The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1861-05-15
The Censorship Of me Press.

. The Washington correspondent OF the New
York Times. writing from that city on the 18th
OF April. thus speaks OF the censorship Of the
Press, which has been inaugurated throughout
the country. The Times Is one OF the leading
Republican papers ol the city Of New, York. =
The correspondent says! ~
"The telegraph wire continues In operation
between here and New York, but the system
Of espionage and censorship established by tie
secesslonists at Baltimore, and emnlated By The
Wd' Department here, renders it practically oI
little value to the Press. A more stupid, ill
Judged proceeding than the censorship Of the
Press, as it is exercised here at present by the
Goyernment could scarcely be deyised-and II
persisted in, it will surely reach rich crop oi
public contemptfor all who have any responsi-
bility in the matter. There are some military
movements (which, u they leak out from their
proper depositories, ought to be suppressed, and
that would be cheerfnily assented to by any
sensible editor or correspondent who has the
slightest regard for the public interest. Scarce
a day passes that your correspondent does not
refrain from tho use Of such material -volpnta
rily; but when the Secretary Of War undertakes
by himself or his agents TO suppress reflections
upon the administration of the Government by
hlmself and his associates he is guilty Of con-
duct which the despot oil France OF Russia may
venture with impunity, but which England
would not tolerate, and which the people ol
free America will visit with the sternest con-
demnation., The weakness Of this proceeding
is only equalled BY its audacity 1-for the cor
respondents will find other means of getting
their missives to their destination, and the at
tempt to suppress them wilresult only in de-
laying their publication for q day, or two, II
structures upon public policy are to be suppress
cd, because not agreeable to the Administration
we may expect the. same. rule to be applied
to structures upon contracts let through po
litcal brokers or notorious lobbyism, whose
very names are stencil in the nCstris Of hon
orable men; and thus we might have Cobb, and
Floyd and Toucy reprod duced in the new Admin
lstration, without even the poor privilege o.
calling public attention to the facts, and endea-
voring to effect needed reforms. .,, .-., d 4,
Until to-day, we were permitted to have our
dispatches, after reyisal, and to know what had
been stricken out by the Censor; but the War
Department appears to be ashamed TO shoulder
its re, possibility in the premises, by letting US
know what it eliminates, and has issued an or,
der prohibiting us from seeing our dispatches a.
all aiter the elminations are made. The only
possible purpose in this can be that Of render
ing us unable TO tell when dispatches are miss.
ing in publication, whether we are indebted tt
the Secessionists or TO the Government copy
'sts for the mutilations; 6rit is apparent, at {
glance, that with little trouble we can keeI
copies of air that is filed at the telegraph offict
for transmission. In the meantime let us hops
that Mr.. Cameron will disavow responsibility
for the stupidity conducted Censorship thus lar
and provide means by whichlt can be conduc
ted with more Of the dignity and judgment be
fitting great Government, and less Of the des
picable paltriness that betokens weakness ane
lmbecility. cd, -ss,.sgzt.,. .~.