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

We call the attention Of our military authori-
ties to the news coilated from late Northern
newspapers, AM published IN our issue of to-
day. 1t viii be seen that the Federal press
finds no difficulty in procuring intelligence from
the South. This VIII continue to be the case
so long as our military authorities grant pass
ports to persons who desire to enter and leave
our lines.
A great deal is said about the imprudence Of
the Confederate press. Wise men " dressed up
in a little brief authority seldom take up a
Southern paper in which their censorious eyes
do not discover something worthy Of cOndemna-
ton and reproof We are told not TO publish
anything relating to our own movements, n-
less we find it in a Northern paper.
The utter absurdity of the rule adopted in the
Confederate army is SO patent, that we wonder
even army officers have not discovered it before
now. We do not claim that Southern newspa-
pers should publish any thing that would give
the enemy valuable information, or that they
should speak Of movements Of an important
character while they are being executed. But
what we do complain Of is tie stupid rule
which requires the press to keep silent, ana yet
admits our enemies to come into and pass out Of
our lines upon the mere asking Of d passport
So long as this practice obtains, there viii be no
necessity for Federal officers to look TO the South
ern press, already in a manner muzzled, for in
formation of military movements. Our officers
and government have provided them with a
- ---a- HaE- 1al Eaa~ NAV Lrr-a gHn
traitors IN disguise, not native and TO the manor
born, all through the South, and the Federal
officer has only to select q SPY who knows one
of these domestic traitors, and who viii endorse
Tor his good character, This done, the man ap-
plies for a passport, which is handed to him in
the most obiging manner and thereupon tine
spy enters our lines, travels up and down Our
railways, lodges at our crack hotels, visits our
foundres and ship yards, ascertaius what works
are in process Of completion, and the position
and strength Of cur forces, c0utsrs freely
with domestic enemies, and takes notes of what
he sees and hears. Having completed his work,
he applies for leave to return, which is also
granted him with much ccmllaisanco. And
thus the enemy Procures real ugws-imPortant
iufOrmation-iudeed. all be wants.
While all this is going on under the very
eyes Of cur military authorities, and by their
permission, the Southern press as regarded with
suspicion, and surrounded with restrictions at
war with the spirit and letter of the Constitu-
ton, and in defiant disregard Of the genius Of a
free people. I
We have heard Of economists who saved at
the spiggot while tiev vested at the buug.
The same wise principle seems 70 have been i'm
ported into our military service. Officers are
very careful to watch the newspaper spiggots
lest some few drops Of coutrubaud news
may trickle therefom; ~ lille their passport sys-
TEN leaves the bung hole so wide open that a
fuIl-grown SPY may pass in and out.
Not another permit should be given under any
circumstances, to any person, either to pass out
Of our lines or to come into them. Until this
shall be done, the enemy will find but little diff
fculty in procuring all the information he may
desire.