Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-09-17
The, Freedom ..fthey Press.

The Freedom If the Press.
The Government at Washington has brought
upon itself a storm Of indignation and wrath by
its despotc course in suppressing certain news
papers in the North, for no other reason than
their peace proclivities. We find upon the SUBJ
Ject, in the New York Daily News, the following
admirable letter from James w. Wall, ESQ.,, of
New Jersey, to the Postmaster General. The re-
ply of Mr.. Blair, which we also give, is miser-
able subterfuge. 1t is the old stereotyped plea
BURLINGTON, Nj, Aug. 16, 1861. Z
Hon. Montgomery Blair, Postmaster General.
DEAR SIR Y our recent high handed, uncon-
stitutional act in stopping certain newspapers
from being circulated through the mails will
meet, as it deserves, the indignant protest ofev-
cry free man. If the prescribed parties have re-
fected severely on the conduct of the Admins
tration, they had right so to do in republic
where 1t has been our most cherished boast that
the acts of our rulers open to the freest seru.
| tiny. Intact, the right Of examining the char
| acters of our public servants, and commen'ing
freely upon their public conduct is the sentinel
standing at the door, and effectually guarding ev
cry other right If the people relinquish that
they richly deserve to be slaves. 4
Let me commend to your serious cosideration
the noble language of your late father in law,
the Hon. Levi Woodbury., during the war Of
1872, toward the influential citizens of certain Of
the Eastern States, who not only opposed the
war, but threatened a severance of the Union,4
termlng 1t ga rope of sand - ga stone about
the neck Of New England ''ts ~
tie was indignant at their opposition, but, no.
ble patriot that he was he proposed that it should
| be met only in the constitutional way. esSuch
| opposltlon,'' said he, sswill and must engender
its own corrective. Let, then, an unceasing ap-
problum be heaped upon the measures of our
Administration. 1t is not punishable under Re-
publlcans, however severely it was under Fede-
ralists. Our sacred regard to independence of
opinion and liberty ofthe press pardons the licen-
tiousness. But TIE people willmark it's authors
and properly reward them, both by the finger of
scorn and the omnipotence of elections y
| hememoer, the above was uttered in reference
to peace party who, during foreign war with
England, avoWed the most supreme contempt for
the Republlc-who, in fact, were in direct hos
tlllty to the Consttuton-engaged in intrigues
for the overthrow of the one and for multiplying
the other. In fact party that did not hesitate
10 avow Its sympathy for the foreign foe at the
very time our Capitol in flames and in the
hands of the enemy. 2teia
| Now, sir, defy you to Law your finger upon a
line OF the editorials Of the Daily News cone Of
the organs under the Government ban, ) that by
4 the most forced construction could be declared
treaSonable to the country. That journal has la
boured for a peace, for cessation of this un-
natural WIZ, for an appeal to the people from the
ooto VI ln0 OoFerHment, OF fssan appeal from
Philip drunk to Philip sober" 1t had perfect
ly constitutional right to do this, and in that di-
rection trust it will continue to labour, undis-
mayed by either the menaceS of the Government
or the threats of mobs. In fact, had the Govern
lent listened to the repeated warning of the New
OK Daily News, instead of giving zcredence to
tnose journals that were pretending to sustain it.
the disgrace of the defeat at Manassas Plains
would not now stain the national escutcheon
The News, over and over eain before the ad
vance of the s.Grand Army warned the Gov
ernment of the ineficiency of it's forces to cope
with the numbers and St orm the strong fortifica
tlons of the enemy at Manassas. It's warnings
: were sneered at by those eminently patriotic
Journals. New York Herald and Tribune, The
Philadelphia Inquirer and Bulletin, as the sssense
less drlyelingS of treason.N A common sense O
gratitude alone might have induced the Govern
, ment, for this one act, to have overlooked thu
News, in its wholesale prescription Of Journals
in the city of New York opposed to the Admin
I, lsration. But it asks no favours, and is willing
to stand or fall with its co-abourers in the cause
of peace. Isf e4F
Our fathers were intimate friends and altho
your father to-day belongs to the Republican
2 party, cannot believe he endorses the recen
arbitrary act of your department, or else he mus
rIprove recreant to the doctrines he proclaimed
years ago In the Globe. In that able and lnf1u
entail journal, In speaking of the atten pit made
to pass a bill through the Senate preventing
Federal olHcefS interfering IN elections, he once
said ssUnder no possible emergency, not ever
in insurrection or mid the throes of civil war
can this Government justify official interference
with he freedom of speech or of the press, any
more than it can with the freedom OF the ballot
The licentiousness of the tongue and of the per
is minor evil compared with the licentiousnes
of arbitrary power.' Little could he have ther
supposed that one of his own sons should lenc
himself to carry out an arbitrary edict that pros
trated this boasted freedom at blow.
You, by such an edict, have assumed to die
tate to me what political papers / may receive
Where do you derive your power? You have
just as much right to declare what religious works
l shall receive. If l am in favour of peace,
have right to be, and will work for it, write
for it, pray for it, do anything but fight for it, il
the face of all the imperial ukases that may be
! sent forth from Washington. If this war must &c
on, it must be waged unconstitutionally. Wage
ii against the enemy south of the Potomac, anG
not against the peaceloving citizens of the North
whose only crime is loving the old Constitution
SO well that they cannot possess their souls il
patience when they behold the ar-famed .shighe1
law'' substituted in its place.
WI Yours, respectfully,
JAMES ". WALL.