Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-03-04

The press-1nuZz ing bill which was brought
before Congress some weeks since, 1t is true,
was voted into defeat by the good sense OF
that body, and afterwards unceremoniously
spurned by the President in bis Inaugural mes
sage, vet tie narrow-minded and Iliberal spirit
Of bigotry which begat it still lives in the minds
OF portion of the people of this Confedersey.
We find it manifested ia q Disposition to claim
for Goverumeu5al tunetona-ies-nere servants
of the peopIe-and for military officials in the
field, sscred immunity from journalistic cIiti-
cism aud popular cansu-e, however pslpable
may be their 0iunders, or however heinous their
crimes.
This dsugerou, doctrine Is too similar to the
old British dogma that the King can DO no
wrong, ever to receive encoursg ement among
q free republican people. One Of the evils Of
srousire martial spirit SO universal as that
now Jiffased among the masses in both the
United States and the Confederate States, is It's
tendency TO discard the iardy forms Of civil jus
tioe and Transform the government IN effect 70 q
military one. This is dona gradually and al
most imperceptibly, until epaulettes and gold
lace, originally clothed with a little brief an
thori:y, Ike AARoN's rcd, swallow up all the
rest"
Hence the necessity Of preserving checks and
balances between the military and civil de-
partmeuts-and ever keeping in view the re-
sponsi5ility Of officials Of every character TO the
sovereign Pc PIE. whose war Ills emphsticaLly
is-uho originally inaUgurated and are now
carrying II on. furnishing adequate sinews for lis
vigorous maintenance.
The press does not foolishly assume to criticise
any profoundly strategical movement made by
ouc generals, or to say when they shall advance,
fch< OF tall back-whers shall be their lines Of
defenss, or the wings Of their army. But il
does claiLs the right TO publish TO the country his
torical facts zs1hout regard to whose reputation,
a. strategist :. q general, they may prove
detrimental One province Of the press is to
chronicle the great events cf the age, AID il
there be certain logical Sequences following from
these events which justify censuTe, tSe-e IS no
remedy for it. We regard tsis course, indeed,
ss the highest duty Ct Che jouralsi-ss not less
necessary to the preservation Of his own inde-
- .-.L IS a.
penoence sIo a-sui'y AiiaN ~ aus '-'''- " 20
tory and the safety Of the commonwealth Inc
,orpt, as,.-,,t rs-r.a ,he rr6sscton Of lis hber-
-. 49, t..4-. .,4t.,- .,,-,, ~ military Iea5.
l'5s -- '''7
ers wlthou. holding taem % 8 Slilc' Heco u'i ID
bilitv fol abusing their trusts, either Though
s,,l,-c-I;t- .....r.rstaner ar NEGLIGENCE. The
- 80 - ,,.,,,ls
pres 'e.o Au-A -i.7
Inc 4sT Orleans Detfa' AliuaiAgt9 tIs c7A-
sure fraesd u1un neEspa1e-s By military men
s-.-....- .,.;,,-.- ,i.,- are sanaalsssIv s1-
iol 'le
lsged 70 nave o-ie ol e1'-s7' 5Ay9
The press has zen iaeeszantiy, for the las'
SIX months waning tha people OF the gigantic
preparttions Of th- enemy TIE press bitterly
Tebake,i the fetal secr u which Jed 70 the tall
o. Hat7e7as ana Fort feys Lee press, Iron ron
- - - - nrge ,D5f -5e Dea,e ard bs
gove5l-sss,.. d. -lPo1.lc- Of P-ong, measures
to ne h-u e1 15ctUaAy where experience aas
provo lin = - -.2 y, ,'.l.
s-1Tv irf3 Inter quarters at s t'ms wien Die