New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-08
TNr ITBELED STATESMEN.

between Tie SI1tcSflleu as NtI az INV H'h''p-
mapship of the political period which last
Falps elections interrupted and the indepcnd-
cnt press of the country there has been for
two or three years past open anil undis gul,ed
war. Upon several occasions Mr.. Benjamin +.
Butler who, better than any other, Stands Tor
the period and acccntlates his class, has
stepped to the front and hidden bold defiance
to the press, while he gave in language UNI
mistakable bis opinion of its representatives.
Many of the statesmen who i'll these last two
or three fateful years have turned their faces
AWAY from the Capitol and walked solcmnly
into the twilight OF the wood have
given expression to the same feeling
rs thy vanished. Statesman after
statesman has walked away sorrowfully. with
breezy indignation putting ont OF him spas-
medically like the s!riiuous Ooze of an over
worked fife. Whether they went or whether
they fingered, their hands were lifted up
against the independent press as the author OF
their unnumbered woes. 1t was part OF their
craftsmanship to enact Q law under whose pro-
visions they could reach out from Washington
to NIL parts Of tho country, take the indcpcnd-
cnt journalist by the collar and hale him to
Washington for discipline and trial. They are
working I'D cases under this law just now with
great industry.
Herewith we publish letter from Mr.. A. c.
Buell., who in his capacity OF correspondent or
a Michigan newspaper, had the audacty to
communicate to the constituents of that "star
" Of tho first magnitude" the Honorable Zach
ariah Chandler, information OF IN entertaining
and varied character concerning the life anu
A.. nrI
upon called to account by the sdereal states
man. Fir. Bucll ia resident OF st. Louls, Mo.
Tho Hon. Mr. Chandler is now, and bids fair
TO be for several years, permanent resident
of Detroit, Mich. with 40 business except as =
wines, in libel salts TO call him to the Ma
tional Capital. Mr. Chandler is exceedingly
anxious to hear Mr.. Buell. prove the statements
made in his correspondence TO the satisfaction
of jury OF citizens OF the Distric. OF Column
ba. He does not care about having the matter
tried before 4 st. Louis or Detroit jury. MIR.
Bnell bein. citizen Of tia one place, and
the "libel" having been published in the
other. Mr.. Chandler thinks the dignity OF the
District Of Columbia has been offended. and
wants the courts o. the District TO vindcate
him. while they punish the offender against
cases of this sort. Thcrc's u degree of GER
tainty about the juries and certain common
bond of sympathy between the abused states
men and the courts OF the District that the
statesmen are willing, even at some inconve-
niencc, to have their defamers prosecuted in
the District Court, and imprisoned i'll the Dis
trct Jail. 1t is trfe inconyen;cnt, to be
sure, 10 the journalist but then-the lesson 10
be taught him is that public men are not to
be criticised, and Washington is the only place
where it can he made q reasonably sure thing.
Mr.. Alexander i. Shepherd j, another much
abused person who proposes to discipline the
independent press. We have before lis doc
umcnt of portcntous form, filed with start
ling allegations, wherein it is stated at great
length ard many times over that the Editor Of
THE TRIBUNE, being person OF an cnyious,
"evil. and wicked mind, and of n most mali
&" cous disposition, and wickcdly, maliciously,
"amd unawfully minding, contriving, and in
"tending as much as in him lay TO injure, OPP
"prcss, aggricve, and 'viify the good name,
fame, credit, and reputation OF Alexander T..
shepherd, good, pcac-able, and worthy cti-
'zen of the United States Of America, and to
bring him into pubi.c scandal. hatred, infamy,
"and disgrace" did "of his great hatred,
"malicc, cnd ill-will toward the said Alexan-
der i. Shepherd wickcdIy. maciously, and
unlawfnily compose and writo and
"cause to be composed and written a
"ccriain false, scandalous, malicious, and de-
"fl,natory libel Of and concerning the said
Alexander r. Shepherd" &C., &C., ad infa
i,am. Mr.. Shepherd is also very DESTROYS that
for all this drcadfalncsi (Which turns out to
have boon the mere volunteer, casual letter Of
citizen of WASHINGTON. written to, not by
The Editor OF Tue TGDUNc), he should
Gc trisd in the courts Of tho District.