This was written by Sophie, one of our summer interns. The opinions expressed herein do not reflect those of Civitas other than respect for the value of open dialogue.
(The scene opens at the Gazette’s office. Joseph Charless is seated at his desk, reading over some letters, attempting to dismiss the three men crowded around his desk. He looks like a printer, sleeves rolled up, ink stains everywhere, no jacket or vest. The three men crowding him are Major William Christy, land owner William C. Carr, and justice of the peace Clement B. Penrose. All of whom are dressed nicely, jackets, vests, and no ink stains. All three are armed, but this is not immediately apparent to people watching the scene unfold. It’s tense, but Charless is trying to minimize the situation by not giving it the attention the others want to give it.)
Charless: (not looking up from his papers) Gentlemen, I believe the Gazette says right here, “truth without fear.” What you are trying to do now is to intimidate me into giving up the name of one of my contributors because you disagree with their opinion.
Major William Christy: Now, Mr. Charless, it’s not just a disagreement. Your contributor has jeopardized the safety of this territory by criticizing our governor.
Charless: You see, that is an opinion that you hold. Write it in an editorial and perhaps this newspaper just might publish it. Would that satisfy you?
William C. Carr: The issue is not that we feel you are being one sided in that little paper of yours, the issue is that you are allowing unnamed persons to write disparagingly and accurately about the current governor of our territory.
Charless: Forgive me, Sir, but I fail to see why that means you cannot write another article, putting your own name on it so the world can know your opinion, rejected the claims made by my contributor.
Clement B. Penrose: And what we don’t understand is why you can’t simply reveal the name of your contributor. Our quarrel is not with this…fine newspaper, it is with your anonymous contributor who felt empowered to attack our fine governor because your newspaper allows him to hide his name.
Charless: (standing up, moving to the corner of his office to file a few letters) Justice Penrose, I’m surprised that you have to ask this question. You, of all the people in this room, should know that I cannot and will not reveal the name because of the freedom of the press.
Clement B. Penrose: (flustered, blustering through his answer) Mr. Charless, I know what Freedom of the press entails. But what I-
Charless: (interrupting as he walks back) Then, Justice Penrose, you know that my contributor is protected from me revealing the sources of my articles. Regardless of your personal opinions, you have no right to demand I surrender the name.
Major William Christy: (outraged) Have you no shame? General Benjamin Howard is the most esteemed citizen.
Clement B. Penrose: Your beloved freedom of the press allows you to say what you want, but I believe the public also deserves to know who’s saying these things. How else are we supposed to trust your newspaper?
Charless: I’d be less likely to trust a newspaper if it did reveal all its sources. People talk because they don’t have to fear people who disagree showing up at their houses and threatening me. I’ve been in this business for a long time, and the truth often gets hidden due to special interests.
William C. Carr: Perhaps it wasn’t the truth then.
Charless: Justice Penrose can tell you that just because the court operates behind closed doors and with sealed records, doesn’t make those court cases untrue.
Clement B. Penrose: I don’t appreciate your insinuations.
Charless: And I don’t appreciate you coming into my office and threatening me to get a name. This is my paper, it’s my contributor, and you are only the millionth concerned citizen to disagree with something printed in the Gazette. If the citizens of St. Louis couldn’t change my mind about limiting the expansion of slavery, then you certainly cannot convince me to give up this name.
Major William Christy: Once again you are misunderstanding the situation.
Charless: If you think you can intimidate me into revealing the sources, you are wasting your time. I have worked too hard to establish the Gazette’s integrity for a few threats from you (sarcastic) esteemed gentlemen to force me to expose my contributors.
William C. Carr: Mr. Charless, I feel that you do not fully understand the situation. (moves his coat jacket so that the audience and Charless can see the gun). We came here fully prepared to use whatever means necessary to get the name of that scoundrel from you. It would be in your, and your little paper’s, best interest if you complied.
