The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-02-03

THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND RIGHTS OF THE
PRESS.
The license frequently used by leading journalists in
speaking of legislative bodies as well as the highest
officials both executive and Judicial, has Of late been
carried to such reprehensble length to call forth
wholesome censures from those who believe the yespo
bes well the rights of the press In late number
of the Irish News weekly paper published in the city
New York. and edited by Thomas Francis Meagher, we
find editorial article under the head of aCongress and
the New York Press relating to this subject which
tans many views which will meet think with general
favor The editor frankly and emphatcaly acknowledges
the fullest responsibility for everything appearing in his
paper and intmaes that the impersonay Of journalism
often used cloak and shield for the foulest caum-
MES As limits will not permit transfer to our
columns the whole Of this ablywrittsn article must
ourselves with few extracts Speaking of the
sponsibes and rights of the press, the News says:
But the press has daies and responsibilities well
srights Unfathfu to the former, 1t inevitably forfets
the latter. The press institution whose original func
tion it to convey information By degrees it assumed
the formation OF opinion and then its CONTROL and finally
the direction of affairs of State morality, religion and
risprudsnce First it instructor and guide light
ing in the path of progress by its in telgence
power assuming control them from the CRADLE and
ercsng sometimes mild and salutary, and sometimes
brutal and mercsss espionage their lives their actions
and their inward thoughts and motives.
GAN power gasping, usurping, and tending perpetuay
to transgress it, proper limits Hence executive functions and
those Of legislation Jurisprudence, and the municipality
regulated and limited BY positive laws But the press is
creation law and should not be subject except in
of fragrant abuse legal restrictions 1t is the creation and
the Embodiment Of public opinion and public sentiment and Ia
legmatey controlled by their obligations To criticse
fault denounce misdeed to stgmatixs crme is the right
of press within these But to citicse through
malice denouncs without adequate and through fac
violation of duties sacrlege the temple
whose altar it minister's Equally 1t enter the circle
mans family to expose bis Irregularities his mis-
fortunes But II there be superatve degree in the dere
lection the press It when reckessly assas by
ments Legislators judges courts, and not only ruthlesy
sigmszes them, but imputes to them, without exception
and without proof the fouest motives. It painfully dis
gusting how far this has been carried Of late. Let
case submitted to court, and the press will only
anticipate decision but discover its motives and exhibit
them all their hdeous deformity Let law be passed OBJ
noxious to the faction journal SUPPORTS and the press
scornng to dscus its propriety improperly, justice
injustice, policy impocy, calculates with amazing mi
nutenes the brides received by the ard
through the whole range of executive legislative, judicial
municipal duties from the President to the policeman
the press for which condemns but per-
sonal motives and sordid aims"
1t would seem from the following that the Washington
letter-writers not much in favor with the News
"The Office of leter-wrsr at Washington is of recent Gre
alton and doubtful morality His business mot to report
what members say do but track their Footsteps to
creep behind their chairs dog their associates ply their
guests and their hosts to give its proper construction tho
tie their the fashion of their coats BY any and
ali detect their motives impute them his own
and expose their eccentrces foes and To this
there are of course, honorable exceptions and barely
possible that the duties of the position may be discharged bv
minds But the duties themselves arc more in a
cord with those of the nformer and the py And n ever
functions disgusting and revolving than other
we 1t is when the floor and lobby Of Congress and the ho-
tells the members the theatre Of their exercise
So far as the Washington correspondents Of several New
York papers concerned the remarks Of the News NAV
justly apply; but the cssrges they now stand are too
general and sweeping in their character, We can name
Of journals and not few among the opposition,
whose correspondents in this city enjoy high reputation
NO for their ability writer's than for their conduct as
honorable, high-minded men,