The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-11-05
FREEDOM OF THE PRESS IN FAVOR OF
a Ht THE ENEMY

The National lntehgenoer, in IFS recent battle
against the mighty current OF patriotic opinion
which upholds and approves the war win Mexico
has met the very fate which befell the valorous
knight Of La Msneha, when he sailed forth to his
t;lt with the wind-mills. The Alexandria Gazette,
moved by not unnatural sympathy for the pitiabie
plight of its friend and neghbor, has forgotten the
discretion Of Sancho, who kept himself and his
donkey out Of harms way in the distance, and has
come at last, though with apparent reluctance,
stoutIy up 10 the rescue. The lnteDigeneer, of
course, quotes the effort Of its compassionate Co
adiutor "as sample of the true wing spirit, and
worthy of all praise"
The Gazette holds that the press is quite free to
take partisan stand against its own government (and
of course in favor Of the enemy in cease OF foreign
,oar as well rs in any Of domestic policy. IL IN
Inmates indeed that the obligation Of the whig press
10 oppose and thwart the warlike measures Of the
government is lttle Strenuous than Il would be,
IL foreign foe did not, as party in the quarrel,
stand ready to take any advantage Of such course
In proof Of these very worthy just, and patriotic
opinions, the Gozette has good deal 10 say about
the doings OF the French jacobins and the Greek
and Roman demagogues, and other such peculiarly
pertinent topics. IL is vastly indignant to lind that
people ,oa regard public Journal as 'Paying into
the hands Of the enemy" when il sets itself to work
go expose the burdens" which the war brings with
it, in order TO cripple and embarass the efforts of the
government to carry successfully on. Such, how
4 :,,h e., "a No ao,h, 4, Ia annovinO IN
''s'' :.
aiaeuous opPosiuoh WHICH mus aias ~ iea"y ~
not undertake Just now to advocate Mexican views
and inereSta too warmly without making itself liza
.,,-,
DIS m inc Juushen' VI ho"e'' anu
men, TO certain very unpleasant and hard-soanding
aPPellations ireally would seem as u the admitted
and precious freedom OF the press did carry win II
the condition that should not be exercised Tor Pur-
poses OF faction IN such manner as TO put TO open
shame the best and nooiest instincts OF paTisusm,
at a moment when the rights and the honor oil the
country, together with the lives Of It's citizen SOL
diers, are all at stake Our friends OF the intei-
gencer and the Gazette ind this salutary curb upon
their "freedom" quite CALLING.
The Gazette frets and grumoles under II after The
following fashion;
"The people, in submitting to this doctrine, are
called upon to revive, virtually, the old doctrine
iha' tne mug can uo no wr1ns ney a,e !" a.. az.
;,s,cs ~ sverv .dyn;n;str,,on ,hat NAV he nl,ccd
at the head Of the government, but to be willing to
endorse the tnfaihbilay OF the administration why
VIC .'.;e h,,.sos ~ 80 a. n,;ns, 49,
than in that which imposes on us an oppressive or
improper tariff? Why should the foreign policy Of
our government, De saer rom scrutiny, OF more
NJ. = ,Sa.s NV, r,nrs Jason that the nnhl,c sSoud
- -.
accountability in the former case than in the latter
Inc very essence Oh our ins'ilu.'phs - ,os' aaa
os,ps nsonte - invss,;s,,. 70 question N eond,m y
., ::
- 80, e = IN - :.
NO , - w., :, - en-. ;. 49,.
=" w., - o.. norsr.,..n, n.;,h.r 49,.
N'' 'oN' :, 80:
sO' 80, -. -, &C, - - ~.
~ ',I , ,Os' :, -, -.
n ~ e -:
,;ons and tho ADMINISTRATION strongly desires then,
But the course actually taken by the leading whie
organs is quite another matter. To what end OF
,cr,anup or "accouniabhip, is i, tina, these min
ions of Marty hold nm aav after doy IN the nawk;sb
sentimentalty Of their followers, the Wsakntss Of
our enemy as theme to move all tender partisan
hearts, Wsaknsss' She has been strong enough to
insult and outrage this republic of ours, and its flag
and its citizens, and those who bear its mil.
itary and naval commissions, and its diplomatic
functionaries and agents, of all grades, from the
highest to the lowest. within the last ten years
more, far more than they have been insuted and
outraged by althe rest Of Christsndo for quarter
of a century The ,oeakntss which sets itself up
against the recorded Judgment of the whole civilized
world, to oppose by force of arms that joint act Of
established and admitted soveregnties-the annexa-
uon OF Iexas-anu winch mas put oacR upon US
even in the midst OF our war, our ready ana repeat
90 offers OF peace nrotgn negof'aon-such 'reakness
howsoeVef oewaiiea IN wing Jeremiaus' Is ample
apology indeed Tor hfteen years o. violence, perhdy
ana pil'age--of highest laws reckessiy proken and
OF solemn puoc faitn pieaged again ana only 70 DC
never once redeemed! @ a,aleg,aaa.s AID.
Yet "the shame of war upon weak sister re-
n,h,;c - IN ,as the xpb;o cr,y 6re rassd m tha Gan