Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1874-07-03

" possible 10 DtRln u sui Tor lU6l III luis |
District, and arrest the editor and pub
Usher OF paper wherever he may re-
side aud bring him here for trial
Washington Telegram, 9th.
The above very dubious announce
ment We find in the Alta of June 2s.
The Alta, or its correspondents, are not,
as a.rule. remarkable for accuracy, and
We doubt greatly whether any snch en-
actment was passed. II it were, it will
be death blow to the political career of
the Congressman and Senators who voted
for it, aud the President who signed il.
There is nothing that the American peo-
pie value so highly, that they would
make greater sacrifices TO maintain. than
the right OF free speech, and searching
criticism of the conduct Of those whom
they place in stations of honor, trust or
profit. Ii is not many months since that
an attempt was made, under the laws as
they exist or did exist, to arrest and drag
an editor to Washington for daring TO
expose the wholesale robberies of the
District ring. That effort failed, because
there are yet judges left i'll the land able
and honest enough to administer the law
according to its true intent and meaning.
This attempt to intimidate the press, not
only failed. but Shepherd and his asso-
ciates have been ousted from the posi-
tons which they disgraced, because the
corruption with which they were charged
was brought home to them. In spite OF
what the Alta announces in its kilograms,
We do not believe that Congress, corrupt
as it is, would have dared to pass so
odious, 50 scandilous, so vile an enact
ment. Their will was doubtless good, but
they knew that their term was about out
and they would have to face their con-
stituents, and few men would have the
hardihood to stand up before their fellow
citizens and declare that they had as
sisted to muzz.e the press, to stitle the
voice Of public opinion. Such an out
rage as that, reckless aud corrupt as
many of them were, carried consequences
with it, that few would care to encounter.
But the mere fact of such an announce
ment being made in the Alta, coupled
with the actual positive fact, that
Carpenter did originate ard the
Senate pass an equivalent enact
ment, though it fell through in the
House; this We say is sufficient to put
the people on their guard. When their
chosen representatives. in the Senate OF
the United States enter into direct con-
spiracy against liberty of speech, then
indeed, is it time to be more than ordi.
narily vigilant. From the dark days
when mems consciences, their religion,
their opinions, were compelled to con-
form to those of their rulers and tyrants.
free speech has been at once the terror,
the object Of persecution, and the Meme
sis Of tyrants. Free expression of opin-
ion was their sworn foe, their deadliest
enemy, and was the power that they saw
would inevitably destroy them. So far
as the enemies of human freedom have
been subdued, free speech has been the
motive power that has led to their dis
truction. Is this denied? Is any truck
ling creature of the lobby bolt
enough TO question this position
II they are, let them turn tt
the pages of history, to the events
which after 50 many struggles for Sc
long period, has ended in declaring
as tae effect of their united testimony
that free and Independent press is thu
surest safeguard of personal liberty. Ii
u day or two more comes the celebration
of the Fourth of July, of the day whel
uinety-eight years since, few honest
courageous and incorruptable patriot
dared declare, that all men were borl
free, equal and had moral ant
legal right to declare their opinions
and that civil and religious lii
erty was the birthright of all mer
Then this faithful few penned and sui
scribed that glorious declaration {
rights so dear, SO treasured by ever
freeman, and is the proud boast of Anne
leans, that it was the achievements {
their forefathers. Shall it be said tn
on the anniversary of a day replete wit
such hallowed, such glorious rscolle
tons, that the National Legislature I
the American people in Congress assen
bled. has been SO recreant to its trust {
to basely vote away the liberties that tt
fathers of the country pledged the
honor to preserve. We caunot believe
We believe that the intelligence pu
lished in the Alta is like itself-false al
unreliable. 1t was enough that the Sc
ate did this villainous deed; but the Sc
ate is not the popular branch of {
Government. 1t does not now reae
the opinions, or respect the wish
of the country at large. BY u
happy and unforeseen contingent
u GLASS; Vi men uhS bteu lOlsteu ups
that body, once as eminent for its alb
ity, its purity, its patriotism, as it
now remarkable for lack of those qui
ties. This class has come to the suria
from the terrible commissions endur
by the nation in the last twelve yea
and having once fastened their FAM
are as poisonous, as deadly and as di
cult to dislodse as the devil fish {
scribed by Victor Hugo. 1t will ia
time to eradicate them. They will, Ii
the rest of the Shiny, disgusting reptil
when the searching light Of new d.
undistorted by passion or prejudice, ca
its healthful rays on the political no
zon, these foul monsters will stink aw
into their native obscurity. Then
CarDenters the ClaytonS the Flanagan