Although the U. S. Constitution guarantees freedom of the press against statutory attack, there is only one Federal law which guarantees it against attack by individuals. This is Title 18, Section 51 of the U. S. Code, directed against persons who "conspire to injure, oppress, threaten or intimidate any citizen in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured to him by the Constitution. . . ." Passed in 1870 as a weapon against the KuKluxKlan, Section 51 has since been used occasionally in cases involving intimidation of witnesses or voters, such as last year's Kansas City vote-fraud...
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