The daily bulletin. [volume] (Winchester, Tenn) 1862-1863, 1862-09-30
From the Chattanooga Rebel.
The importance Of the Press in
Time of War.

The importance OF the Fress In
Time Of War.
The Hon. o. R. Singleton, of Mississippi,
in u speech in the House of Representatives Of
.he Confederate States, on the Exemption bill,
aid: 'Pass this bill, and at every cross-road
will spring up q newspaper, with its corps of
EDITORS and printers.
We have no desire to speak of the motives
which would call forth such an expression
from u Member Of Congress- class of men
whom the people expect to speak and act from
the dictates Of Thought. We do not desire to
waste words In the refutstion of so groundless
an assertion. II the spirit of Zollicoffer, of
Tennessee, Seymour of Louisiana, John Mar
shall, OF Texas, Jennings Wise, of Virginia,
Lomax OF Alabama, and q host Of other great
editors OF the South who have sealed with
their blood on the field of honor the principles
they advocated with pen and sword, could
arise from the dead, and stand before the hon
orable gentleman, the rebuke would be sufi-
cient to palsy the tongue that uttered such o
calumny. And we ventur, the assertion that
the statistics Of the army will show that more
practical printers are embraced in its ranks, in
proportion to the whole number of printers in
the Confederate States, than among the repre-
sentatives of any other class. Printers have
always been among the first TO tender their
services to tho country in the hour of tribula-
ton. In times of peace q large proportion of
them are congressman, Senators, or State Leg
~islators, and serve the country by accepting
such offices as the Hon. o. r. Singleton now
holds; but in time of war then are mostly
sohliers-all Of them, in fact, who are capable,
physically, to bear arms. Is is difficult now
to publish a paper without having printers de-
tailed from the army.
1t is related of our army. during tho Next
can war, that the General, desiring to have his
orders published, and not having a roll show
ing the former occupation of the men under
his command, instructed his adjutand to give
the command while on parade, "All printers
to tho front and centre, march! whereupon,
an average OF every tenth man in the line
stepped to the front.
The Importance of the Press in time of war
to the spirit Of the army is incalculable 1t
is, as one OF our contemporaries observes, 'the
only source OF communication between the
Government and the people, and were it ST.
fenced, las the Senate and House propose, J
would leave these wise bodies themselves
practically rs voiceless as the grave" To the
Government and the people it is as indispensa-
BILE as Ito use a crude SMILEY steam is to a boat.
1t Is the medium through which all abuses are
exposed, their authors brought to light, and
the remedy pointed out. The Press is the
bright light ut the Prov of the ship of State
that discovers to the pilot the breakers ahead.
1t is the inspiring power that nerves our sold
iers to gallant and chivalrous acts. 1t is the
chronicle that records their brave deeds, and
hangs out the motto of ''emulation" to the I'M
tried soldier following in their footsteps. To
II, IN q great measure, is to be attributed the
daring and enthusiasm that characterizes our
army. a united Press is Synonymous with n
united people. Were we to cnumerate the
benefits the Press confers on the Government,
the army and the people, we might fill II
newsp' per. ltisdevoted almost entirely tOthe
promotion OF enlistments in the army, to army
orders for the government Of all cities and
towns under military rule; to advertisements
OF proposals for supplying the army with food
and clothing; to the founding of every kind of
manufactures that will develop the resources
OF the country, and conduce to the welfare and
efficiency Of the army, and it is the potent pow
er that fans into life every enterprise that has
for its object the good of the country. To the
people, the wives and children, the fathers and
sisters OF our soldiers in the field, the newspa-
per is as a we'll in a desert. The benefits Of a
free press, and its usefulness to the soldier, the
citizen, and the very existence of the govern
ment itself, must be apparent to the commonest
mind. And If, tomorrow, the entire Press OF
the Confederate States was silenced, on the
sam day-aye, even in the same hour-would
DC heard the united voice ofthis young nation
crying aloud '4et there be light."
. PRINTER.
ga
An army correspondent of the Rich.
mond Dispatch, writes: