, 1875-02-03


EXECUTING THE GAG.LAW.
The infamous law Of the last session Of
Congress, concocted by Senator CARPENTER
and ben BUTLER, but which has been unjust
ly called tho ''Po1Asp law" is about 10 DO
tested in tie courts, Some time last year
Slr. BUELL., who WINS Mt Washington acting as
correspondent of tho St. Louis Repu1lcan.
was employed by one of the proprietors Of
tia Detroit E'ree Press to forward special
matter to that paper. In the coursc Of this
latter duty he received information from ono
Of tho House Committee Clerks of certain ir-
regulatitics in tbs personal department Of
Senator CHANDLER, involving alleged inebria-
tion, which information, boing reduced to the
form Of o narrative, he forwarded TO the Free
Prsrs, where it was published. Subsequently,
Senator SHERMAN, who was mentioned Us
cognizant Of tho facts, in open Senate denied
the truth Of the allegations respecting the
intoxication, etc. Soon hfter, BUELL. WAS ar-
rested on cliargo Of libel, and the hearing
was postponed from timo to time, until at last
the prosecution WIS dropped. BUELL. has
since then returned to St. Louis, where be
now resides, being employed on the Republic
an newspaper.
Since Senator CuANp1Ens defeat before the
Legislature of Michigan and Lis return to
Washington the prosecution has 'been re-
vived, and from tho Attorney Generals Office
has been issued orders to the United States
Marshal Of Missouri to notify BUELL. tint he
would bo wanted at Washington. The formal
warrant for his arrest has not been issued
yet, and when it is the validity of tho law
will be tested.
Subsequently, when it YVES chargcd that the
as evidenced by the arrest Of Buell., Senator
CARPENTER, i'll lis place in the Senate, de-
nicd that the law had any application to libel
suits or was enacted for or had any applicn-
ton to uiis easa OF BUELL.. The prosecution
Of BUELL. was dropped until after the cleo
tious, and ut those elections POLAND and
BUTLER were rejected by their Republican
constituonts for their part Of this gag.law
business. Since then CHANDLER has been in
like manner rejected, and tho case Of Can
rENrER, WHO really had more to do with tho
infamous lnw than any other person, and
may he called the fathor Of it, is now on trial
in Wisconsin. He askB to be re-clected and
vindicated in his attack upon the liberty of
the Press.
Since the Scdition Inv of JoHN ADAMS, there
has been no such attempt upon the liberties
OF the people. Even that law, while provid-
ing for the criminal prosecution of amy per-
son publishing soandalous mntter in reference
! to executive otiicers or members Of Congress,
required that the offender should be indicted
anl tried at Tie place soltere the publication uas
male. But the CARPENTER BUTLER law nu-
thorizes the arrost Of publiaher at the placo OF
bis residence and transportation to aud tsial
Mt Washington City before packed jury OF
Department clerks or dead-beats, and court
which exists from day to day at tho pleasure
Of Congress, mud which, during the last hf-
teen years, has been abolished aud reorgnn.
lied for no other purpose than to get rid OF
Judges who wero Objectionable to Congress.
That Is a terrorism that the authorities Of the
old sedition law did not dare to establish, and
was invented for tho OCCASION by tile repre-.
sentative Of the FREQ people Of the gtate Of
| Wisconsin.
It IL possible that tho publication in the
Detroit fITe Press concerning Senator CHAM
pIEn was untrlo or greatly exaggerated, Rnd
that tho House Clerk who furnished BUELL.
the information knowingly aud maleiously
falsiNed; but that paper is published at the
residence Of tho Senator, and no place 20 ar.
psopriate for srch prosecution as in tho City
OF Detroit. Why follow tho subordinate. the
hired man, who merely submitted the written
matter to the publisher in Michigan? Why
try this case in Washington instead Of in
Michigan? Why should Senator CARPENTER,
for instance, geoA to arrest tho editor OF a
Wisconsin paper, antl drag him 10 Washing
tou 10 DO triod for libel before District
Judge and jury, instead Of having the cass
tried In the State or city where tile libel was
published and the otfense committed Why
did Senator CARPENTER aud BEN BUTLER anu
the others invent this law? Tho country ha;
got along very well for ninety years with
out any such prsss-gag law as this
1t IL On anomalous law. It u
sumes that when copy OF
Chicago, or Milwaukee, or Detroit pape
reaches Washington City, the publisher o
that paper or his employo hGs violated th
law Of TINT District Il the paper contain auy
) thing supposed to be lbelous Of any man Ii
Congress, or connected with the pist.lo
Government Or tho General 0ovsrnment