The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-06-17
THE LIBERTY OFTHE PBESS,

We copy from the Geographic cor
respondeuce of the Cincinnati Commfr-
cial of yesterday morning the details Of
one OF the most viliainOus schemes for
the muzzling Of the press that has yet
been attempted in this country. In
France or Spain something OF this kind
would not be unusual or out OF the
common course, but in America it is an
anomaly and may well startle the peo-
pie into some recognition Of the despotic
tendency OF modern legislation. The
Commercials comments upon the bill
are so pointed and so vigorous and at
the same time so just as 10 deserve the
prominence we give them here.
"The thieves and their friends IN and
out of the Senate OF the United States
are disturbed about the newspapers.
1t happens that there are several news
papers in the country that are not in
awe OF the Senators, or Of the ring OF
thieves who have improved the Dis
trict OF Columbia into bankruptcy and
who are the special friends OF the Pres
ident OF the United States Several et-
forts have been made 10 extend the ju-
risdiction OF Boss SHEPHERDS Police
Court over the United States. They fail
ed for lack of law. The indicate"
MATT CARPENTER has been put forward
to supply the law.
"The true intent and meaning OF the
bill introduced into the Senate yestcr-
day by CARPENTER, and passed, 80 TO
%, is TO gag the press about the POM
pous scoundrels who iniest Washing
ton. The Republican Senators geneg-
ally voted for the bill and disgraced
themselves. The OIL sedition law was
by no means so Infamous or imperti-
nent as this. o. course the press will
make red-hot war on this shame. The
Administration Senators are as foolish
in this as tie Monarchists OF France in
attempting TO restrict suffrage.
"The impudent pretense that tue peo-
pie and the press need to be cared for,
revised and restricted by Government,
is Aimsy audacity. II there is any
fault OF the prsss greater than another
it is the failure to speak in all faithful-
ness OF the. iniquities in high places.
The halt has not been told Of the cor
rupiion in and around Congress. If
complaint must be made of the press,
it should be about the sin OF omission.
The conceited and tlabbysheaded
creatures OF the Senate are as dull as
jsckasses, or they would know that the
press will scott at their law, and DEFY
and deride them, and tell the truth of
them more and more, disagreeabe az
it may be.
There has for some time been APP
parent disposition among the corrnp-
tionists in Washington 10 attempt 10
check the natural growth and ind,-
pendence OF the press. This has been
pressed in bills discriminating against
the large concerns, and the Matt Car
penter and Ben. Butler bill is prepared
with the same general purpose. II the
bill should pass the House, OF course
the President would sign it, for he is SO
bullet-headed as to think all criticism
OF the Administration is personal to
himself, and that all references 10 his
movements that are not in the nature
OF songs OF praise are abusive. 1t is
nothing new for hullet-heads and
blatherskites and public jobbers to be
troubled about the press. We suppose
they must still be troubled They re-
quire tentuld the attentions heretofore
bestowed upon them