Kentucky Gazette

NOVELTY.

We confess that we were considerably amused on the evening of the 14th inst. at the introduction into the House of Representatives a resolution by Mr. Hays, (of Nelson) forbidding the reporters, admitted within the hall, from using the name of any member who might request that his arguments should not be noticed. We are free to admit this gentleman to be an excellent democrat in the general. In truth, he possesses in political matters an enthusiasm always incident to a youthful and very vigorous mind. But some how or other he got jostled off the proper balance on this occasion.

The object of the mover must certainly have been to fix some trammel on the press:— and, considering that the morning of the same day had been consumed in the most zealous defence of the liberty of speech, by the same gentleman, it inspired us with some curious sensations when he fell off to the abridgement of the LIBERTY OF THE PRESS. This will not tell well as to "pure democratic consistency."

Moreover, we do not for a moment believe that Mr. Hays, in his more dispassionate moments, can think that the house would have had a right to pass such a resolution—or, if they had passed it, that any printer or reporter would be so foolish, and so little regardful of his rights, as to have paid any attention to it.

It is at once admitted, that either branch of the Legislature has the power to exclude any gentleman who has been admitted, by its courtesy to a seat for the purpose of sketching the debates and proceedings. A step of this kind would produce an inconvenience to the reporter, and drive him to the necessity of seeking a place in the lobby. There he would be secure from the vindictive spirit of any member of the house : and, in the undoubted enjoyment of those privileges secured to him by the American Constitution, could animadvert with uncontrolled freedom on any occurrence that might take place in the hall, or report the substance only of any gentleman's speech—although he might deem his station ever so sacred.

To conclude, it is just necessary to observe that while the discussion of the resolution was in its incipient stage, the house adjourned and his illegitimate child of democracy was stifled to death, and incinerated and burnt on the clerk's table by the heated indignation of nine tenths of the representatives.

Mr. Sandford, (of Campbell) made an able and eloquent speech in defence of the liberty of the press. His view was that of an inflexible patriot, and has been equalled only by the arguments, on the same day, of Mr. Anthony Butler, in favor of latitude of debate—and against restriction by too scrupulous an adherence to cold and abstract parliamentary regulations; or rather, too frigid a construction of those rules.