The Chattanooga Daily Rebel. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1862-1864, 1862-11-09


efty. We do not thin TX that the public press
Of the country SHOULD ever indulge in de-
nunciation or abuse of public officers, sifier
civil or military; but a fair and judieiouE
criticism of public officers and pubic meas
ure, is right and proper We know i II
sometimes said that nothingshould bd said
or done to impair confdepee in the Gsneiii
ais appointed to command our armies.
Whilst we admit that, as gencralrple,
everything SHOULD be done to strengthen
our confidence in our rulers, both civ and
military, ye. there may be errorr-lhere
may be abuses which it IS not only the right
but the duty of the public press, both 10
notice and to censure Any other doctrine
would establish an absolute dsspotism l
We d. not know that officers in the army
occupy any higher position or arc entitled
to any more considerat ton than the silic.rs
of the civil government. We have AZ much
right to criticise the onduet of Gepsral,
and to condemn abuses, if any exist; As We
have. To- criticise the conduct of the Ptesi-
dentIahd his Cabinst, Or the action Of MEM
bsrs Of Congress In regard TO oil otirsrs
We should exercise the utmost prudepcel.ni
caution in speaking .f1 their actions, but ,s
the sam. time we should never lose sisHt Of
the interests of our country, in ordeI to
screen public officers, ithsr sivil or mill
tary 1t affords US ma eli more pleasdrsits
pr.is. than to censure, though there are
some things of which bur conscience End
our sense 81 duty to tile country will pet
permit US 10 approve If ineonlpete1ey;
stupidity, drunkenness or reckless disrs
gard Of heIlives, health and comfort Of put.
soldiers, or.of the civil, political. and sseisl.
rights Of our citizens cannot be alluded to
by thespubIic press, then indeed is our free
dom mere nan.ss We Ar. happy e BET
lievo that most Of our Generals and high
public fuuctionaries are disposed to DO tAeif
duty--,heir whole duey-to the coupErys
and whilstta.sliug against a lrrsn..ic. Ifss
ar. an1iau. motto ia.erfefe ri thsris 4f9
Of the citizen. OF the rtisileses of. taeI kb.lH
der any ,iudrc tb.e j. : F..nti-l he psfEfll
welfare We are in fsyor of HtF.ei dps |
5frline IL ihs army. lJ.iis,iss .hat i. i. Efsl
for the ou,Afert snl willard q tl4 n.aE 81
we'll as esseuti. to the success Of sur lsals
I,shenerer Il become. u.ces.ary 10 abyE ".
The rights Of the citizen for the eonEE1.s
good, vo .isk it ought to ,. don. knl
every act Of p.t,y tyranny,Jvhieh !. 81 u9l
ssc to any sns, We DO not and Il e.sr vi 4
sanction F 4.
Soldiers or subordinate officers are not .l-i
lowed to criticise the conduct &c their sp.
perior officers, because this would be a rFb-4
l.tion Of the military discipline 30 ss...tE4l
to the well being of eur army; aad IF Gill Il
z,ns are not allowed to-exprsSs th.Ft opia-
ions when things are going v7rong, and he
public press is to be trausnelied b.chus. de
editors are nbtf in the army, then indesd |
there is no rafeguard' against abuses, boil
matter how glaring. In Great Britain, sipee
the days Of lst and I'd Charles, AID
Of James II, the doctrine never has ben
advanced, that any public officer. rhcthIdt
military or civil, wa. above public etiticishi
The King or Queen, alone could not bel
spoken unexpectedly Of, but his or her
Cabinet coupAelors, prime minister Or mdst
prominent Generals, have all been liable Itn
the criticism II the public press This Eas
been the case evea in constitutional meln-
archy, in time of war as well as Of pestd
How much more should this be the case lib
a Republic which is founded upohIputlie
opinion, and intended to protect the rigHtI
aad liberties Of the people. ST.
Any other policy would lead to an ulnr
mitigated despotism. The following or4eE
was issued BY certain General Van DoH1 !,
for whom we meyer have Entertained aht
admiration
If any editor or publisher of a new spabkt
shall publisher copy into his newspap per ahD
article calculated to impair Confidence il, diI
of the commanding officers whom the Prski-
dent may see fit to place over the troops sllth
editor or proprietor shall be subject TO hse st4
inprisonment, and the publication Of sdf4
paper shall be thereafter suspended. Is
This would lead to absolute tyranny, abb
would be establishing over the people %
Austrian despoti,u Whilst W. make thdlf
remarks, sontending for the liberty of iHsfl
speech, We at the same time think all elliE
tors Of newspapers, las we'll as member.pF.
Congress, should bs cautious aud careful Hill
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