National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-09-05


The following is the portion of Senator FIRE.
Iinghuysen's speech st the New Jersey Repuo-
Iican State convention which referred to the So
called gag law. To- ., ..-... .... .-......
They say the Republican party has passed the
gag law. A laugh. Now let me say that no
the Consultation declares that Congress shall not
make any law sbridgluE the freedom Of the press,
and any Law that Congress might attempt 70
establish would be as fnefectual IS the P0pe's
bull against the comet. tLGughterl We have
nOT!ghtto attempt TO pass any such law for we
have SWORD that We will legislate according to
the, Constitution Now, all that know about
that law, and / have a copy OF II here, Is that
found II before Judiciary Committee OF the
Senate; II was there discussed by some members
orthst COMMITTEES, and. unanimously directed to
be reported upon tayOrRbly to the Senate. 1t was
then passed by the Senate without any vote
against Il. / am free to say that voted for it
and advocated f. believing u to be local Law
think and II Is right that should 50 state, that
II was In that view that both Democrats and Re-
publicans voted for /: in the Senate, and pre-
'sThe first section provides simply this-it ere
ates no new offence: 1t simply says that where
Columbia and there is no court to try It that It
shall be tried befDre the Criminal Court Of the
District Of Columbia. That is the whole of the
first section but they say that the sting Of It is in
the second section, which provides that provision
SO Of the judiciary act Of lTS9 shall apply TO courts
created by Congress in the District Of Columbia.
That law is This, that Hnere une Is nccused oil an
offence or crime against the United States be may
he arrested wherever he is found and brought
back to the District or State in which the offence
was committedtOF DO tried. II man is guilty
o. counteTieiting here he. can be arrested In
Georgia and brought back here and tried. II
was eminently proper that such law should ap-
ply TO Columbia. II the. Government is to be
guarded anywhere. IL Is where It is located, Ehero
population or frauds or cOunterIeiting may occur,
and therefore, according to my understanding,
this law provides that Ii shall extend TO the bis
tret Of Columbia. The question is asked, is Il not
true that under this laWlan editor can be brought
from any part of the country and tried for libel in
COlumble2 Before answering that question, let
me state that am not prepared 20 say that there
should be different law for different professions
and classes, or that charge OF libel should be
tried where II issues, rather than where the ia
Jury is done and reputation damaged, but l am
free to say that / an not in favor Of 4 law that
shall be drag net 10 draw all libel suits to the
District OF Columbia, where most men arc mere
soiOurners.
tit is said that this law authorizes sending for
an editor and bringing him to the District CT Co
lumbla for trial. According &c my understanding
Il does not because the law only applies TO those
who are accused OF offences o: crimes against tho
United States. Now, then. this crime against the
United States is . crime by virtue Of a statute,
and not by virtue Of common law; and one word
Us to the character Of this law. know Il is sub
ject TO perfection, like all things humane, bus 1
saw without lear Of contradiction, that no party
or government ever in the same time accomplished
such good as the Republican party, considering
the difficulties under " hieh IL labOred.n