New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-11-20


The Press may seem to sustain the Govern
ment by indiScrimnate adulation and unmeas.
ured sycOphancy; but that would be to debase
itself fret, and ultimately to iDjure the cause
it attempted to serve SO unworthily. The
Napoleon of Austerlitz fancied he had devised
the perfection Of legislative framework when
he had contriyed Senate which invariably
lauded his every act as that of an earthly god,
and registered bis every edict as if it had come
straight from heayeo. TIE Napoleon OF 81.
Helena confessed that this was one oil ms
grave mistakes--lhat his automatic Senate
having no Independence, no real power, neither
aided him by its counsels nor shared hLs rs'
spopsibiities--that, in making it practically
| impotent and serviIe, he had rendered it con-
temptiblc, so that it neither restrained bis aul-
blt;on nor retarded his fail. a Senate Of
Lafayettes and Carrots would have been Oh
eyesOre in bis days of unbounded triumph, but
it would have saved him from the Berezina,
from Leipsic, and Waterloo.
The Independent Press of the loyal States
deserves no credit for the zeal and leartineas
which it has displayed in supporting the War
for the Union, for its own fate is involved IN
that Of the Nation. Had it been treated as an
ally and in some sense counselor, it might
have been moro useful 10 tie Government thon
it has been. 1t has been the misfortune OF
our rulers that they have supposed they could
be better served by covering up the bldnders
and crimes of their subOrdinates than by ex-
posing and reprObatiug them. Thus that most
shameful surrender of the Union army in
Texas has never yet been pmade the subject
even of a Court of Inquiry, because the COM
handing General Of that Department proclaimed
himself traitor; though, had his subOrdinstes
been men of tue right stamp, it is not easy 70
SEQ how one officers treason coald destroy so
fine an army, vixen the force to which it was
surrendered was 80 contemplate. Tie perfect
success of Major Lynde's treachery IN New
Mexico was direct and natural result OF
that Of Twiggs in Texas. When one pFivateer
was allowed to run out Of rebel port, IN full
view of the National vessel that might and
should have captured her, and that officer |as
no. instantly deprived Of his command and PEI
on trial for bis life, it was anie to predict taot
blocksdes would be extensively eyaded there
after, and that such .fascos as signalized the
of Hollins at the Balize would
be enacted, to the lasting disgrace oil our Navy
The Government has made many misiakes'
"a was TO be expected but none OF them more
,ornic;ous than its unaecountablc leniency TO
tbe traitors or towards who have disgraced its
commissions and it's flag in their encounters
with the rebels. Thus, one OF th, most stun
ming blows under which the National cause
has reeed, was the surrender OF the Norfolk
Nayy-Yarj, whereby $500 cannon OF all sizes
aud an immense quantity OF munitions fell into
the hands Of the rebels, and have since been
employed for tie overthrow Of the Republic.
This act Of imbecility or treason vas perpe.
trated in the middle OF last April, and now
more than six months atterward-the Govern
ment is having il inquired into; WREN the cul-
prits-if culprits there were among those in
charge of that yard-shOuld have been tried,
convicted sentenced, and executed at least
four months ago. So in other case.
The independent Press, in its exbortatons to
energy aDd ygor, hes but given expression to
the universal sentiment of loyal citizens. Its
demands have but echoed the heart.beats OF
the Notion. Had thsy been met by explanations
that the action demanded was, for reasons
giyea or withheld, impossible, i might have
been silenced if not convinced. Bat the re-
spon.es actually made, through TIE journalistic
conyenences oi tie Cabinet, have been simply
and grossly insulting. 10 any exposure of
lack of yig)r or OF earnestress N the prosecu-
ton OF the War Tor the Union, the stereotyped
reply is an insianation that Tho complainant
wanted some o9ice or other favor from tue
Administration, and that his failure to secure.
il Il the cause Of lis arrangement OF the act u
failure in question. SelfreSpcct may forbid
reply to this mode OF defense, but it is cer-
tainly far from convincing.
In order TO o sincere aud effective accord
between The Government and the Press, u IS
essential that the former should recagnizs the
ability o. the latter to serve the Republic by
honest aud fearless criticism rather than b! ndis-
crimiuate laudation. Praise which 10 given of
course is in effect no praise at all. 10 eXtcl,
in Wow Of our frequent disasters, every act Of
the Government is TO render the Press ridicu-
ous and destroy rs power to serve tie coal
mon cause. But let the Government and the
Press do Justice TO each Others motives; lei
the Press realize that the Government thoagh
u may err in judgment cannot possibly be
wrong in purpose; and lie. tie Government feel
that The Press, where it ventures to critcise
L. -. or ihn Nnfinn,s chnsen leadnrs in this