The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1857-04-01
RIGHTS OF THE PRESS.

We have just read a lengthy and inter
csting letter in the Charleston Courier, in
reference 10 he case lately tried in Column
bia, Of X. w. Gibbs, VS.. +. J. Arthur, and
John Burdcll. This case, our readers will
RENE, mber, WAS brought by DR.. Gibbs against
the Mayor of Columbia, and his agent, for
an indignity offered TO DR.. G. in the Coun-
Gil Chamber, torcibly c~jcclin. him from the
same, because il was presumed that lie in
tended to report the proceedings of Coan-
Gil and publish the same in his paper. This
right was denied him because, the propric-
tor of the Carolina Times had contracted
for the printing of Council, and claimed
the exclusive right TO publish the pro-
cecdings, first, in his paper. DIR. G., in or
der 10 lest the authority OF Council for this
outrage upon his person and their right to en-
clude from their public meetings Il rcpor-
ter, who was also n corporator and also TO
test n general and important principle, invol-
wing the rights of the Press, instituted
suit against the Mayor and his agent, laying
his damages ut $4,000. The case was too
plain a one TO require much litigation, and
n verdict Tor the plaintiff was accorded, sat.
isiy ing the principle in regard to the rights
OF the press, but in respect TO damages,
nothing was obtained.
The corrcs pondcnt of the Courier (whom
We take to be Mr.. icadon, who was one of
the Counsel for PlaiUtin). crIticises pretty
severely the course pursued by Judge
Withers, who although in'his charge to the
Jury, fully sustained the position assumed
by DIR. Gibbs, yet, ms stated Wy the cores
pendent Of the Courier, he took occasion 10
denounre the press of the Country in gen.
ernl terms, representing it rs doing more
harm than good. This is n singular charge
TO be laid TO a Judge, upon the Bench, Of
South Carolina. The doctrine is old fash.
ioLed-is n remnant of n darker age, and
we quite agree with the Courier in its pub.
lie condemnation Of sny such erroneous as-
"umptions, rs applied to the press Of tho
country generally. There nre bounds. to
The liberty of the press, and in many cases
doubtless.this barrier has been broken down.
and an instance of n Ii, encious press is the
consequence but is this the general charac-
Ter OF The press of this country lis it the
character OF the press OF this State! If,
possibly, his Honor alluded only 10 the $50
lated instances where the press had been
made to subservo TO unworthy ends-put
ung this construction upon his remarks.
where is the relevancy 10 the case in point!
The Plaintiffs press was not of thi. charac.
Ter. IL is presumed that he would have
given n correct report Of the proceedings of
Council, and his right TO attend the meetings
and report for his paper if be chose, was
fully conceded by the Court in his charge
to the Jury. If we understand the CORES
pondent of the Courier the charge WAS a
wholesale one. making no distinction what
ever. We appeal as much Of it (thc CORE
spondence) rs We have room for. Speaking
ofthe Judge, he says:
3. lie manifested an entire Indifference to
the rights, and especially to the liberty Of
The press, taking occasion 10 dcnouuce the
modern press Of this country generally, and
~" ''hi SsptSiail, ~ Nn lnNNIu-
mcnt OF evil, dong more harm than good,
and he made no exception IN favor OF the
press OF this State, or OF the plaintiffs press
and met the citations, made By one of the
plaintiffs counsel, fi0m Millions noble car
eopagitica,' in favor Of the unlicensed free
dom Of the press, save by way of suisse
quent responsibility for sedition profanity,
or libel, by n dcnunciatiOn of Milton for
equal scrviIiIy TO Cromwell and the Stuatts
and as a man of doubtful morals. lie took
refuge, too, under Mr.. Jefferson's malicious
and revengetnl hostility to the press, " hen
1t began 10 turn on him the fangs, which
he had previously, through his instruments
sharpcned, enveDomed. and pointed mt
Washington and his administration
Mr.. Jefferson began political life, and ad.
van"ed to einineRce ia it, as n devoted adj
yocale and admirer Of the newspaper press.
10 a letter TO MIR. Darlington, dated Paris,
January l6, 1886, he said Of the newspaper
press, "lf 1t were left 10 me TO decide " beth
or we should have a government louhOui
newspapers, or newspapers withoui a gorern
ment, should not hesitate a moment to pre-.
fer the latter."-Je6erson Correspondence
poi. 2, p. IS.
Alter he had reached the Presidency, and
himself become a target for the party war
fare oil the opposition press, the tactics he
and ihis newspaper friends bad adopted
against the administrations Of Washington