The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-06-17
Bill 10 Abriagc the FrecdOm Of the
Press.

Special Correspondence OF tie Cincinnaii
Commercial, June ID.
Under the innocent title OF "a bill to
determine the jurisdiction OF the Cir
Quit Courts ni the Uuited States, and TO
regulate the removal OF causes from
State Courts and Tor other purposes,
Mr.. Carpenter sprung upon the Senate
this afternoon and had passed bill
one section OF which reads AZ follows :
THAT process to commence IN any
Circuit Court OF the United States or in
any Court OF any Territory of the
United States, or OF the Dlstr CT OF Col
umbia, any civil suit not affecting the
title 10 real estate not within the State,
Territory or District where sald sult
10 brought against any corpora.
tions or persons residing in the
United States and doing business in the
State, Territory or District where said
suit lie brought, and having in said State
Territory or District, where said suit is
brought, an agent, or agents. in respect
Of the matter cut Of which the case
arises, NAV be made 10y the delivery TO
such agent, or to either OF such ageo,s,
where there is more than one, a copy
OF such process; and such service shall,
have the same force and effect as l.
made upon the principal OF snch agent
ia the State, Territory, or District ol
Columbia, where the suit is brought ,
provided, however, thai this section
shall not apply TO any suit on cause
OF action accruing before July |, 1874"
In rising 10 oppose the passage OF this
bill, Mr.. Bsysrd, OF Delaware, Mr..
Wadleigb, OF New HamR-hre, and
Mr.. Thurman, Of Ohio, exposed the
hidden meaning OF the section above
quoted. Said the first named gentle
man: Every great Newspaper has an
agent at the National Capital, and q
great many OF our journals maintain
correspondents in every important city
in the country. Now, TO suppose q
case: the editor OF a newspaper in New
York or one OF his agents at PhIIsdeI.
phla or San Francisco writes and pub
lishes an article about per-
son, Senator Carpenter, for in
stance, who resides or is s,op-
ping at Washington, containing matter
which Senator Carpenter coos'der-
libelous Now, itstesi OF bringing sult
against the editor or responsible owner
OF the paper at New York. all Mr.
Carpenter need do, should this bill be.
come law, in order to commence his
action for libel, is to serve process on
tb. papers correspondent or sgeDt here
10 Washington, and such process, says
the bill. shall have the same force and
effect as il made upon the principal Of
such agent in the State or Territory
where the suit is brought. The inten-
ton OF the section il simply TO iOtimi-
date correspondents and abridge the
liberty OF the press"
Mr.. Bsyard denounced the bill 10 un-
measured terms, especially the section
quoted, 10 which he offered an amend
ment providing Tor the exemption OF
editors aud correspondents from lis
action. The amendment yss advocat-
ed by Senators Wsdleigb, Thurman
and Stockton. 1t was defeated, how.
ever, the gentlemen who favored the
original proposition being Messrs
Boremsp, Boutwell,. Buckingham, Car
penter, Chandler, Cragin. Conkling,
Conover, Eimunds, Gilbert, Ferry, Of
Michigan, Frelinghuysep, HamliO,
Harvey, Howe, Hitchcock, Ingalls, the
two Morrills. Morton, OEleshy. Patter-
son, Pesse. Pratt. Robertson, Ramsey,
Sargent. Scott. Sherman, Spencer, Stew
art. West, Washburn, Window and
Wright-sll Republicans.