, 1862-02-27


cannot doubt We are glad to know that |
publishers are to be put under bonds for |
the Observance Of a more patriotic caution. |
We ere willing to submit to tile inconve-
nienccs Of censorship, though they are
many; and were the Secretary's action
without the warrant Of law-if he derived !
his authority only from the war power
vested in the President By the Constitution,
to put down the rebellion at all hazards
we should be ready to sustain and defend
what has been done. We are for straining |
that power to the uttermost, where its IN |
vocation is necessary, to defeat the rebels,
and, as good citizens and loyal men, we
cannot complain have no disposition to
complain-when we are made to feel that
private rights must sometimes give way be-
fore the pressure Of 4 great public ncccs-
sity, the growth Of imminent public dan
ger If demanded By the Union cause, the
whole IR1BrsE establishment is at the
Governments disposal, and its editors, who
believe that they have done good service
IN warning, snimating and Strengthening
the hearts and hands Of the people in their
loyal work, viii exchange the pen for the
muskct, and join the ranks Of those who
do loyal service in the field
We say this, however, upon tic assump-
lion that the order Of the Secretary Of War
is not to have an exact and lite1al i1tcrpre-
tatioE-t1,at the publication Of Ct military
news" not dangerous to the loyal cause,
will not subject the publisher to ruin, and
that the matter Of censorship is to be con
fded to men Of fairness and sense, who
will not use it for the annoyance and pecu-
mary loss Of the journals that they may
dislike. AS The order stands, it is sweep
ing and prohiitoy. Tic publication Of "a
paragraph, not authorized by the War De-
partment or by some General IN the field,
saying that Captain Smiths or Captain
Joaess company has this day changed
their quarters from Camp Douglas to
Camp Butler, could, By q narrow read
ing Of the text. subject the TRIBUNE
10 a heavy loss, and. its thirty thousand
subscribers 10 annoyance which neither
they nor we should be willing to bear, and
which they and We would regard as the
Inauguration of despctis,n more intoler-
able than anything that Austria or Naples
las ever known. 4 censor at Cairo or
Washington, hating the TRIBUNE and its
principles, and willing to prostitute his
Office to the qualification Of a petty revenge,
could do US more injury in !. month than
would be caused by burning our printing
house to the ground. 4 letter from one OF
our Kentucky, Washington, OF North Caro-
Ina correspondents, in itself innocent,
hut uDafrroved by the commanding Geu-
c1a1, might exclude our paper from our
= country subscribers for month, OF as long
as arbitrary power might demand But
We have no idea that it is the intention OF
wish Of the Secretary Of War to cause rex
alton to publishers or readers We ASSUME
that he is laudab1y anxious to cut off from
the rebels the information which
may prejudice the Federal caus4
by falling into their hands AND, in tho
effort, We are willing to second him by al
the means in our power He knows th,
value Of the service which the Pres
Of the country has rendered to til
loyal cause; and We are mistaken
in the man--in his love for liberty
his firnnness and his fine sense of jus
ticc-f he is TO become the instrument b,
which that press is to be muzzlcd "
could wish that the language Of the ordc
had been less comprehensiye-that the Sex
rotary had 1nadeexeeptions in favor Of mil
tarynews t1,at relates topast eTents-that b
had indicated the manner in which, an
the hepersors by whom, the censorship is t
be exercised but We must Judge Of Il,
new measure BY tlre manner in which it
executed, 1cEcrying to ourselves, in bella
Of ou1 e1pectant readers, the right to mai
vigorous re1nocstrsncc the mone1
it becomes oppressive or is pro
TINTED to ossc purposes By private mali
nifty.
It's not probable that the censorship vi
be long maintained. We are upon the er
Of great oSnts- TIE expectations
months is, we hcrc, about to be realized
glorious deeds The meaning Of i
mighty preparations Of the year is to
demonstrated We know not where Il
blow is 10 fall Il IS not proper tn
we should give Cur conjectures to the pm
lic- But, few weeks will e1apse before u
power Of the rebellion for mischief, exec
in It's secondary effects upon the doushfac
Of The Nc,th, will be broken. At such
time, wben lie whole Of the energies
the Republic arc to be conce
tEated for giant blows upon t
enemy-whcn an indiscreet reyelati
might 1rar plan, or when single d
patch might ruin q campaign -shc nee
sity for Iea:ccnce is imperative, and Il
Necessity VIC. gladly obey! No doubt t
order Will be severely. criticised
that publishers who. have not, I
holy eause foremost in their hopes a
enoeayoss, will make it the text for ma
hon.5lies on the despo'1sn1 Of the Admin
tratson and the incoming Of arbitrary q
irresponsible power. But NC are not
those; hence declare our content.
Our readers need not fear Il
tie TRIBUNE will lose any part
its interest by this extension Of |
power Of : the Government over :
matter which will appear in lis colum
Ever since Eul Run, the censorship o
Tie telegraph hes been kept up with a
gree Of 1isidiry that has sometimes appea
unnecessary, and, e! Washington, fri
lous- But it has not prevented the tra
mission Of inte1lig gcnce which should b
been given 10 the public; and it is not y
probable that the same authority. exten,
over Tie letters Of correspondents, will
sen their real interest or yalue. Let us :,
that the Secretary TO whom we owe the
der, will make such quick work " it'll
rebels that newspapers may shortly ret
to thsic accustomed ways, without off
interference or danger from cpauletied
tbority. :
The National T:a5lroad Convent
The result Of the reccEt National Con
tion Of Railroad 7ff.nas:rs In cons1lts
with the Government officials to prepare