The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1862-09-05
Censorship Of the Press.

Censorship Of the Press.
A free press has always been considered
appointment characteristic of a republican
form Of government, and this feature,
more than any other, has entered largely
into the elements that have knit together
the frame work of that Union which, for
years. has been gathering power, until
it has excited the wonder of mankind,
and called forth the bitter jealousy of
the crowned heads of the old world An
untrammeled press, free from. govern
mental censorship. was the pride and
glory of that :" Union" under which we
prospered. Itwas the distinguishing mark
by which our free institutions were known
to differ from those where absolute des-
potic power reigned supreme, OF where a
semi-monarchical system of government
held check upon the expression of
thought, as given to the world by means
Of the press. Indeed, up until the dawn
of this rebellion, the greatest license was
given 10 the press; and the only laws
controlling its action, were those insti-
tuted by Legislative enactments, which
gave to those who felt themselves wrong
ed by its publications, the right of seek
ing redress by procedure in our courts of
civil jurisdiction. The strong arm of the
Federal Government, however, was never
before in the whole history of our coun-
try, we believe, put forth for the pur-
pose Of muzzling the press, until within
the past year. That public necessity
existed, growing out of the circumstances
in which the government found itself
placed by the magnitude of the rebellion
Ito put some restrictions upon the pub
location of certain army movements--on
matters connected with the plans Of the
War Department-we freely admit; nor
do we suppose that the American press,
would, for one moment, have complained
of such restrictions. if the lever of op-
preston had not been pressed upon them
with heavier hand.
The War Department, whom we hold
responsible for the Inauguration of this
new feature in our times of the Republic,
was careful in its first steps to hide be-
hind the cry that +" the public welfare
demanded such course" its real inten-
tion in the future. Thus, by degrees. the
usual courtesies extended TO members
of the press began to be abridged, the
facilities hitherto afforded them of col
lecting news for publication was cut off,
and in the progress of a twelvemonth the
order comes excluding reporters entirely
from the lines of the army. and prohibit
ing, under heavy penalties. the commu
nication of any facts pertaining to the
condition of the army, to any person not
connected with it, by either officers or
privates. Thus the usual budget of news
from the different divisions of the army,
which was served up by our city dailies,
and which we were wont to devour eag-
erly ere partaking of our morning meal,
was taken from us. Not satisfied with
this. in our opinion, high-handed mea-
sure, by which the people were kept in
the dark in reference to the progress Of
the war and the prospects of subduing
the rebels, and liable to be imposed upon
by sensational rumors, of great battle
fought, victory won or lost, the War
s Department or its agents have taken the
responsibility of prohibiting the news
paper Offices from giving to the people
the little reliable news they may from
time to time be in the reception Of, by
putting it upon their bulletin-boards. If
the press is to be trammeled by such
dsspotic orders. and its freedom abridged
by military censorship, then may we
well fear for the Liberties of the people,
aud look forward with dread to the future,
as being pregnant with evils to the Re-
public.
A fettered press implies nothing more
nor less than despotism. 1t accords
with lhe objects and views Of such form
of government, and when in the history
of any free government the time arrives
that those in power, in order to carry for
ward any plan, find it necessary to place
stringent restrictions upon the press, thus
shutting out from the people knowledge
Of governmental proceedings. we think
there is danger to be apprehended
from the Capitalization of power in the
few, and the people should, in justice to
their own rights, demand that such an
assumption of power should cease to
exist.
We can see nothing to be gained to the
cause of the Union in thus shutting of
all communication with the army. The