The Nevada Democrat. [volume] (Nevada, Calif.) 1854-1863, 1860-05-02
A Bni 20 Suppress Newspapers.

A BILL entitled ian act concerning the action
Of libel" containing some extraordinary pro.
visions, has passed both branches Of the Legs
lature, and should 1t receive the signature Of
the Governor will become law. The follow
ing are briefly the provisions of the bill 1st
Actions Tor libel may be brought 10 any county
Of the State in which the defamatory matter
was written, printed, published or circulated.
I'd. When the defamatory matter is Published
10 newspaper, action may be brought against
al the editors, proprietors and publishers, uni
ted in one complaint, or against each singly.
Sd. When defamatory matter has been at differ
ent times written, printed, published or cireu-
lated by the same parties, the separate causes
of action may be either united in one complaint,
or be the subject Of distinct suits lth. The
press, type and material used in printing
newspaper containing defamatory matter is IL
able TO execution and sale for any judgment
obtained against the editors or publishers,
whether the material belongs to them or not,
and no subsequent sale shall defeat the right of
the plaintiff to seize the same on execution.
9Th. Actions may be commenced at any time
within one year after the defamatory matter
was either written, printed, published or circu-
lated.
This bill was introduced in the Senate by Mr..
Wheeler, OF Yuba, and it appears to have been
supported by tho BuIkheaders who took this
method OF revenge against the press of the
State on account Of the Incorporate comments
Of certain papers that bad assailed their mo-
tives and charged them with corruption. For
the credit OF the State, we trust that the Gov
ernor will inlerpese his vets. Such an act in.
corporated in the statutes of California would
prove more lasting and burning Disgrace TO
tho State, than were the "blue-laws" Of Con-
necticnt, or the alien and sedition laws Of John
Adams administration. The people OF the Uni
ted States pride themselves upon tolerating free
discussion, and justly denounco the dcspotic
governments of Europe for exercising a super
vision over the press; but there is not gov
eminent Of Europe that would for moment
entertain proposition to enact so despotic
law against the press as has passed the Califor-
mia Legislature. 1t is without parallel in the
history of American legislation, aud its design
seems TO have been to enable every rascal 10
suppress any newspaper that may oppose even
the most corrupt schemes. The government Of
France, which is IN a measure responsible TO
public opinion, has the power to suppress news
papers; but the California Legislature have out
Heroded Hcrod, and placed this power at the
disposal of every irresponsible individual who
can raisc money enough to pay the court fees
for commencing suits. Under this bill person
who may entertain spite against the conduc-
tors Of newspaper can commence suits in
dozen different counties, at the same time, aud
no matter which way the suits were decided, the
cost Of defending them would be sufficient to
break down any paper in the State.
We do not object to q stringent law against
libel; but this bill was never designed to pun
ish libel. 1t was designed to enable corrupt,
scheming knaves to suppress free discussion,
and break up newspapers that may be disposed
to oppose their schemes. 1t virtually places at
tho disposal of irresponsible and evil disposed
individuals tyrancal power which is exercised
only by the most despOtic governments Of Eu-
rope. With such law upon the statute book,
an Independent journalist, DESTROYS of pursuing
his profession, would find il advantageous to
emigratc from California to Naples; for there
he would only be subjec. to the supervision Of
one tyrant, while here he would be the subject
and slave of every tyrant in the State.