Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1846-12-21
TuELIYERTY OF THE PRESS.

nh and Of the rress-aud, ''to show the atsrdty OF
snch an mpua,ion, quotes the passage Of the Message
ected TO- together with It's context. and then proceeds 10
set firth the doctrine in lis own language, with even WI
der application Ii declared thatany expression Of Doubt
unn the abstract question ut the Necessity or justice ola
war in which the country is engaged Is giving aud and
cnnfor, to the enemy which the Constitution defines 10
h rras,n II matters not that the Nhig is ready to
money or ncur any amunt Of axailun. 10 sustain the
var now that it actually EXISTS that he shoulders his
,usket or perhaps os,s his life the field of battle
lie still is traitor, sill belongs 10 the party Of national
isrrace if he have not brought hs mind to view long
.cres of complicated diplomatic and political events,
which preceded the shock ot arms in precisely the
rqht that Mr. Polk does There is something absurd
in such proposition that we should be disposed to treat
it with contempt, Were il moi that indignation at It's I'M
,,encc and atciousns>s gets the better Of the feeling
which only i, ought II excite
Il is the proud beast OF the age that war is becoming
more and more dsas,clu and ahhorrcnl to ciyilz ma
tons We adycrted, in las the greater amount Of
pr vocation which would be required uow than past
are to justify ruler in hecyes Of his people Tor plung
,no them into the horrors OF var We showed also
how two individuals, thinking alike o subjects,
might from peculiares of temperament, greater
less cultivation OF moral sentiment. take somewhat differ
ent views the circumstances alleged Just fcaiion
ola nation appealing We see. in every day life.
the same diversity Of feeling in regard oheinvlsion per
so,a rights and honor. One will resent equ;vo-
cal look and demand satisfaction for expressive silence
whilst anuther-equally lraye it may be-Wil doubt
whether he is justified in taking the lie Ola fellow being,
even though he inflicted blow. Mr. PoLK's category
of Treason embraces every member OF the Society of
Friends in the United Sratcs-cach Of whom. from their
well known principles, must consider the Mexican war
unjust and unnecessary.
The sentiment false and al omnaheas il is is puff rth
not in the cxub,rance of patriotic feeling, but for party
and political purposes fltcan be established tattoe express
doubt Of the justice necessity Of the ad and
comfort the enemy, how easily may be shown that eve
" man who votes against MI Folks clection-ora
ganst his friends who candidates for the Ley stature
or Congress- guilty likewise of Treas In what more
ecctually way can he laid and comfort" Mexico than
by voting against Mr. Polk. who of his own authority
made war against Mexico! 1t is forced application Of
the doctrine The right of free suffrage would not be
,ramped upon in The than the right of free
dom speech is in the other Should the war last until
the Presidential election Of Isis. the case stated hyIo-
ihccally will bscomc actual. Every vote cast upon the
candidate in opposition to Mr. Polk whoever is sup
ported by his party will lie denounced as an overt act Of
utasnn-and with proprety too if the doctrine of the
Message be not absurd. MI Folks d, feat would be CIV
Ing laid and comfort TO the enemy. who doubtless look
with adherence on his person and policy. Suppose his
competitor elecicd-thc anomaly Is presented Of MAJOR
iry OF THE NATION beng traitors lthc doctrine be
rect the exercise OF the dearest rights of eemen involves
Treason to the country. and have, once Despotism
and. at the Time the strongest nlucemeni held out
to him who wishes to overthrow the liberties Of the pco
pie to involve the country in foreign war.
The Enquirer concludes its article thu,
Nv are the ardent advocates OF the freedom of speech
and Of the press hold authorities 10 A thoroIri
and rigid s,atlny but TIL re is time and propf manner
Of doing all things The honor, and interest and safety
If the country should FIRST be secured and no sen should
be taken to deprecate that country and thereby encora
the enemy At the proper time let the Admin stratnn
be called upon for It's vindicaton from corrupt or mis-
chievous pup 1t only cenos press and tongue
which. in the moment OF war would ass its own GOV
eminent and justify the enemy
Neare not surW zed that reflection upon tho consequcn
ces TO which such doctrine leads should induce the En-
qurer to wind up with reservation-or al least procs
sion oaachmen to the great rights assaulted by the Pres
den' Mr. Fudge friend of the liberty Of the
" as He says to Lord Sidmouiil
God knows love cen to excess
1.-The sacred freedom of the Press
- My only aims To crush the writer's
The tnq"lrcf pstponos all enquiry into the of the
Administration, until peace is restored and denounccs
as "lcentlous the pen or tonguc which in moment of
war, should undertake that duty. The pastponement
might snpcrsede the ncccssv-the Constitution and lin
eries OF the country might be DESTROYED in the course Of
PoHacted war, and. when ii ceased to be ccntios tu
assni the Government that government, mipht IN.
s""ng enough to carry out Mr. Fulg ideas oihe sacred
freedom OF the press Dcspotism never toeracs free
press, and the dread of free discussion is bad svn,,
'on oil the purity OF intention and the wisdom, ol the a,
OF any administration,
but let us examine this notion Of iouminp enquiry in
10 inc motives or acts of administration until war
over II Is as little sanctioned by history as it is accor
oaht with common sense and love of freedom Snno
weeks ago an article from the PHILADELPHIA odpcr w,s
transferred TO the columns OF the Enquirer with the on
"o'seaeh' tha It was gust and phlosophealo The
Ppo oil Inc article was TO show that in no other conn
Try than ours was there ever seen party onpsny y,,
III "hch the government had Observation-Disclosures the
n'oe oil carrying 1t on-rdiculing military bnnders Sc
Inc whole article betrayed such an inconcciyabe decree
VI ignorance Of the hstory-potical and parliamentary
" he mother country. that srprized at the epi
''E oi Communication bestowed upon it by editors so in
"i'sent as those of the Enquirer. II would be scarcely
''cd that there is more freedom of speech and of the
p'ess In England than in this country and turning our
YES 10 her history, what do behold We pass over
.ne opposition TO the American War. led by Chatham
60 I,o oil,