The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1862-01-24
The Censorship Of the Press. Small
DOE in Washington.

The special correspondent Of the New York
Times, under date OF January l6, writes TO that
paper as follows:
On the evening of the battle Of Bull Run,
the editor oi the Tim's was prohibited by the
Washington telegraph censorship from sending
true account to his paper Of that ca'amltous
affairs, The people through out the Moth
were left twenty-tour honrs to believe he, and
rejoice 10 victory, while the army was dis
gFaced and Washington was overrun with panic
stricken iugtives. Fom that day to this, the
censorship has been marked by the same absurd
resistance OF truth which brings ii INTO pub
lie contempt. Two nights since, fol Instance,
attempted TO telegraph to the Times that there
were eighty cases of smallpox in the Govern
ment Hospital, and that there " as considerable
anxiety in the city ON the subject. Whether
it was considered that that morsel OF niorma-
ton would induce Beauregard to come on and
take the city, or that it would demoraze the
Union army, or depIecIaie the Government
credit, hinder ih, National Loan, weaken the
arm OF the Administration, or disturb our for
eign relations, cannot say. But do know
that for some wise reason my despatch was for
bidden to go.
But The s,oppage Of the Information did not
stop the spread Of the smallpox strange as 1t
may seem 10 the Government Gems )rship. Pei
hapS dozen uckless persons have fallen VIC:
Tins to .he disease, who might have been warn
ed and saved by my despa'ch. This morning
the Washington Republican publishes the iol-
loving statement, which, Of course, is entirely
lawful and tight:
SmALL-Pox.-Thi loathsome, infectious dis
&c ti.r rrbr istr rtr of
Columbia, and in certain sections Of the city ra-
ges with more than ordinary vrulence. The
northeastern portion oil .he city seems to be the
locality where its -avages are most extensive
and most fatal. Some portions of the island
are also very much infected with the disease !;
but it is among the Irish population in Swan
poodle and on English HILL that the most cases
occur. We ware informed by one OF the Met
rLpolian police that on his beat, in that local
ty, there are upwards of 80 smallpox cases.
While upon this matter let me add another
illustlatoe of the discriminating vigilance of
the Government censorship. Last week tried
to telegraph to the Times some facts n relation
to the "lra Harris" Cavalry; among others,
that they would 60 into "winter quarters IN
their present camp. That fatal remark kill
ed the despatch. 1t conveyed information
OF ga military movement" to the Confederates.
Blu! mark the counterpart. Four days ago a
despatch was sent from Cairo TO St. Louis, sa-
ting that " sixty thousand men were congrega-
ting :here," end in s'six days" would depart for
Nashville, Tenn, by way ot the Cumberland
and Tennessee rivers From St. Louis, the des-
patch was sent to New York, Baltimore and
Washington, and published il all the papers
Ere twenty-iour hours had passed the inlorma-
ton was doubtless in Richmond, Nashville,
Memphis and Columbus. This was all leg
Itinate ; the enemy " as advised Of the iinm1-
dla'e march of a great army, right under The
nose otlAe Government, while censorship was
busy drawing veil over the movement OF the
regiment OF The Ira Harris Cavalry. Is no:
this truly day of small things?