The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1862-01-29
Censorshin Of the Press.

The attempt made In the ConIedeFate eouolee' "
muzze the press thereby gazing the people at large has
called forth the just indignation of almost every news
paper in the southern States. The New Orleans tres
cent an able advocate for southern secession, boldly
speaks out against the measure
1--WE published yesterday morning bill reported by
the military committee the provisional congress at
Richmond providing for surveillance of the press OF
the Confederate States alike humiating and distaste
full and contrary every principle which brought about
the present struggle for southern independence. At
the time, we looked upon it rather good joke-an
amusing cugiosity-and SO published it-hoping, and
in fact believing that some nveterate old fogy in the
military committee had insisted upon its presentation
As some of our contemporaries, however appear dis
posed to treat the matter seriously and to think there
is some earnest desire for its passage the part Of
members of congress- deem it our duty to the pub
lie to enter our solemn protest against the adoption OF
any such despotic and dangerous law"
1T is despotic because it suppresses the freedom of
speech and the press-becausei it is Lncolnism ntens
ed and it is dangerous because the Confederate gov
ernrnent no matter how strong it IS now, derives all
IDS strength from the confidence the people repose in
it, Withdraw that confidence and it would become as
weak as dishwater The Confederate troops will fight
and whip the additions to the crack OF doom, but they
will never consent to their own ensavement, much less
assist ID their own and their ellowcitizens abasement
and DEGRADATION and as it is with the army it is
with the people. 1t would be poor independence we
are struggling to secure-a wretched liberty are
4 ,:- il ,l,ta; N tl,a ycorst s,ecias If Iiproln
9''''0 ;,,..4t,.4 ,,t
lailauoislll T = u iois'eu =
atrocious measure could pass ne next step hatot5
2 HAT; 1g- ,,,l man
ooroto therein If every souherner who presumed to
1 .;aa. JILL. ;t+ III a,an,oab II
uttet a4 NoA02' 'eA-'t''e"' II"
to any high government Official! one Act q despot-
IN invariably leads to another unless the first is eff
e.u, rosis+o5 n H. haginnin, Tyranny knows M
80 u.
"lalh5 sup o"0A"'> 90 = = - r y
on compusloh
The eth section Of the act Of tile Confederate cons
..;, .ls +b,,s.
itelI a"il iiaAe u =" a.
estapISAheh, u iehsloH y r oh'ol'Hs Sue lleG =
erelse thereon oFaoflu5lh6 'e i'eeuoi u spsech y
Ct the press etc
Now before ten months elapses, we find the very
ro,iioaI CONGRESS which framed the constitution en-
,;, 3D. j; u;l .3 +,+ i,
ae"fo'in5 II "'e = " 80 go
PEOPLE had no voice on the adopting or inc framing
Of that constitution, OF in electing members to tn
f;,,al cor,craes An tbirrs yvrra thrust dawn til,
4 thfoatS u VIZ fhofAh'
The Richmond Dispatch has an excellent article OF
this subject, from which we extract as follows;
'The only circumstance that has staggered our belle
i'll the purity prevailing in the management Of this war
s this recent effort from the outside to prevail UpO
congress- under the pecous Pretense Of military expe
diency 70 establish military censorship OF the press
: To deny to the press its right Of speaking Of arm
movements On the number Of troops in this and tia
quarter and on the strategic policy or designs Of Oh
3 !
liberty to speak Of army affairs at ALL The particnla
2 time at which this proposition is made constitutes
verv strong objection the measures for when the pee
BE are beginning to inquire into the numerous alcgs
tons Of abuse that beset their ears it is not meet to d.
}, nrive them Of their mouth-piece and organ.
/ The cIamgr Of few military persons against th
press for its ouspeaking on the movements and tran
actions Of our armies, = quite pueFle and senseess-
!, The enemy's generals would be very weak indeed
they shaped their measures oF Vhe fe'elauon7 q -
+ southern press Ihey nave sources % luiotiiitio
. abundanty more expeditions &nG accurate thah ot
0 | newspapers. Mr. seward mas 2 corps o. hFea 8P'
DIGGING at the heels OF oar cluzehS N Europe. "a
any one beheye that me south i hot 50 !eu "lth y
emisSailesE Northern Journals seem " ucle ihlq,l
ton from the departments o. OUT government ~ ilic
Z mond when our own press nave 70 means q ooDi
ing. Are we q Pc hheI aha iH'PtESoht1 ior GoPSIh
complete lists q or military Persohhei IRON t1e Ne
r York HeraldE At tlme "heh one OF Two huhaFe
st persons are gong OF " W. AoE!u every "teh ah
! bearing Passpofsl ateF exercising te iAStst oerl
Of observation wMle mere 4 u 70 Pe charged 20 y
southern press that the enemy y u IT.! possession
!. all that occur: among u IL PF%ciees aIa eAiei
q ents Of despotlSn haeed v lo59onei! dP'S
IF AZ this time, TO tae RAJ cohVeyofs q oInao y Y
] enemy; Dut y "outA oe a. uhNlse y IN " n"tu
: despotlsm upon tne sacred person q lug litss a.
would 9e UNJUST % ihaAe u y acaPe5'"o' o' '0 -
e OF a much mere fePFt!iel9l2i9 MI = nII,
ri me press nave eAAoileo eolILnenu"D7 pL1oS
throughout the var on tl9 very Su'ec1 9: Pao'9iIi
intelligence 70 lhe enemy ~ I'LL ~ Pm y : L
a. sc catastrophe ta.'' ~ iesue" ioi II IL
y has often Deeh uhlsy accu5co' " " s;4IG =
" shown - every c7e tne !.Jua.:e anu ~
t from the aspcFslou9 ~ y eti.ios.
u VIII oe illl.a a :;
ana an ~ q e'li oiheli - ! III
ID resentahFeS OF " euls sou', y sLiLs
10 ehea as oe6'n - e''"P0i W. - P'''N . = "
D press
h. The Richmond Examiner has obtained copy OF Il
Us bill reported by the military committee an congress
Y establish surveillance over the press OF the Coined
ye racy. The bill provides that II sha not oe lawful
Il any person publish Or cause to be published II a
D. newspaper other printed publication intended !
is circulation, any information or communication GYM
as the number disposition movements or destination
n the land or naval forces OF the Confederate States
the description destination, cargo OF armament Of a
II anraI IN +hp q q T.