Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-04-02
THE PRESS.

In Heference to the Law Regulating
The Circulation of Newspapers Through
the Mails.
Mr.. Speaker, I am in favor of the
third section of this bill, and opposed
to all Its other provisions. 1 will brief
ly state the reasons for the view I have
taken. The third section provides
That from and after the passage of this act
the following mail matter shall be allowed to
pass free in'the mail: First, newspapers, pc
riodicals, and magazines reciprocally inter-
changed between publishers. and not exceed
ing sixteen ounces in weight, to be confined
TO single copy OF each publication; second
y, weekly newspapers, one copy to each actu-
al subscriber residing or receiving the same
within the county where the same is publish
ed but carriers shall not be required to dis
tribute such papers unless postage is paid upon
!, them at the usual rates.
lam in favor of modifying this by
striking out the word weekly" and by
inserting after the word newspapers ]"
the words periodicals and maya
zines"
The object of this is to give free
circulation within the county where
published for all periodicals, magazines
and newspapers, whether weekly, daily,
monthly, or otherwise. The section as
it now stands applies only to weekly
newspapers, and excludes from free cir
culation daily and monthly papers,
magazines and periodicals.
AS general rule, special and exclu-
sive privileges should not be granted to
any profession or class of citizens. If
the free circulation of newspapers in the
county where published were privilege
for the benefit of publishers alone, I
know OF no principle ON which it could
be justified but it is not. 1t is not for
their benefit a. all.
The Constitution very wisely provides
that
Congress shall make no law abridcing
the freedom of speech, or of the press.
This is based on the idea that it is
the right of every citizen to speak and
publish his sentiments subject to no
restraint except responsibility for the
abuse of the privilege in a mode which
results in wrong and damage to others.
1t is based on the idea also that re-
publican government cannot exist ex-
cept by the general diffusion of knowI-
edge.
Almost every State in the Union
recognizes the wisdom, the absolute ne
cessity, of this, by maintaining common
schools, supported at the public ex-
pense, open to all the children thereof.
Without this republican government
cannot endure. Where the people are
the source of power they must be in
telligent to secure wise exercise OF the
power. The same principle which JUS
titles common schools, supported at the
public expense, also justifes the free
circulation of newspapers and period
Gals within appropriate limits.
l will not pronounce any eulogy on
the press. Fortunately it needs none
now. Common schools, the press, and
public addresses of every kind are the
great educational, moral, political, and
religious instructors of the people.
The press now reaches almost all the
people, and on grounds of public policy
it deserves all reasonable encourage.
ment. 1t is for the benefit of and open
alike to all the people. 1t is not an ex.
elusive privilege or benefit for any. II
is privilege which will be equally en-.
joyed by nearly all our citizens. II
should be enjoyed by all. He who will
not enjoy it cannot complain if others
do.
1t has been said that our city papers
is opposed to the measure now under
consideration, while it is demanded by
the so-called country press. There il
no entire unanimity of either city o.
country press on this subject. The
proposed measure will operate equally
for all, or as nearly so as may be pos
sible.
The large and widely-circulated city
press has the advantage of having news
papers carried in the mails broadcas
all over the land, hundreds and thou
SANDS of miles, at no greater cost thar
is by existing law charged for carrying
a COUNTRY newspaper within the county
where published. This gives to the
city press a great advantage. If the
law shall be changed so as to allow Q
free circulation within the county oil
publication, the whole press will alike
enjoy its advantage. And this will give
free delivery from the postoffice at the
place of publication.
will not draw any inviduous dis
tinctions between the city and country
press. The whole newspaper press,
city and country, has place, value
which cannot be estimated or dispensed
with.
The press will very often represent
the sentiment and interest of its imme.
date locality. But this is not always
so. The New York Tribune for thirty
years represented the protective-tarif
sentiment of the whole country. 1t was
in sense local. So there are many
city papers welding powerful and
salutary influence, broad and universal,
regardless of locality, and aiming only
at the public good. These ought not to
be disparsged; no effort should be
made to bring them into disrepute. But
the so-called country press does as a
general rule reflect the sentiments and
interests of the people, and it deserves
the confidence, attention, and care OF
tae people and the Government.
In some localities the country press
cannot be maintained without the aid
of the measure now before us. We
should not withhold from it the aid now
proposed.
But the other provisions of the bill
rest on totally different principle, and