The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-01-22
THE PRESS AND CONGRESS.

whenever they get chance, repay the compli
ment with interest The controversy is car
ried on recklessly, and without discrimination
Congress is denounced for wholesale corrup
ton the Press, for wholesale defamation. A
member rises in great scorn, and so uttsrl,
despises the press that he thinks it below the
dignity of the legislative body to attach i'm
portance to its representations charge,
against the purity of members deserve not thu
slightest notice. The editor, with equal scorn
taunts him with his obscurity, or low origin. O,
imbecility, and reminds him that the Press is 3
power higher than Congress.
We can see neither sense nor decencv II
such wrangling.. The Legislature, created by
the People, representing the People, invested by
the People with authority to maintain and pro
mote the stability and welfare of the Nation BY
Just and wise laws, is entitled to respect. and
ought not to be made the subject of indiscrimi
nate and inconsiderate denunciation.
But, it cannot object to thorough exami.
nation OF its acts; nor has it right to pass over
In contemptuous silence plain charges against
the integrity of its individual members, because
they do not originate within ITSELF To discredit
a newspaper charge, merely because it is made
IN newspaper, may be spiteful, but it is not
sensible. If the newspaper is VIGOROUSLY reck.
less and defamatory, let it pass-but, if it has a
general reputation for fair dealing, its charges
cannot be ignored with safety, nor ought they
to be, without rejecting discredt upon the &C.
cused parties.
| 1t is easy enough for member to talk about
contemplate newspapers" as if all newspa-
pers were alike, and the newspaper press were
an utterly contemplate thing, but neither he
nor anybody believes this. The Press is a
Power which must be recognised. 1t cannot
enact iaws-it cannot provide pains and penal.
ties, IN the shape of fines, Imprisonment, or
death-5ut it influences the People, the foun-
tain of all law in this country, and embodies
their views and will, so that they shall control
the law-making agency: and the representative
so sublimely defiant of its power, is just as
anxious to enlist it in his support, when asking
the People for their suffrages, just as anxious
to have it give publicity to his speeches, and
high commentator of his acts, as he who fully
recognises its power. Need we say how many
regulations are manufactured by the Press for
members, who, if let alone, would have come
and gone, without leaving trace of their transit
through the legislative hall?
But, newspaper press needs quite as
much W('ching as Congress. What if the rule
We're applied to it as to the Pnarisees of old
!" he that is without sin among you, let him
cast the first stone would there not be some
decrease in the amount of newspaper denunci-
alton? Is the Press so immaculate that it can
venture to charge wholesale corruption on
Congress Is it so conscientious as it ought
to be? Does it always weigh its words de-
hberately; hesitate to give currency to report
affecting the reputation or interests of others,
until it has ascertained its truth; refrain from
making charges it cannot or will not prove
or arousing suspicious, which it is assured no
reasons can JUSTIFY 1t is more irresponsible
| than Congress, and is therefore in more dan.
ger of doing injustice. The representative is
watched by his constituency, and one bad act
may send him into perpetual retirement.
There is no such avenging constituency be.
hind the Press. Unfortunately, a newspaper
may prosper by pandering to low appetites-
fatten upon vice; and even respectable newspa-
per, valued for its news, or commercial depart
ment, or politics, or literature, may 60 wrong
in many respects, and yet be sustained
The Press has a great power-to certain
extent, irresponsible power - and for this rea.
son specially should study not to abuse it.
We need hardly say that our remarks have
been suggested by the recent action of the
House of Representatives on the proposition to
appoint Committee to investigate charges OF
corruption brought against members through the
editorial columns of the New York Times. In its
issue of the 9th inst, affirming that gross cor.
ruption existed in the House, especially in
connection with the Minnesota Land Bill, it
declared, chat it could "present evidence to
carry ccRgiction to every honest heart, and
thus brlpx the power of public sentiment to
drive the criminals from the high places they
have disbonored." The Times is a reputable
newspaper, and such declaration demanded
appropriate notice by Congress. 1t was due to
that bodysto the People, to the Cause of Jus
tice, that the evidence should be produced, and
the criminal members exposed. To withhold
the evidence until Congress should have an Cd.
portunitysto act, was entirely proper. If Con
gress had,&ailed to order an investigation, who
will say that it would not have become the i'm
perative duty of the editor of the Times to
prove or retract his charges? Congress did
order an investigation, and appoint Commit
tee, to investigate the charge, and had a RICH,
to claim from the accuser the evidence on which
he asserted, conviction would be carried to every
honest heart, and the criminals driven from
the high places they had dishonored. What
followed? 1t is briefly summed up in the fol
lowing Geographic statement published in the
New York Tribune: =
"Only two witnesses have vet been examined
before the Investigating Communicable. Ray
mond and Mr. Simonton.s The former disputed
the authority, saying his statements were pred
icated upon representations which, as a Jour
nalist, he would not divulge. Mr. Simonton
was two hours and half this morning subjected
to close scrutiny, covering former and present
transactions. Finally, one question was pro-
posed which he positively refused to answer
and there the examination closed, with an in
timation that he might be arrested"
Now, this is marvellous. Lieutenant Gov
ernor Raymond, editor of the New York Time,
charges gross corruption on members of Con
gress, aud says that he has the evidence tc
prove it. glad Congress refused to order an
investigates, he would have Aaid probably, he
might have said Justly, that Congress was false
to its DUTY in permitting itself to rest unde,
such a charge. Congress orders an investiga