The Portland daily press., 1862-08-28
The Government and the Newspaper Cor
respondents,

The Boston Advertiser, in a well considered
and well written article on the subject referred
TO in the above heading, says ''the recent order
by Gen. Halleck for the exclusion of the news
paper correspondents from the camps of the ar
my ofVirgina is of course severely criticised
by some of those whose vocation Is thus de-
stroyed. 1t is an order, however, which in
our judgment the public are not in a position
TO criticise. The exigency calling for it was
one which the general had to judge for himself,
and few others can fully understand how far it
justified his action. As we have before ex-
planned, upon questions ofthis sort We are, for
our own part, disposed to allow wide discre-
ton to the officer who is called upon to act
and both our generals and the government ap-
pear to us upon the whole to be open to the
charge of allowing too free publication of mill
tary intelligence, rather than that of too close
restriction. Success in our military undertake
ings is stronger interest at present than ear
ly or full information as to their progress.
Those who have them in charge are the best
fitted to judge what it is prudent to withhold
from the public; and if they decide that there
is even chance of serving any useful purpose
by Withholding anything, they should be en-
couraged in taking the measures which they
thus find expedient.
In thus placing itself between the public and
the sources of information, however, the gov
ernment takes position which imposes upon
it new duty, and one which, we apprehend,
it is not now discharging so satisfactorily as it
might. To such information as can be pru-
denty published, the public have right. The
friends of those who are serving in the field,
their companions in arms on other fields, and
indeed every citizen who loves his country, has
a right to be relieved. as soon as this is possi-
Bile, from the narrowing anxiety which is oc-
casioned by imperfect knowledge of important
operations. Ordinarily the public attain this
relief from the press and secure it by the en-
couragement which is given for the speedy
publication of the news. If the government
find it necessary, as in the case of the army of
Virginia, to cut off this means of relief, it is
certainly bound to furnish some other channel
through which the public may obtain with
speed whatever is thought fit for publication.
The present relation of the government to
the people and the press is, in any view deli
cate one, and we do not know that it would be
complicated by this. We must add, however.
that it is not in all respects so delicateas seems
to be supposed sometimes. Especially is this
the case when the news of the day is of an un-
favorable cast. 1t need not be feared that the
public will not be dispifited or downeast by
any news of reverse, either temporary or sub
stantial. The temper Of the people has passed
that point where it is to be affected by such
influences to the detriment of the common
veal. Frankness need not now be feared, nor
does it require much policy to shape the news
properly for the public eye. Let the people
learn that the government is communicative
and truthful, when the general interest per-
mits it to reveal what is passing, and they will
see to it that nothing is lost by the generous
confidence thus displayed in the equanimity,
fortitude and steady courage ofour nation"