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Show KUEKDOM OP THE PRESS. The freedom of the press is oue of the privileges inestimably precious to every American citizen. The only attempt at-tempt ever made at its abridgement; was during the administration of John Adams, in the passage of what was known as the "alien and sedition law." A few newspapers which had criticised public officers were prosecuted by the party in power, and the result was, that the great Federalist parly fell, niver to rise again. A free people would not be denied the unrestricted right of criticising at all times the acts of their public servants. In our reading of American history, we have never known an attempt so high-handed at the freedom of .journalism, .journal-ism, as was made in this Territory two days since by the Chief J ustice of the Federal Supreme Court. The Herald in the exercise of tin uuquestionaLIe right, had asked certain questions as to the fitness of Associate Justice Haw-ley Haw-ley for his official position, and for playing his favorite 'role of a great moral reformer. Upon this the Chief Justice peremptorily directs the Grand Jury, there in session, to indict the editors of this journal, if they do not at once substantiate certain charges which are inferred to have heen made by the article in question. " ( The law of libel is familial- to all. If a journal oversteps the., proper liue of criticism and publishes a libelous article, the civil courts are bpea for the aggrieved . party to seek his redress. But the Chief Justice ignores this familiar principle. , He assumes that the most remote insinuation against the fitness of a public officer for his position is a crime, and orders the Grand Jury to indiete the offendiDg editors. If this be the law, there is not an editor in the land to-day who is not liable to indictment. We warn our Editorial Brethren to be henceforth silent si-lent as to all venality in public officers. Let corruption and imbecility in high places pass unquestioned, under the penalty of a felon's fate. In all sincerity sin-cerity we ask, In what country and age do we live? In the days of Judge Jeffries Jef-fries ? In muzzled France ? or our dear, free America ? |