The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-08-31

Mr.. Everett's last paper in the New York
| Ledger discusses the rights and duties of war,
with especial reference to the proper distinc-
| ton to be observed between the ordinary
usagcs of war and the necessity of military
authority in time of war. We copy a part of
MIR. Everett's remarks on the subject:
sECEssIoNIST JOURNALS
| There are presses, for the most part in the
Border States, though some of them are found
in cities moro remote from the scene of action,
which arc daily pleading the cause of the
enemy. disappearing and vilifying the
Government of the United States, exaggera-
| ting every article of uUfavorab.e intelligence,
and eXerting themselves TO the utmost to
dlshcarten the friends and defenders of the
| Constitution and the Union. But such is
| all but superstitious devotion of the peopJe
to the liberty of the press that these pernici-
GUS journals have, with the exception Of
| single instance in st. Louis, never been inter-
feTed with. Ii seems to have been though.
better by those in authority TO tolerate the
mischief of these unpatrotic presses than to
elevate them to greater importance by prose-
cution, or to encroach in the slightest degree
upon that freedom Of public discussion which
in ordinary times is justly regarded as one of
the great safeguards CT liberty. But it is
preposterous 10 sacrifice the end to the
means. We should in this respect learn wis
dom from the enemies of the Union
While we regard as unbccoming our
Christian civilization that resort to Lynch
law by which every expression of opinion
adverse to the popular sentiment is sup
pressed in the Seeding States. We ought to
remember that in toleraling a traitorous
press among ourselves We practice a liberal
| i,y which awakens no gratitude at home, and
is never reciprocatcd by the opposite party.
| 1t Is in fact all absurdity in terms, under the
venerable name of the liberty of the press. to
permit the systematic and lceniols abuse Of
Government which is tasked to the utmost
in defending the country from general disin-
tcgraton and political chaos. The Governor
of Malta was once ccnsured in parliament for
some alleged severity toward the editor of a
journal in that island, and the liberty of the
press was declared to be in danger. The
| Duke of Wellington SAID he was as friendly
as anybody to the liberty of the press in
London, bu. free press in the Island of
Malta was as much out of place as it would
ne OH the quarterback Of man-of war
We suppose the most enthusiastic champ ion
of the liberty of the press would hardly
think it right to publish a journal within the
walls OF Fort McllenIy, in which the officers
Of the garrison shold be daily advised to
desert and the men be constantly exhorted to
mutiny; and whose columns should be filled
with persistent abuse of the Government and
all engage in its defence. Why should Jour.
nails of that description be allowed to dllfuse
their prison beneath its walls. amidst the
exci,able population of large city?
| FREEDOM OF SPEECH IN DEBATE.
So, too, with reference to the freedom of
speech in debate, one of the vital conditions
of republican liberty. The late session of
Congress has witnessed magnanimity on
the part of the majority in both Houses of
truly romantic cast. The acts and motives
of the Government, in the suppression of on
instruction admitted by one Of its most dis
tinguished chiefs to proceed mainly from the
disappointment of leading aspirans to
office, ha We been assailcd from day to day
would be harmless in time of peace. but
which in time of war can have no other effect
on The popular mind thar to perplcx and dis
hearten those who are stalking life and for.
tune in the cause of the country. This gen.
erosty eXcites no gratitude on the part of
those TO whom it is practiced, and so far
from being reciprocated. the member of the
Confederate Congress at Montgomery or
Richmond who should assail the conduct and
policy of that body as the Government of the
United States has been assailed by the sym.
pathizcrs with Secession ut Washington,
would not reach his hotel in safety. lie
would swing from the next lamp-post.
Not merely is all freedom of speech and of
the press prohibited in the Seeded States,