, 1874-12-16


The majority Of the House Of Representa-
tives ut Washington made three serious mis-
tnkes on lTontlay, which should ba promptly
corrected. These were:
/. The refusal to pass tho bill for tho re-
peal Of the POLAND gag-law Of tho last scs-
sion.
2. Tho refusal to pass the HOLMAN resoIu-
ton declaring tint tho financial condition Of
tho country did not warrant the voting Of
subsidies Of money or bonds to private spocu-
lators or to any individual or corporation.
s. The rejection Of the resolution to inves-
tigate the conduct Of Government officers in
tho case Of tho safo-burglary at Washington.
The refusal Of the House to pass tile repeal
Of tho POLAND gag-law was pretty clenly
based upon the desire and the purpose Of the
minority to enact some low on TINT subject.
Mr.. FIREMAN., Of New York, proposed m
amendment Which is fully as Objectionable rs
tho original law. The majority of tho House
Inns indicated It's purpose to enaot law mak~
ing the publisher Of any paper in any part Of
tile United States responsible in criminal
action for alleged libel upon any 1lembor Of
Congress or other Government ofticial if q
copy of tho piper DO found in the District Of
Columbia. TREau1Ns bill authorizes the
Indictment Of tho publisher by u
Grand Jury of the District Of Co.
lunlbia, and then provides TINT TINT
indictment DO transmitted to tho United
States Court Of tho District whore tue papor
is published, tho publisher to give bail, etc.
| What these people at Washington ara aiming
at is to have it established by law that If any
newspaper containing supposed libel on any
ofice-holdor in Washington City be found in
TINT city, tho publisher, no matter where le
mny reside, can bo indicted in tint District
Tho sixth amendment to tho Constitution re-,
quires TINT the accused in all criminal prose
cutions sllrli have the right to trial in thu
Stnto aud District wherein tho crimo shal
have boon committed. The orinlo must bt
committed In the District Of Columbia tt
givo any Grand Jury Of that District iuristlic
ton thereof, aud therefore 10 must bo trici
there. This thing Of having maj
indicted by q Grand Jury 1000 o
1000 1nitcs away, aud then to b
tried by some other Court in anoiho
part Of tho country, is too outrageous to b
submitted to. In this respect it exceeds til
old Sedit,on law Of JouN Adams day, til
authors Of which were Justly condemned b.
tho people. There is no uso waating word
about tllis matter. The American people wi
tolerate no such infamous law. The passing
Of tho law last year WAS excused in somo case
on tho ground TINT its pnrport was not know
No ouch excuse oan bp made now. II the o,
; cuss of Ignorance Inst year was truthful, the
tho greater reason for the unconditional repeI
Of tie whole act now. Tho Republican part
can carry no such law, nor Gnu it curry al1
man who fayors or votea to perpotuato it
form or under any guiso.
+ The country III fully aware TINT Mr.. To
. soorr lses bill before the two Houses I
Congress- proposing that tho United Stat
sheil guarantee ono hundred millions Of ],
t railroad bo,.tls, and pay tho interest lhoret
r III gold for forty years. Tho country is al
), nworo that similar bill will be urged in fay
t Of Jay CoonE'a Northorn Paode WILDCAT rA
= roaa. Tho country, therefore, cannot aoco
!. tho refusrl Of tho HOUSE to consider anl
8 naas tho HoL,fAN resolution in any 9th
+ lul,t than aA foreahalowing favorable co
!, sitleretion Of thuae rohbcrlos, Or Of dosI
= 10 lot tue mo1nbora havu ei,na to dlukur III