The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-06-11
war Punics and Panic Makers.

War Panics and Panic Makers.
There is . law upon the statute books OF
Virginia against false rumors in time OF war
1t is to be found in HEsISa. 1t Is an old law,
and STILL we presame, in force; for Il mas
never been and never ought to be repeaied
1t denounces & heavy penalty against the DIS
seminators of false intelligence. The penalty
could not well be too heavy. The man who
catches up an idle rumor on the wing, and Is
coward or fool enough to mount horse and
ga!lop through the country "on the foaming
and painting steel," spreading and masnfying
the story, ought to be shot down as
he flieg. Even if the rumor be true, that is not
the way to trea. it, 1t should be comInunica-
tod quietly to the authorities, aud these should
take such discreet measures az at once to
guard against the threatening danger, aud
to secure the composure OF the community
Panic often does more damage than an enc
nv. 1t is infinitely more demoralizing it is
frequently more destructive. In every com
munity there are panic makers by nnture,
who can't help getting frightened, and fright
CHING everybo else, on the slightest provo
cation One of these panic makers is worse
than a squadron of the enemys dragons.
They will brighten more men out Of the field
than the Dragons could possibly dispense
They will throw more old women into hys-
terics, they will cause more rushing to and
fro Of men, women, aud boys, more slammng
of doors, more breaking of windows, more
petty accidents, and more universal destruc-
ton than an enemy. A real enemy caa travel
but a few miles day, and can cover but
small belt of country but panic spreads like
a circle in the water, embracing the whole sur
face Of the country, and travelling as many
miles in day as an enemy can travel in
fortnight.
The old law against the bearers of false ru-
mors and the manufacturers of panic, was wise
and needful. 1t ought to be revived and en-
forced. 1t would prove a wonderful correct
i've against the recurrence of these demoraliz-
ing, distractng, and often ridiculous concom-
itants of war. But there is another remedy
for them which should not be neglected. 1t
is the FREQ and prompt circulation of correct
intelligence in regard to the movements of the
public enemy. 1t is well that the Govern
ment in very critical emergencies should have
control of telegraphs and ether agencies of
information, but if Government withholds the
advices it receives, and at the same time lays
the ordinary channels of news under embargo
they at once surrender the community to the
dominion Of rumor and the remorseless sway
of panic. 1t is all a mistake, too, in public
officers to publish only good news and with.
hold what is bad. Bad news travels in tbs
atmosphere, and nagnifies as it travels. The
truth of bad news lie less hurtful than exag-
rerstions of it; and, as measure of pru.
teuce, it is best to let the people have it. The
mere suspicion of the people that Government
IL not dealing fairly with them creates dis
trust, and prepares the public mind for panic
and stampede.
But it is onlr in very critical emergencie,
that any official interference should be ven
tured with the ordinary transmission of news
The press ia the "fourth estate" Of the presen
age. The community are accustomed to look t,
the press for early intelligence and to bold it re
sponsible for its accuracy. The press has in
fnitely more at stake in its publication o
news than any officer of Government can have
1t has to endure the wrath of public opinion i
it abuse its powers Of disseminating intelli
gence, by putting forth that which is false ant
which leads to Injurious consequences. A
the same time, it has the strongest possibl,
incentives to industry and fidelity in its ayo
cation, those Of pecuniary reward and pros
perity. 1t gsins money by publishing correc
news it loses it b, publ hing spurious. Thi
is the best of all guaran II on this subject. /
il better than the censorship of the Govern
crament officers of all authenticated intelli
gence.
We make these remarks in no spirit Of criti
eism and e&vil. We are willing that the legit
innate province of the press shall be trenches
upon in tunes Of danger; but We take III
liberty of expressing the deliberate judgmen
that, unless the public emergency be yer.
critical, intelligence shoald DO free to the pres
and the press free to lay il before the public.
The public is never a coward when il is no
treated AZ coward. IL can stand an,
amount Of truth in the forsn Of war intelli
gsneei but II the truth Is withheld, then it
coiaposure, reason, and manhood. il readily
upset by lille runor. The last ten days hav
beea fruitful VI evil AMI even RIDICULOUS "a
sa''s consequsnt upon letting ramor loose upa
the public mind. Public curiosity 10 Wa
tinsrs, like Nsiare, abhors n vacuum. 1t mus
be saii-6e.l by news of solns SORT. If truth
withheld, then ia rushes rnmor with her Ito,
ss,i faiss tousaes. VI which she is sare
make busy and hurtfu' uss
Oeseendsa sf Geii. Greene.
The cemmand r-in Chief Of the Sou;ler
Army in the Revolution has aow three groat