Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1861-08-29

SECESSION NEWSPAPERS.
The popular indignantion against seces-
sion newspapers has become so hot in
some parts of the country. that this people
have summarily abated several Of them
In other instances the tory editors have
been tarrcd and feathered. and made TO
kneel down. make regular confession Of
their offences against the national cause.
and swear that they would never again
write against the Republic. or publish ar
ticlcs in favor of secession or rebellion.
In the city of New York. the Grand
Jury presented bills Of Indictment against
three secession sheets. viz: the Journal Of
Commerce. the Duly Nens. and the Day
Book. which had been guilty of daily
pleading the cause Of the enemy. misrep-
resenting and villifying the Government Of
tue United Sfatcss. exaggerating all unfa-
vorable intelligence and laboring to the
utmost o. their power. to dishearten the
friends OF the Union, and strengthen the
hands Of rebels.
The p. NJ General issued the following
order concerning those papers:
Posr OFfroE DEPARTMENT.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 22.
To the Post Master. New York City:
The Post Master General directs that
from and after your receipt Of Ibis letter.
none Of the newspapers published in New
York City. which were lately presented by
the Grand Jury as dangerous. from their
disloyalty. shall be forwarded in the mails.
l am respectfully.
Your obcdient servant.
Signed T. ID. Taorr. Chief Clerk.
This order would not effectually suppress
the circulation Of the secession sheets. as
they could still distribute their treason
through the Express companies. The
Government therefore has directed the
United States Marshal in New York to
close them up. The question to determine
is. whether the Government or the pupu-
lace shall suppress them. II the former
declines performing its duty. the latter will
take them in hand. The scditious sheets
must be stopped while the war lasts.
A leading newspaper in New York. can
give more substantial aid to the rebellion
and irfict more damage on the Govern
ment than dozen rebel regiments. The
editor Of those sheets. who are creating the
impression that the Country is waging an
"unholy and unjust war" against the reb-
els. anil are crying Peace" and hanging
out white flags. are doing infinitely more
toward aiding the rebellion than they cod
possibly do with arms in their hands fight
ing in the rebel ranks. Why. then, should
they not be held to the same responsible
lty? When a man takes sides with enc
mics of his country. his guilt does not dc
pend on the mode, but on the fact of his
support. His speaking or writing. OF
printing. may be as dangerous and as trea
sonablc as any other mode Of action =
And, whenever a newspaper becomes dan.
gerous to the existence Of the Government
it should be punished by fine or suspen-
sion. The people of the loyal States arc
at war with the rebels. and if any person.
are found among them giving aid or com
fort to the enemy. they must be treated a,
public enemies. When the very existence
Of the Nation is at stake, disloyal mer
must at least, keep quiet.
! We commend to the reading public al
article found M another column from Ell
ward Everett. on secession newspapers il
the North. Mr.. Everett is known to l,
one of the most conservative, prudent
cautious men in America. He asks. "why
should those reasonable journals be al
lowed to diffusc their poison, AMI msead
and dishearten the people. and nndermin,
and break down the constitutional Govern
ment?" 1--WE ought to remember" h,
SAYS. .'that in tolerating a traitorous press
among ourselves we practice liberalit!
which awakcns no gratitude at home. an,
is never rcciprocated by the opposing par
ty" He declares. with emphasis. 'that i
is IN absuriity in terms. under the veneer
able lame Of liberty Of the press. to per
nit tie systematic and liccntious abuse o
a Government which is taskcd to the ut
, most in defending the country from gencr
J al disiptegrstion anil political Chaos
There is grave weight in those words
II CO; Tr;b. ~
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