New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-10-26
THE ADMINISTRATION INTERPRETERS WITH
LEGISLATION IN NEBRASKA

To the Edit, If The " y Tribune.
SIR: ak the favor Of the Of your columns Tor
one moment while refer to a most daring assumption
Of despotic power, and fragrant outrage upon the
Liberties Of the people by Federal officer the sp-
pontee # the present Administration. refer TO the
recent acts Of the Hon. j. Sterling Morton, Secretary
Of the Territory Of Nebraska. The Legislature Of
said Territory now in session. ard in the House Of
Representatives, upon the passage Of resolution Civ
ing the printing 10 The Nebraska Republican, the
honorable Secretary interrupted the proceedings Of
said body, saying: have the power to give the
"printiu 10 whomsoever please, and II you give II
to Tie Republican, ! VIII not pay for Il or words
that effect. In that act the seminal principles
Of a desp,tism a. iyranrlcal az that which bFoods
the fair soil Of France, Of Russia. IL strikes
at the very foundation of civil liberty. 1t would de-
sroy all liberty Of the press, ard all freedom OF legis
lati0n. For what e this Nebraska Republican, which
j. such eye--ore 10 the honorable Secretary Ia
typographical appearance in courtesy and dignity to-
ward is opponents in the ability with which il is
Quoted in iis size and circulation and respectablty
in its conpend- Of Territorial new in it, facilities for
superior job work, il il equal TO any paper in
the IerTtory--and, as q whole, IL - admitted
upon all hands to be superior to any other newspaper
in the Territory. But IL name indicates its politics
and 1t is for th.s-ts polHcs-and this alone, that
the Hon. Secretary declares that the Legislature
shall not be permitted to have the printing done
under IL supervision. Were ii al advertisement
Of the Government anything under It's legiti-
control we should have 10 objections 10 him Civ
ing to whoever he pleased. But here is matter
which il far different. II is a subject Of universal
legislative enactment and Legislative control,
and is not the interference CT the Hon. Secretary
with the freedom Of legislation in this case, the most
culpate and despotio Has it come 10 this that the
legislature must consult the Government official ne ~
what law they may or may not enact-and when they
choose 70 act contrary to official dicaon, 10 have
their edings interrupted in THE boorish manner
tie privileges OF the House thus .contemptuously
rampled under foot and the members themselves thus
a rengedHce. But the end Of this matter is not yet
Tie House Indignantly spnrned the Government dicta
ton and directed their Clerk to cause the printing to
be done at the Office Of The Republican, and they
would pay for it themselves If the Government would
not We shall see therefore in the sequel Of this mat
ter whether the Government will persist IN the dicta-
tou Of the Legislature Of the Territory, or whether
public sentiment viii frOwn down such despotic
sumptioEs, and force II to yield
How far the Administration will sustain the Hon.
Secretary IN this open and violent dictatOn 10 the
Legislature not prepared TO say; but that II
was the understanding Of his superors at Washing
ton af rha, he AIMED 10 be doae there be
doubt. A private letter received from PROM
inent citizen Of the Territory few days before
the meeting OF the Legislature and after it ascer
tanned that this body would probably ntain a ma
jorty OF the Opposition says: 1.-The orders to Secre
"tary Mortou are 10 good Democrat tells me who
is in office and ought 20 know that IL case the
&" Dcrocrocy can dispose Of the printing, then they
should do so; if not. that he will be sustaine in
giving ii to good Democrat on his own RESPONSE
blity as Secretary" so that the Hon. Secretary
although perhaps more violently than was anticipated
and devised ye in fact and sprR only carrying ont
the will Of his superiors at Washington. Ii this be
freedom, what is despotsmi Ii this be popular SOW
ereigIty That il autocratic powerl A.