Charless: (More amused than anything else) Gentlemen, given that none of you are Senator Thomas Benton, you’ll have to forgive me if I don’t feel threatened, despite the fact that you have armed yourselves in preparation for this meeting.
Major William Christy:
Charless: What you fail to understand is that I shall preserve the Liberty of the Press as long as I am able to control one, and when I become the humble tool of factious men, such as yourselves, you believe you have a right to limit the voice of the citizenry, I shall no longer hope to merit support from the people who read and contribute to the Gazette.
Charless: (pauses for a few seconds) I rather liked that, don’t be surprised if you read that in a future edition.
Major William Christy: You’re willing to stake your reputation on a scoundrel too afraid to show his name on an article that disparages our governor? This contributor means so much to your newspaper that you consider revealing the name of breach of your honor?
Clement B. Penrose: If you give us the name, we can of course, say that someone else gave us the name. If your honor is what you are worried about, we can keep your name out of any confrontation.
Charless: Justice Penrose, would you risk your seat on the court by taking a bribe?
Clement B. Penrose: (sputtering)
Charless: You wouldn’t take that bribe even if whoever was offering it promised to keep your name hidden. Because you know, Sir, that all it takes is one rumor of dishonesty to turn the public against you or to ruin your reputation.
William C. Carr: Now those are hardly the same thing! Taking a bribe and revealing a source are not as equal as you are attempting to make them.
Charless: They aren’t? Both involve a breach of trust, both ruin a reputation for either impartial justice or impartial reporting. If I reveal this name to you and you go and threaten them in the same manner you are threatening me, well no one will ever contribute to the Gazette again. I must protect the integrity of this paper in the same way that I suppose you are protecting the integrity of your friend, Governor Howard.
(There is silence for a moment as everyone seems to realize they are at an impasse. Charless has not revealed the name and the three gentlemen have revealed that they are armed. Charless is still sitting at the desk, looking up at the three who are packed even tighter around him.)
Charless: (evenly) Gentlemen, you either have to follow through on your threats of violence to my person or you must leave. I will not reveal the name of my source and you have taken up too much of my time already. I have a newspaper to print and contributions to review.
Major William Christy: (sensing an opportunity) Perhaps you will not reveal the name of the author of that article verbally, but if you stepped outside of your office for a minute, we could see the name on the document.
Charless: (less patient than he was a moment ago) I will not be forced out of my own office by a few disgruntled members of St. Louis society. The story has been printed, it cannot and will not be redacted, revised, or the name of the person who wrote it revealed. You have tried to bully me into submission and it has not worked. Now either use those guns you’ve been hinting at or leave. My. office.
Clement B. Penrose: Mr. Charless-
Charless: Merriwether Lewis asked me to come to St. Louis to serve as the first printer West of the Mississippi. I was warned that the climate of St. Louis would be difficult to adjust to, that the mail didn’t always come regularly, that there would be ink and paper shortages, and that people who had never had a newspaper before wouldn’t be keen on paying me for what I wrote. But no one warned me that the citizens, some serving as distinguished judges, some serving in our military, would refuse to accept the rights of the press.
Charless: (standing now) I have been patient but now I really must ask you to leave. (he gestured towards the door of his office)
(The three look between each other for a minute, each hesitating to put away their weapons. They are trying to decide if they will continue to threaten Charless or if they will leave without the name.)
(Finally, Major William Christy reholsters his gun after a look from the judge. All three readjust their coats before silently turning around towards the door. Charless moves around his desk to follow behind them.)
Charless: (escorting the three gentleman to the door) I appreciate the publicity this incident is going to give the Gazette, gentlemen. Thank you for giving me something to write about.
William C. Carr: (turning around) Now wait just a minute!
(Charless pays no attention to the muttering of the group, closing the door before walking back to his desk and immediately beginning to scribble down notes from the conversation. The lights stay on for a minute before fading out. As the curtain closes the image of the Gazette appears, with the quote “I shall preserve the Liberty of the Press as long as I am able to control one, and when I become the humble tool of factious men, I shall no longer hope to merit support.”)
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