The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-02-10
The 9ailg Arsns.
Monday, February 10, 1878
NruspApERs AND THE LAW.


A Chicago evening paper having zen
fined for a most outrageous anu "'s GU
nble assault upon the integrity oil our gu
49, O., l. very anxious that our leg
- - LII enact law under which it
49, assoult that court with IMMUNITY. 1t
,,Larrcd chat our Supreme Court could be
bougbt for 81 400, and because the afore-
said newspaper was fined for its libel it has
been whining about il ever since. The as
sault Of the newspaper was without excuse,
and was un insult to the whole people OF
this State. In order to make it safer for
newspapers to engage in SANDER, an effort
is being made for some further Legislation
as will be seen by the following, from the
Springfield correspondence OF the Ohieaso
Inter OccdH:
resolution came IN the House to-day,
instructinC the Judiciary Committee 10 IN
ouire If any legislation was necessary TO
nrotect newspaper men from malicious
,rnserutipn and Mr. Oberly made a
sneecb In favor Of its adoption He was
followed By Mr.. Bradwell in few remarks,
in which he claimed that something ought
to be done in the premises.
Mr.. Harrington took occasion 10 deiehu
the farmers club, saying II what the press
said in favor Of the farmers laid them ia
bic 10 prosecution he woold vote LOT the
Mr. ZONES wanted to table the resolution.
but he was defeated.
MIR. Collins charged that the press asked
for more special legislation than the farm
ers. The members Of the press were pro
tected now, and he could see no necessity
for class legislation They were protected
in speaking the truth, and ought not TO bt
countcnanccd in saying anything but the
truth The press was second to no power
in the land making and unmaking men
and had no need of special legislation.
Mr.. Durham agreed with MIR. Collins
The question was a general one relating &
hbels, and he saw no necessity Tor turthe
legislation ON that subject The paper
could say anything Of men that was true
There should not be broad license a. Ii
bel any man
Mr.. Lane, of Hancock could see n
harm in the resolution, as It was only on
of inquiry, aud he wanted to cover tn
whole ground, and with that view he NOV
ed 10 amend, instructing the committee
inquire If any legislation was necessary I
protect the courts and public men from AT
tacks of the press
Mr.. Oberly wanted the law amended 5
that rctraction of libel might save th
publisher from punishment The pres
had crushed down opposition 70 FIRE
thought and free speech, and would crus
out opposition 10 progress in the presen
direction
Mr. Hite, Of St Clair, admitted tina
the press had done great good in eXposln
corruptiOns, and favored the resolution.
Mr. Thornton, as a member of the press
cared very little about the resolution, bu
believed it would do no harm
Mr. Durham, in reply 10 Oberly, SAT-
that u mistake could not carry immuuit
with 1t in other professions, aud could sc
no reason for exempting the press.
The amendment was lost. and then can
motion from Mr.. Washburn to lay ON IL
table, and the yeas and nays were calleJ
resulting in the defeat Of the motion by
vote Of - against ~, and the resolutC
was adOpted-yeas, 70 nays, 4G.