The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-11-06
VANCOUVER INDEPENDENT.
Libel and EoaG E.nns.

Not withstanding much time was
occupied from business by the lcgisla-
tors trip to receive Grant they have
at last got down to work, and seem to
be introducing and passing some good
laws. We notice several bills in re-
gard to reads and highways, which,
without knowing the provisions there
of, we think are good bills, rs indeed
hardly any curative legislature in the
matter could be else than mcritorious.
We hope they will succeed in passing
sIch laws as Will enable the Road
Supervisors TO enforce road laws and
the work thereon, rs we'll as afford
means OF Furnishing malicious OBJ
structions of highways, numerous
cases of which have been before the
Courts of this character, and have
usually resulted in the discovery that
the requirements of the statutes have
not been complied with, and that
there is no statutory ottcnse in Oh
struction. Such curative acts are
generally hoped for by the citizens of
Clarke, and of Cowlitz particularly.
We notice also that Council Bill No. :,
providing for the punishment of libel.
has passed both houses. We do not
know whether this bill reaches SANDER
or not; if not, we think the Legisla-
ture has neglected the passage of n
much more essential and wholesome
law. 1t is true that libel viii reach
scandalous newspapers and otitnscs Of
written SANDER, but while it is we'll
to bride Venomou> editorials and to
throw shield around the American
citizen against the mucn abused priv
ilege of free speech in newspapers,
ii is still more necessary that free
speech-so called-should be III some
manner provided against when il
takes the form of oral communication
as well. II is seldom that complaint
is made in our courts for libel awains
newspapers in our Territory. 1t is
seldom complaint j. made for the
otiensc of libel - defined by law, bat
ii i, a common thing for complaint to
be made to Grand Juries for the
equally grave offence of SANDER, to
find that in our enlightened are = nd
in our country where all men and
women are free and equal before the
law, and entitled to its protection in
their life, limb, property, and good
name, that the law Will afford them
redress for the taking of life, injury
to limb and property, but for tAewan-
ton and malicious injuly,by SANDERS of
that which j. dearer than life or
property TO amy honorable man and
woman, their good name, there l.. no
redress, except for damages, which
usually affords no reGres, at all, for
those persons usually guilty of such
wrongs are either worthless re,cals
who have no reputation or GOOD name
of their own to lose and envy the good
name andreputatiOn of every one else,
or the malicious -candal-monger~ who
hav>ng no sense of propriety them
selves usually find wrong in every
one else. Let our legislature there
fore pass an act which reaches this
evil also and they will do more good
to society and for the preservation of
good morals and the suppression Of
wrong than any other legislation of
similar character, Let wives, daugh-
tiers, and sisters be protected as well
against SANDER, while passing laws
which protect men and women against
libel, and the legislature will receive
the commentator Of all fair minded
law-abiding citizens.