New-York tribune., 1873-06-20
TIE PHILADELPHIA RINGS.

ONE or THEIR BULwARKs REMovED-THE LAW OF
IrHy1, 1MENDED-FREEDoM or TIE PRESS As
sURED
PHILADELPHIA June 18.-The power of the
Philadelphia Rings has received severe blow In tho
Constitutional Convention 1t is notorious that system
OF terrorism exss here which Restraints the press from
assaillng corruption fearessly aud effectively Inc pa
pers which arc TO the popular interests nave 70 act
cautiously not from want OF pluck public spirit but
the law OF libel now interpreted iaYors the
corruptonss and renders their editors liable to hne or
Imprisonment il they exercise tho freedom OF dis
cussion that is accorded by the laws Of Now-York In
notable case, where The Press sued for commenting
the doings of certain persons whom dcsSua"u az
the Whisky Ring" the defendants counsel TOOK the po-
stOn that what had been published had been asserted
upon proper information, aud upon reasonable cause
and that the defendant entirely free from malice 10
ward those to whom the article alluded; but III ms
charge to the jury the Judge set aside these peas ana
said
/" If you fnd the publication being proved, its applica-
ton 10 the prosecutor established, aud the article upon
its face libel tending 10 defame the prosecutor aud TO
backen his character then instruct that the law
presumes that the act was malicious, and no express
malice need be proved"
The present constitution which It IS claimed admits Of
the above ruling says the point In question:
In prosecutions for the publication OF papers nyest
eating the official conduct Of officers or men IN public
caDaces where the matter published - proper for
public information, the truth thereof may be gwen IN
evidence"
The Constitution has continued unchanged in this
spect since I9O despite the greater necessity which has
arisen for surrounding freedom OF the press with
ample safeguards In the present Convention, Nr. Da
las Of Philadelphia, who has gwen special attention to
the matter, and acted with great zeal, proposed an
amendment according greater freedom 10 the press and
defining its rights clearly that they could not be mis-
understood Tho second reading of this amendment yes
terday was followed by long debate, wherein Judge
Woodward charged that the present law was made sub
seryent to political rings, and Mr. Bddle said be would
make not the naked truth, but the element OF
malice tho trio criterion" Mr.. Buckaew favored re-
form, but suggested limitations, while Mr Smith de-
clared that is in vain the press denOuGces the rings
in general erms-nOboiy for that sort OF talk and
many do not believe it at all DIt the press were
at liberty to say that s. b. VI the ring and bis accOm-
pces robbed the Treasury, by fraudulent practices
OF sjOO0 there would be something that wOuli tenge
attention and belief" Finally, after several changes
therein all OF reactionary character, MI Dallass
amendment was adopted in the following form:
No recovery or conviction shall bo had in any prose
cutiOn for the publication OF papers relating 10 the CON
duct officers men In public capacity or to any other
where tine that such publication not malcOusy
or gently maze shall DC established 10 the saSIdc-
ton OF the jury
This clause gives general satisfaction although n does
not realize all that was expected It's however deemed
by Mr. Dallas comprehensive enough to admit Of expos
ing official corruption without heavy penalties, when the
pubc good Is the sole motive for doing. Its adoption
is triumph Tor journalism, for IT is owing to the per-
sisent agitation Of the press Of this state and the a
proyal of their expressed elsewhere that the
measure has been carried.