The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1875-05-12
Shall sourPress be Musslea,9

oitizdDs Of Charleston who under.
stand Of how much valuo tho efforts
of,the News and Courier have beon
to the people Of the State.
- SHALL oUR PRESS DE MuzzLED.
"a criminal prosecution for libel
has been pre-, ,aed against the Editors
of Tho News and Courier, tho only
important vehicle Of public opinion
fin charleston, and the leading pub.
lilo journal in South Carolina. The
articles upon which this prosecution
is based were written during the
State canvass Inst Fall, and tho risk
annoyance, and money loss growing
out Of the bold and independent
action of Messrs. Riordan & Dawson,
have been incurred for the public
good. These gentlemen could have
bad no private ends to secure in their
course. Can the community with
propriety leave them to struggle
through their difficulties unaided I
Desperate diseases require desper-
ate remedies. When band Of poll.
ticians wore making efforts to seize
this City and County for their pur.
poses, the editors of the News and
Courier, the recognized sentinels on
tho watch tower. the guardians of
tho interests of this entire oommupi-
tty, handled them without gloves, and
battied their schemes. They have
fought tho fight, and in so doing have
incurred the hostility of those who
arc now sceking to impose pains and
P 'nalties upon them. Under those
circumstances we conceive it to be
our duty, as we'll as privilege, to
mitigate as Far as We oan, tho heavy
burden they now havo to boar. The
undorsigned therefore propose to
unite in forming ut once, a Commit
toe of one hundred property holders
and that each citizen of the hundred
so addressed give for himself, or ool-
leot from his friends and neighbors,
the sum Of $50.
The OK, enses of tho numerous
witnesses, many brought from long
distances and sustained In attendance
at Court ut considerable cost, with
counsel fees, Court charges, &c., &c.,
are estimated at five thousand dollars
all of which is to be provided by the
defendants.
We have, therefore, takon the
liberty of requesting your co.operat
ion in this matter, and ak your
prompt action Mr. William Tbayel
has kindly consented to aot as Treas
urer, and returns should be made tc
him at No. 10 Broad Street.
Henry Gourdin, Geo. w. William.
d Co., James Adger Il Co., Edwi,
Bates q Co., Bollmann Bros, Pelzer
dodgers 4 Co., G. II. Walter g. Co.
q. i. Loupdes e. Co., r. D. Mowry
u Co., j. Il. Adgor g. Co , VIM. 4
Courtenay.
| Charleston, S. c., April 26, 1875
We trust that the people of Fair
Geld will respond to this appeal
An anmuzaled press Is the people,
safeguard, and tho press cannot b.
outspokcn against villainy unlcs
it be assisted by tho people whe,
put to expenses by those whom it In
consured.
1t should be we'll understood tha
when the press champions tho caus,
of right it will DO firmly backed b,
tho tho people. Then evil doer
will trenble, for thoy daro not CLAIM
damages in tho face Of public opin
ion.
The work done by the New on,
Courier for tho people has save,
tl.om millions of dollars. And vii
tho people not devote some none,
thus saved to the protection of thei
Champion {!
Tho question is not whether tn
News und Courier is able to bca
the expense Of this trial. Tho qucs
tion is, should they DO permitted to d
80. We believe not. And we trus
that this fund will be soon collect
Cd.