The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-08-24
FREEDOM OF THE PRESS.
From the Mem YorL: DGu RnnE

FREEDOM OF THE PRESS.
=, From the Ne'0 YOrh Day Book.
But it would seem that these men were deter
mined to drive the people Of the North into rebel
lion. Their fears lend thousand rumors to their
lmaginations They imagine ''trastors'' among as,
and one paper SpeculateS ga rising an this
city! Well, God knows how soon the Republicans
may drive the people mad, but one thing
sure Of there will be any trouble in this city
~nlesa the Republicans provoke IT, 1t is fixed rule
IN all governments, that you bind down the peo-
pie you provoke Instructions and disorders, and
as you give latitude and freedom, you have peace
and safety. Austria has an instruction every six
weeks; Italy before Garibaldi gave the people
freedom, was volcano constantly beching forth
fire and smoke, and so it is the world over. It is
human nature.
All that the opponents of the Administration ask
is the simple right to differ with it to policy. If
their arguments against Mr.. Lincon's plan of re-
storing the Union are to be met by MODS and mar
tial-law, the people will not be slow to conclude
that it must be very bad that cannot vindi-
cate itself in the of discussion. If editors
having nearly all the leading papers, with great
proportion OF the talent of the press on their side
cannot successfully vindicate the policy of the Gov
ernment then, indeed, must it be sadly deficient in
craftsmanship. If these papers break the laws, or
If their editors commit overt acts of treason, why
deal with them accordingly, but if their offence be
Tor opinions sake, don't add hypocrisy to persecu
ton.
The freedom Of tie press Is 8ometFin ore, ,ghich
Congress nor the President has any control. No
power upon this subject, delegated in the Con-
stituton of the United States to any department of
the Federal government. MIR. Jefferson, in the
Kentucky resolutions which we quote, shows this
The Constitution is also just explicit as language
can make 1t. Mr. Lincoln might, with just as much
right, dictate to ministers of the Gospel tchat sent-
ments they should preach, s aehat ace shall ,rrite
If certain opinions reasonable they are treason
| able anywhere, and the Clergyman who breaches
the glorious Gospel of peace, may, long, fad
| his calling gone.
| 1t is evident, however, these attacks upon the
| press proceed from the basest and most fendish
| motives. The present affords eyildsposed people
an opportunity to crafty some long-cherished re-
venge-to wreak their cowardiy spite which, I'M
der other circumstances, they would be compelled
to smother These men hang like fiends around all
social commissions of this kind, and take mali
cious pleasure in producing all the disorder they
can. The more the merrier for them. Nothing is
TOO satanic for their delight-nOthing too hell
ish for their pleasure.
Let the freedom of the press be nierfered with,
however, and no one can answer for the couse.
quences. Ne,c York Is a slumberiaq eorthquoke.
Already the mutterings of angry storm have been
heard. The great social problem that has met
mankind at every turn-the eternal hostility 6et,veen
capital and labor-is yet unsoved 1t is never wise
10 turn simple opponent into a deadly enemy
But attack the freedom of the press and thousands
VIII cry for revenge, or later, who would
never have thought of it before. is an easy mat
ter to start recotton, but difficult to stop it..
SUPPRESSION OF THE n. y. DAILY NEWS.
From tie Neao York Daily News Of yesterday
Our Geographic dispatches announce, that upon
the arrival of the railroad train at Philadelphia
from New York, yesterday morning. the United
states Marshal Tor that district assisted by his Off
GERS, seized three thousand copies of the New York
Dddy Aecs, intended fer that city, and that It's salt
IN Philadelphia and throughout the Southwest has
been, by order of the Administration, suppressed.
as TO the special reasons which have induced this
arbitrary act OF the Executive Government of the
United States, we have yet no definite intelli-
gence. Our readers will cheertully bear us wit
ness that the Daily Neos at least since its publ
cation under present auspices, has contained no
word in violation of the Constitution or the
laws. 1t has committed crime, and has
not aoetted or sympathzed with crime 1t has
abused no privilege as free press 1t has violated
no courtesy to the Government or to any of lis
| officers by the publication of military facts Ii
has dlsarmed even malicious criticism bv furnish
ing to the public only such information relating to
| the present crisis has appeared in Journals en-
Joylng the patronage and confidence of the cabinet
| at w ashIngton. Its columns have Contained no
word, for which even those MOST hostile ia. evr
| humanity and free government. 1t has met the
| demands OF the crisis firmly and fearlessIy
| yet always cOurteously and temperatelv II
has spoken of the President and his cabinet.
and OF their friends upon all occasions only
ia ml terms vigorously and studiedly respectful
While ciobs have been instigated against us by q
vitlated rival Press, and the mother tongue ex-
hausted upon us In coarse abuse and in misrerre-
sentations OF our sympathies and cur motives we
"'o epiIeu only ny silence, or IN spirit of
dor and moderation which the consciousness of our
solemn responsibility in an hour of danger to civil
liberty could alone inspire. Our sole offence-if
offence 1t be-is, that we have fearlessly asserted
and exercised the right which the Constitution has
guar anteed to us, in as well as in peace to on
pose, not the Government, but the policy of the
national Administration. If we NAV not do this
then are we indeed slaves, in bonds more hard to
Dear than were ever rvetted upon the limbs of apy
man within whose veins flows Anglo Saxon blood
TO many thousands of our usual daily readers
the Daity Ne'cS is, from this day, a sealed book.
The heavy hand of Executive power falls, not upon
us, but upon millions of people born to freedom.
Those will think still, though they cannot read
1t is difficult to bind the mind in chains. Thought,
at least, cannot be suppressed. No Austrian dun.
geons can restrain the human will Those to whom
the Daily Ne,0s is forbidden will think, reason re-
solve and act still.
While We feel that the most sacred of the priyate
and public rights which an American citizen NAV
enjoy have been violated in pure wantonness, we
record the fact and protest aims it more in
sorrow than surprise. 1t is but one more mile
stone in the nations downward road 1t is but one
new signal-light to wake and warn a slumbering
people to a realization of their duty and their
threatened fate. We shall endeavor maafuliy to
bear our part OF the fortunes of the storm-nru.
IDENTIFY, we trust, but unf;nehingly; and until the
pen is wrenched from our hand one press at least
IN New " DIRK shall dare to be free and to ppeak
without permit from the hand of arbitrary power.