The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-02-18
EDITORS CORRESPONDENCE.

Nsw YoAk. February 10, Is

The Freedom Of ne Press and as Lesniioasness
grssS Of tie Temperance Cause. Guy hsm', se
Not long after the late election IN France had con-
hrmed Louis Napoleon in the power and position he had
assumed deputaon OF the conductors OF what Is styled
the moderate press in Paris waited upon the President
and, after pTopatory remarks preferred petition
that the severity OF the censorship TO which their edito-
rial labofs subjected mgh be somewhat relaxed
The OF the high funconary whom they addressed
was characteristic and 10 the point.
Gentlemen" said he 'he press is instrument OF
tremendous power for good demonstrated, it is rre
sstble The two dynasties which preceded me sue
cumbed beneath IT, |, too, may fall but gentlemen II
shall not be under the assaults OF the press The dep
ulaon retired and the French press continues TO be as
! rgidly held in check that OF Austria or Russia
This may be regarded one oil the preliminary Skin
mshes in that OF 'opnlon against the bayoner'
OF which we have all heard much and one in which,
80 far, the bayonet to have decidedly the adyan
tage for menaced by lis stern and close approach pnb-
lie opinion forced close It's mouth and remain dumb
silent and quiet.
Thank Heaven, have censorship OF the press |
in this country, The exercise OF lis influence Tor good
or i'll is and has been. free and unresained unless
when the law has stepped in to check and punish attacks
upon private character public morals But, while we
horrorsuck by the suppression OF the freedom OF
the press in France, and exu in our own unrestricted
enjoyment of the neslimable privilege OF printing and
publishing what please at home. may II not be
worth while to inquire whether are not exposed to
dangers from another source connected with 1t, and
whether disaster and misfortune to the republic may mol
possibly result from the abuse well from the dis
and deprv alton of this important branch OF our lib
critics
Our form of government by its nature It's origin and
the character OF lis defence and support, impregnabe
to direct assault Created by and sprnging Immediately
from the people, it is entirely identified with them that
il would be beyond the power of the press TO array
them against it. But intimately and inseparably con-
necied with it, Of the privileges we enjoy some OF
the ties which bind together, and some OF the insn
tons which are interviewer with very existence
na,ion less strongly fortified open and exposed
to attack and against these comparatively unprotected
points it is that the enemies of our peace have
brought bear that engine of almost irresistible force
which should be their chiefest safeguard and defence
4 We reprobale, execrate and justly too the ruthless
despotism which parayzes the organ through which
alone information is disseminated among the people
their interests discussed, their rights asserted their
wrongs denounced their remedies suggested and their
counsels combinedbu how far does this despotism ex-
coed in guilt that unpncpled RIGHTEOUSNESS which os
tiers and encourages by means OF the same organ, ea
son and sedion-whch dverts it from lis nober uses,
and directs It's energies against the welfare OF the State
I the permancncy OF our free institutional
Ifadealh blow TO epublcanism is dealt in France by the
suppression Of the freedom OF press which advocated the
cause OF the people, not blow equally deadly, in in
tent at least struck in America at the free institutions,
which enjoy, by those reckless demagogues who
tabsh and conduct press which advocates the dismem
bermen of the confeleracy and the dissolution Of that
( Union 10 which we owe not only our liberties but
integrity and independence nation of free.nen And
yet II is. Such demagogues do exist such press
established and conducted and Tor such purposes not
some obscure corner or some locality difficult of access
but under the very it Of the Capitol of the
United States ITSELF and at the seat OF that government
which il is coverly seeking TO destroy at the very time
while is soliciting its patronage and support Weneed
!, II is true, censorship TO protect ourselves from the
feeble though malignant attacks of this mouth piece OF
sediton and treason but before arraign Louis Ma.
poeon at the bar OF public opinion let us at least clear
our skirts, prove that know friends from foes,
and purge ourselves from the Inconsistency of maintain
ing the freedom OF press which susalns republican in
stutons and at the same time fostering the licenous
ness of one which seeks to subver them.
The Seward wings and abol,onists busIy engaged
throughout our State ia advocating the adoption OF the
Maine liquor law. We predicted not long since, tina,
we the OF Of those periodical exhibitions
OF lanatcism and lberaty which and aroused
the people and excited spirit of resistance in the most
quiet and iobearing, and the signs OF the times would
seem 10 indicate that not far amss. To the
4 monstances and objections OF the udlcious who
that lucrative and important branch of bust
ness that of dealing in wines and liquors could not be
cut off without violent opposition, and that the
people would not submit 10 the legal and moral inqusi-
ton and restraint contemplated by the proposed law, with
out resistance to the shedding of blood, the hot
pared and determined force with force and
cute the provisions OF the law if necessary, by
to arms. Thus go. The sabre and the bayone are
be called in for the propagation of the system OF
morals But this is not all the crusade has been
: tended in its limits, and embraces not only the
OF tobacco, bu, the wearing of whsksrs, mustaches,
and beard Greeley is bearing down upon the former with
all the leaden weight OF the columns OF the Tribune and
4 the Rev Henry Ward Beecher thunders his foundations
against a superfuy OF hair from The pulpit Ii is TO be
hoped that when these sage reformes have had their
will OF u.s. stopped grog, cigars tobacco and snuf,
and shaved and trimmed us TO their hearts coatent,
shall become much improved if not model people.
General Wool is out in letter upon the subject of
Intervention in behalf OF Hungary and, like every other
military among who has expressed opinion.
he is decidedly opposed 10 anything like warke demon
straon any course OF procedure part which
would lead to Is il not somewhat remarkable that
in regard to this whole natter the real soldersthe
y of the sword,hose who have red battle rage and
u rod the bloody field OF honor with dislinclon-ae mild
!. and pacific in their counsel while the OF the gown,
Of the pulpit, and the barhe peace par
breathe nothing bu, war; and clamo for the conestl We
shrewdly suspect there many who is ready and
anxious go Hungary and face the Austrian and the
Russian who, if enemy were 10 present himself upon
our own coasts would move heaven and earth to obtain
an exemption from military duty.
We have nothing ne interesting here The treas.
ure ships from California have not yet arrived, nor has