Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-04-12

THE QUESTION CONSIDERED ~ CONNFc-
TioN WITH THE EXPULSION or EVERY
EVENINGS CORRESPONDENT.
The Adrnhstr Of Saturday has
thoughtful and carefully written editorial
ON the question suggested aLlve, and
though il does not believe the facts iust-
fed entirely what il considers Mr.. Pridc's
harsh criticism on the House, yet il de-
rlarcs that his criticism by no means
justified expulsion. II VS.;
MI PRIDE, the CORES pendent Of EVERY
tyrNfNG. WIS deprived ot what is called
ilr POI ilege Of the ioor of the House, or In
other words forbidden as far as the House
could do 30, to report the proceedings Of
THAT body This was HIGH. handed piece
ct tyranny IA keeping with the dcsputism
uf Congress during the war and rcconstfuc-
tiou periods.
After declaring that the action of the
House was ''hasty and uudiguiled-as il
lit was smarting under well directed
punishment It thus discusses the con-
stitutiOnal right Of the House to take
Tue action it did.
The action of the House was an abuse of
a power which n is extremely doubtful At
possessed. ANY citizen may print ON any
subject, being responsible for The abuse II
tNtt liberty says the Constitution. lArti-
Gle l. ANY one Whu takeH the trouble of
reading THAT instrument will see that the
General Assembly il It's creature. and IN
ierior ia contemplation OF the organic law,
to the rights ct a citizen to PRINT. &c. we
declare that every thiug in this article |. |
h reserved out OF the general powers OF
government hereinafter mentioned" This
sentence is 10 be lOund in our Constitution
in large capital letters so that none may
misunderstood.
The General Assembly lie created BY virtue
Of Article ii. Of the Constitution and Is
D -. d 80. e.. q aN.H
/ PRINT, Nc., because this right Is reserved TO
! the people. II this Is so, had the House
| the power to prevent MIR. Pride from making
notes OF the proceedings Of the House so MS
TO print themY When right such as the
one spoken OF is granted all the incidents
| TO Its existence and use, are AZ the same
! time giveui hence II was no privilege for
| Mr. Z. to be on the floor Of the House, Il
was his right to be there, II that was the
place set apart for the other reporters n
/ the resolution has driven Mr.. Pride into a
/ corner OF the gallery, the other reporters
/ ought to go there, AS II is a manifest invA-
] sion OF right superior to any given to the
/ General Assembly, viz: to be present To
/ comments thereon.
This resolution is warning 10 the press
! that II will be punished by the House If Il
says aught about that body. The resolution
Is not red0lent Of respect for Constitu.
tonal rights, and comes with special bad
! grace from body, many OF whose members,
/ are frequent disclaimers against congres.
sional usurpation. II Mr.. p. has com.
mitted fault, he 10 responsible for Il, aud
may be punished in a legal manner but the
mode adopted u illegal, The action of the
| House was ill-tempered, uDdignifed and
! iliberal If the gentlemen would reason
calmly upon the matter, we think that they
would be likely to rescind the resolution
and by so doing would rise to the dignity OF
/ coniessing fault and making atonement.
The kennett Leader has tue following
reference TO the action Of the House In
expelling our correspondent
That august body, the Delaware Legisla-
ture, las been immOrtalizing itself by a
piece OF folly almost unknown in these laws
Of free speech and free press. By a vote of
ten to nve, they expelled MIR. willard
Pride, the Dover correspondent of the vii.
mimgton EVERY EvENlNG from the floor OF
the House, simply because he In his letters
10 that paper criticised some Of the measures
Of that honorable body.