The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1869-01-16
The Subject of Libel.


THE outrage committed in the arrest Of
Mr.. Bowles, In New York, iustifies
special attention to this subject. = es
The law Of libel has hitherto been ex-
tremely loose in Its structure, resting on
but few actual principles, and those ap.
piled at times with positive eccentricity.
In the different States the same general
principles would sometimes conduct to
very different results. But still there has
been steady and visible gain IN public
sentiment in favor Of the most liberal CON
struction Of rules for the commentaries Of
the press, the rules themselves being sub
leeted more and more to the definitions
fixed by the rights and wants Of the com
munity, From the concession that public
men may be criticised freely BY the press,
another step is next to he taken to the
right Of fair criticism on all public agents
and servants, and persons who direct by
their own hand the corporate interests Of
large bodies Of the community. What Is
expected of the press It should be pro-
teoted In the performance of Ithas come
to be regarded among its chief duties, that
it shall sound the alarm In case Of danger,
that It shall speak openly in cases of pub.
lie abuse, that It shall administer such
correction as the general sentiment de-
mands voice for /; and TO perform duties
like these with anything like an impartial
faithfulness, the public which it serves
owe 1t protection to correspond, which
shall impart weight to its comments and
point with justice its criticisms.
There are not q few, however, who re-
gard prosperous newspapers as sort oi
hunting ground for private aVarice. They
lie in wait for what a narrow and insult,
cient law, not always administered with
Just and comprehensive views, may per.
haps help them to secure as personal
| Iplunder The point with them is, moi
whether they have been libeled, nor
whether the public has received an injury
at their own hand, but whether the com,
menting journal is rich enough TO pay fol
the enterprise of suing it This very pru
dence In making their choice should e
far toward throwing their cases out b
court IN linine It IS no question Of huri
to their reputation, but of profit to theil
pocket; and where that so plainly coun
tervails, It stands confessed that they hayl
suffered from no libel What patent havl
they under which they may bore to th'
life and marrowof the public security
and at the same time call on the c0mmu
nifty TO protect them from exposure i
: their wOTk3 This plea Of sprivate char
acter is threadbare it is generally thosl
who would work iniquity Ii private, ant
without fear of censure, who are so s0rl
on the sacredness of regulations Whicl
have already become notorious It Is dis
coFery and exposure that they fight, witt
the help Of the law not personal injuf
tiCe, much less public injuries.
In order TO reach and include the quail
; fcations above suggested, In cases Of libe
: In the courts, there should be an immedi
ate enlargement Of the grounds Of iustif
cation for thepublic press Itshould hks
) wise be competent for the defence to in
press into its service freedom and scop
of evidence that shall fairly represent th
more enlarged and just views Of the con
mnnity. II is really question, the Oh
cunistanees Of every case FIRST being prol
leTly weighed, whether the individual {
/. the public deserves the fret consideration
+ for while there can be no Justification &
4 an unprovoked assault on private ohara
4 ter, it must be allowed that the c0mm0
l. safety has q right to exact the fKeest be
|. sonal sacrifice in its own defence. Hal
( PLY that security requires no such sacI
!. dee as would be styled tyrannical and ,ul
4 just; but does not aripened public jud
3 ment declare, with such an exception thl
r no individual pique reVengefulness or d
sire of corsair profits, shall take precedenc
, Of the general rights and security 2 This
I, the very step, with the proper qualihcl
4 tions, which the iawOf libel Is yet TO tah
! IN the direction Of an enlightened an
\ necessary reform.
!. 1t Is not pure arrogance In the publ
1 press to assume to be the organ Of publ
y sentiment and opinion. The call, thoul
v tacit, not the less clearly comes from u
u public itself And the relation Is de-
Il cate one, though established for SUI
1. practical purposes. For that very reast
I tits to be held in a higher regard Su,
Il exalted service, which 1t is not possible
n provide for in another way, deserves ad
d quate guarantees Of protection. IndivI
u ual rancor and chagrin ought not 10 be pt
of mitted, with the law itself as their instr
ment, to batter down one Of the atronge
= safeguards Of modern society. The Ia
4. should answer more perfectly 70 the libs
IL allied sentiment Of the time, and assur
Il that the press is performing the hight
"a service to the public even when criticism
q and cOndemning tke conduct of the inC
n vidual. New and broad ground like q
remains to be taken, after which the col
n munity viii feel more secure, and sem
Il tive individuals more careful Of pruYokil
.. the timely visitations Of the public jud
n ment. .--Bostoa Post
N -------Ass es------
u 4, THE Coroner Of Louisville the 9th