ed most tender care for its dignity.
The following Monday, Mr.. Douglas, from
the committee, reported, asking to be dis
charged from the further consideration OF the
subject, simply on tho ground that rs they
were under instruction to examine persons and
papers respecting tho conduct Of several men,
bers Of the House, as we'll "a of the reporters
of the Union, tho rest Of the session might be
occupied with such an examination.
In neither Of these cases, do wo detect any
evidence Of malignity or vindicliveness, or any
purpose or tendency to inflame popular pas
sion against members or make them subjects
Of personal outrage. And in neither Of them,
was the editor the offending party.
But, the Union, then, as now, in the habit Of
defaming members Of Congress, on account of
difference Of political opinion, was about the
same time called to account by the Senate
Wednesday, February 10th, Mr.. Yulec in
troduced two resolutions the first for the expul-
sion Of the reporters Of the Union, for false
report Of the proceedings Of the Senate. This
was subsequently withdrawn, on such cxplana.
tions from the reporters as were deemed salts
factory The second resolution was as fol-
lows
aResolped. That the editor OF the Union, a
newspaper published in the city Of Washington,
having in publication contained in a number
Of that paper, dated the 9Th Of February, issued
and uttered public libel upon the character
of this body, be excluded from the privilege Of
admission to the floor Of the Senate
The article containing the alleged libel, was
communication subscribed, Vindicator," and
was endorsed by the editors Of the Union, just
rs they now endorse the communication from
"Od Fogy," CHASING Mr. Giddings and those
who sympathize with him in the House, with
wild beasts, reckless Of the restraints of law,
and not entitled 70 any Of it's safeguards. We
shall copy the article, and the reader who has
lately seen in the Union tho editorial invcctive
against. Mr.. Sumner and his associates, asail-
ing them as assassins, incendiaries instigators