Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-09-25


The suppression OF the Christian OBJ.
The publication Of the ClyisiiaR Observer, which
was suppressed in Philadelphia b. order Of the
LINCOLN Government, has been resumed in Rich
mond. The editor, the Rev.Dr CoNvERsE, gives the
following account of tie suppression Of his paper
in Philadelphia:
On Thursday, the 22d Of AuQrAts tbe editor met.
at the door Of his printing office, the Hon. Wm.
MnlwsFd, u. S. Marshal for that District, accom-
panied BY some six eight Deputy Msrshals. Mr..
n. aceosted him as follows;
Mr. Converse, we want &c see your printing of
hce.1s Tie writer instantly appFehending the ma
ture Of his business, answered, VERY well, sir,
will conduct you to it, ard Immediately led the way
up stairs TO the ROOM in large editiee, occupied
by the compositoIs employed on the Observer.
The Marshal entered with his posse, drew from
his pocket warrant, and said 8 Mr.. Converse,
have received an order from the President Of the
United States to arrest you, and suppress the pub
location of your paper, and take possession Of this
Office and all its contents, under the authority OF an
Act Of Congress passed on the 18Th day Of July,
1861, confscatng the property Of those who give
aid or comfort to insurgents in rebellion against the
government The editor replied in substance,
that he was and ever had been loyal to the govern
ment under which he lived, that be was not aware
that he had abused the freedom of the press guar
an@eQ 10 every CITIZEN Lbal ne HOutQ 20
the Constitution and laws OF his country. He then
| inquired, "what specific charge was preferred
| against him. The Marshal replied that he had
no charge except the order on which he acted"
he then directed the compositcrs to leave the office,
closed and locked the door, and said: " Mr., Con-
verse, there is an officer waiting at your pabliea-
ton Office to arrest you.' The editor replied that
he should shortly return to his office.
The writer then left his printing Office, and after
the refreshment which be usually took ct that hour
OF the dsy, he went to the Postotce for his letters
and exchange papers, and then returned to his pub
licdtion Office, which he had left in charge of his
youngest son. There he found one Of the Marshals
officials. After waiting q moment for the silent
stranger to introduce his business, be said to him
"Are you, sir, commissioned TO arrest meso He
answered, "No;' and said that he was directed to
stay there in charge of the Office until the Marshal
returned.
This proceeding was Immediately runored in the
city, and two or three gentlemen Of high standing
called at bis Office proferlng any aid which the ed
tor might need in these novel circumstances. At
length the Marshal returned, to whom he delivered
the keys Of his iron safe and Office, which the Mar
shall closed, and left the premises.
Ths above is brief statement Of the principal
facts of the extraordinary proceedings, from which
it is very evident that the Constitution Of the Uni
ted States is ignored and set aside by President
Lincoln, in order to effect his sectional and partisan
purposes. Bound by his oath of Office, to admins
ter the Government in accordance with the priDci
pies affirmed in that great charter Of the rights
az liberties of citizens, he dees not hesitate to
violate his oath, and trample the rights which be
is bound to protect This he doss under the yrants
plea of necessity
The freedom of the Press has long been regarded
as the great bulwaFk Of popular liberty. On this
account it is guarded with marked dstluetness in
the Constitution of the several States of tie late
Union, and also in the amendments to the Constitu
ton of the United States demsnded By several States
before they would adopt it. II is the shield Of the
peoples rights; the most potent weapon for their
defence; the heart whose pulsstlons send the life
blood and spirit Of liberty into every member of
the body polite. Strike down the freedom of speech
and of the press and you leave the people mute
and defencaless at TIE mercy of the tyrants who
may choose to lord il over them. Hence the policy
of the dsspots of the old world They all fear
and stiHs the liberty Of the press. They well know
that their deeds will not bear exposure and exami-
nation before their subject people, To conceal their
usurpstons and other misdeed, they Hanacle the
press and thus silence the potent voice of the nil
lions by whom and for whom it should ever speak.
European despots, II Is said, give their victims
due notice before silepcing them. When journal
comments too freely upon the measures Of the Die
tator he sends an intimation to its editors advising
them to be more circumspect and guarded IN the
future. If the journal offend the second time, the
admOnition is repeated before it is sienced. But
MP. Lincoln has improved upon the policy az the
despots of the Old World Without intimation that
the CyistiaH QbssrUs contained anything prejudi>
Oia TO his government, TO the country, he sends
forth his mandate to arrest its editor c0nscats his
property, close his Office and suppress his journal
without Law, or the shadow Of any constitutional
or judicial right without trial by his peers, aud
even without any definite charge Of offence. This
is a refinement upon European despOsti1m hereto
fore unknown on this side of the Atlantic.
From the EnemY's Fleet off Ship Island
We Iao-n bv a sotIor AZ Fed Iob,zo, +bo+ tl,o