Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-02-13

rect, where or how or OF whom or by
what means any of the heretofore mon.
toned matters, articles or things may
be obtained or made. and every letter
upon the envelope of which, or postal
card upon which indecent. lewd, OBJ
scene or lascivious delineations, epi-
thets, terms or language may be writ
ten or printed. are hereby declared TO
be non-mailable matter and shall not
be conveyed in the mails. nor delivered
from any post ofiice. nor by any letter
carrier; and any person who
shall knowingly deposit or cause to be
deposited. for mailing and delivery,
anything declared by this section TO be
MOI -nailable matter.
Then follows penalty for violation
or the statute. The above statute Is the
law that Is so vigorously attacked by
the repeal element of the National Lib
crul league. To accomplish this repeal
IN addition to the conspiracy referred
to In u former chapter speeches ar
Euments and letters have been made
and written against the present statute
by leading Liberals. especially by such
men ns II. G. lngersoll. CORTLAND Pal
NOR, Parker Pillshury, James Parton,
Ei2ur Wright and others"
Now. my dear sir, II you will turn TO
page lgl you will read your commission
as the representative OF the opponents
of this pure law against the circula-
ton of obscene literature through the
malls Here II is:
Washington. d. c., March 90 1873.
Hon. |. J., Chrstiancy. u, s. Senate,
Chairman Senate Committee on Re
vision of Laws
Dear Sir! WIN YOU be kind enough
to give the committee, Of which Col
Robert G.. lngersoll IL chairman,
hearing before your committee upon
the subject OF repeating or materially
modifying certain postal laws referred
to in the petition OF 80. 600 citizens, pre-
sentCd to the senate by Senator Teller
on the 18Th inst, ana referred 10 your
committee
We Will not occupy much OF the time
OF your committee. but we deem II nee
essary to explain briefly the nature aud
scope OF the laws we deem II wise and
prudent to repeal or modify upon con-
stitutlonal grounds. Very respectfully,
your obcdlent servant
j. WOOD COREY.
Secretary OF Committee of Seven for
10000 petitioners, No. $40 II street.
Washington. ID. G.
A few weeks afterwards Mr.. Corey
wrote another note, In which you are
appointed the representative OF those
81. 900 petitioners in favor OF the repeal
of the law against the circulation OF
obscene literature through the mails
Here II is.
Washington, D. C., Aprll Is, 1873.
To the Committee ON the Revision OF
Laws In THE Senate OF the United
States;
Gentlemen: The committee Of seven
IN the behalf OF more than $4,000 pc
titioncrs tpetition over 1000 feet In
length on nlc with the house commit
tee on revision of the laws. praying
for the repeal or modification Of cer-
tain laws executed ostensibly to pre-
vent the passage OF so.called obscene
literature through the mails Of the
United States but which laws have
been and are being enforced to destroy
the liberty of conscience in matters Of
religion. against the freedom OF the
press, and to the great hurt OF the
learned professions. would, respectfully
pray to he heard by your committee at
as early date as It Is possibly con-
venlent for you TO designate.
Col, Robert G, lngersoll, OF Illinois.
the chairman OF our committee, VIII
speak for us In behalf OF the petitioners
above mentioned, Very respectfully,
j. WOOD COREY,
For the Committee. etc.
To Hon. ]. =. Christiancy Hon $
Matthews, Hon. David Davis, Hon. w.
A Wallace and Hon. Francis Herman.
Mr. Comstock continues;
From personal knowledge / certify
to the fact that up TO this time not
person Ind been arrested upon any
matter not clearly obscene and within
the purview of the law. But 1t was n
liberal movement. und to be liberal
with the truth-omitted wherever II
serves them best - Ii truly liberal
They seem to care nothing for the truth
so long as they carry their point.
This liberal movement TO repeal
the laws, as headed by Ingersoll, was
backed by one OF the basest consplra-
ries ever cdncocted against holy cause.
The first move was circular
certifying that the law was unconstitu-
tlonal. and, after the methods descr!b-
ed above. they Withholding the fact
that the supreme court of the United
States had in effect declared II consti-
tutional.
They were v>rtihed to by parties
being arrested for sending by mail
purely legitimate articles when the
fact was the parties referred to were
arrested for mailing the mcst obscene
matter. In one instance they descrlb-
ed one of their martyrs to the cause OF
liberty and freedom as torn from
the bosom OF his family for sending an
article containing a salutary lesson to
young men, when the matter sent was
OF the Vlest o1aracter possible. ana
the man had been convicted for the
third time and sentenced accordingly.
They then added TO this circular the
of certain reputable firms as
certifying to their statements, while
the fact II their names Were forgeries.
Now II you will turn TO page 1876 you
will read as follows; Did Congress
recognize Ingersoll's efforts?' Let the
report Of the house reply:
''The committee on the revision Of
the laws, to whom was referred the
petition of Robert q. 1ngersoll and
others, praying for the repeal or modl-
fcatlon OF 1875, 3S7s. 1893. $3.50. and
24el OF the Revised Statutes. have had
the same under consideration. and have
heard the petitioners Mt length.
"In the opinion OF your committee the
was not established to carry
of vice or Obscene writing,
pictures or lewd books Your
believes that the statutes In
question do not violate the constltu-
ton OF the United States and ought
not to be changed. They recommend
therefore, that the prayer OF the said
petition be denied.
Plense read further on page 1856.
''1'his defeat was too much for the
leaders, special petition In the senate.
Despite the egotism of the committee
Of seven, In surprising that their names
We're SO welghty as 20 move the great
senate OF the United states OF America,
we find this precious document filed
with the following Endorsement to-wlt:
a5TU CCNGREsS-2d SESSION.
T,sfitIon ~ n q. Ingersoll aud other
citizens Of the United States. praying
no repeaI or mobilization OF certain
OF the Revised Statutes Of the
rInIted States regulating the transmits
49,, through the United States malls OF