Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-01-08

ing. and must be subnrdnated by il. We have sut
ficient Law now to afford all the security needed, G
as no one doubts public sentiment is with US, and
will enable us to enforce it and ii It is not no new
statutory enactment will be enforced The common
law of riot rout unlawful assembly, and cousplra-
cy enable you to take hold Of any parties whose
guilt may be dangerous; and the doctrine oil seof
tous libel is the same now that it was in 1907 when
Henry Crosswen was convicted Of a libel on Presi-
dent Jeferson-except that the truth of the matter
published is defence over and above this. Every
section of the State is accessible on brief notice oy
Railroad, and the military powernay be exerted with
effect on the first appearance OF nsurrection. Dur
Sir the whole scope of this ordinance is to give pro-
per defence and protection to the Confederate States
There are few explosives thrown in, in which the
State is mentioned but they seem only designed to
fill out sentence and give roundness TO periou.
Now what business is it Of ours to pass law TO
punish sedtion against the Confederate States any
more than punish the robbery OF its treasury OF
postoice or to punish piracy against It's SHIPS on
the sea? II there is to be such crime as seu''loh
against that government ought it not to be gener-
al crime punishable in Virginia, Tennessee, Ken
lucky and other States? And has not that govern
nent a Congress now in session for the third or
fourth time? Is it supposed that We are wiser than
they and are to usurp their functionsy 1t that
Congress has the propensity to copy what pre-
walls here they reed only turn to the administra-
law of that day, referred to by the gentleman from
Richmond (Mr. Leak.) 1t is very well drawn
statute much better than this ordinance. | say
this without disrespect to the committee for they
only profess to copy from the act of TIT. The
gentleman from Richmond made a slight error in
surprising this was the same with the sedition law
Of 1898. 1t is infinitely worse. Judge Chase had
decided and correctly too, that there was law of
the United States except what was enacted by sta
tute and therefore that there was law of libel to
protect its officers from the President downward
against any defamation whatever. That act was
consequently passed to punish by indictment libel
lous publications against them which would be indie
table fmade against other persons by the common law
allowing however the truth to be given in evidence
defence. Yet so distasteful was it to the pub
lie mind, and odious did it render its authors,
that after the lapse of half century, when all other
party issues Of that time forgotten, it still re-
mains in public recollection. But as restriction
on liberty, the liberty Of the press and Of speech,
it was nothing compared with this act which has
been exhumed from the oblivion in which it has lain
for eighty odd years. and which it is proposed to re-
witty, just it the day of its first enact
ment At that time the doctrine prevailed here as
well as in the northern country, of 1.-THE greater the
truth the greater the libel" So that if any man
shall publish and deliberately speak or write
against our public Defence" Uhs is one of the Of
fences it createS) no matter how true may be the
ing General fled vigorously from field of battle,
when victory within his grasp OF that from his
incompetency he sacrificed half his command with
out any conceivable object although it may be every
word true, the party who wrote or spoke thus must
be convicted.
If the Congress of the Confederate States desires
to try again the experiment of Scdition Law
of 1898 or to go back beyond it, and re copy old
penal statutes made to put down Papacy, or uphold
the prerogatives of royalty, the way is perfectly
open to them. But let us not render ourselves a
subject of merrment, by taking better Of that
government than it takes of ITSELF Let not stig
Matte our people by singing them out as peculiar
subjects for the operation of laws of this KIND Let
US not give just of offence to them, by show
ing distrust Of that elevated patriotism and una
nimity with which they are sustaining their cOun-
try in this her hour of trial Let us abandon this
measure impolitic it is insulting, oppressive
and unjust. | ask the yeas and nays on the ques-
ton of its indefinite postponement