Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-01-08

ing and must be subordinated BY it. We have suf-
6cient hw BOW to afford oil the security needed, II.
Is no one doubts, public sentiment IS with u, and
will enable to enforce t-and il ii is not, no new
statutory enactment will be enforcsd The common :
law of riot rout unlawful assembly aud conspira-
cy enable you to take, hold Of any parties whose
guilt may be dangerous; and the docirine Of sedi'
tious libel is the same now that it was in 1909 when
Henry Crossweli was convicted of libel on Presi-
dent Jeferson-except that the truth Of the matter
published is defence over and above this. Every
section of the State saccessibe on brief notice by
Railroad, andthemAitary powermay be exerted with
effect on the first sppearanceof nsurrection. But,
Sir the whole scope Of this ordinance is to give pro-
per defence and protection to the Confederate States
There few explosives thrown in, in which the
State is mentioned but they seem only designed to
fill out sentence, and give roundness to period
Now what business is it Of ours to pass a law to
punish sediton against the Confederate States any
more than punish the robbery of its treasury or
postof6ce. to punish piracy against its ships on
the sea :! II there is to be such crime as setiltion
against that government ought it not to he gener-
OIL crime, punishable in Virginia, Tennessee, Ken
lucky and other States? And has not that govern
ment Congress now in session for the third or
fourth time !? Is itsupposed thatwe are wiser than
they and are to usurp their functions 1t that
Congress has the same propensity to copy what pre-
walls here, they reed only turn to the administra-
ton of the elder Adams and re-enact the sedition
law Of that day, referred to by the gentleman from
Richmond, (ir Leak.) 1t is very we'll drawn
statute, much better than this ordinance. | say
this without disrespect to the committee. for they
only profess to copy from the act of l777. The
gentleman from Richmond made slight error in
suppOsing this was the same with the sedition law
of 1885, 1t is infinitely worse. Judge Chase had
decided and correctly too, that there law of
the United States except what was enacted BY sta
tute and therefore that there was no law of libel to
protect its officers from the President downward
against any defamation whatever. That act was
consequently passed to punish by indictment libel
lous publications against them which would be indie
table ifn ade against other persons by the common Law
allowing, however, the truth to be givenin evidence
as defence. Yet so dstasteful was it to the pub
lie mind, and SO odious did it render its authors,
that after the lapse of half century, when all other
party issues Of that time forgotten, it still
mains in public recollection. But as a restriction
liberty, the liberty Of the press and Of speech,
it was as nothing compared with this act, which has
been exhumed from the oblivion in which it has lain
for eighty odd years. and which it is proposed to
vivify just as it was the dag Of its first enact
ment At that time the doctrine prevailed here as
well as in the northern country, of 1.-THE greater the
truth the greater the libel" So that il any man
"shall publish and deliberately speak write
against public defence" Qhis is of the Of
fences it creatcs) no matter how true may be the
matter written or spoken, such as that command
ing General fled vigorously from field Of battle,
when victory was within his grasp, or that from his
incompetency he sacrificed half his command with
out any conceivable object although it may he every
word true the party who wrote or spoke thus, must
| be convicted. -
If the Congress Of the Confederate States desires
to try over again the experiment of Scdition Law
of 1898, or to 60 back beyond it, and re.copy ole
penal statutes made to put down PaIacy, or uphold
the prerogatives of royalty, the way is perfect,
open to them But let US not render ourselves
subject Of merrnent, by taking better care of thai
government than 1t takes of ITSELF Let not stig
lnatize our people by singing them out as pecula,
subjects for the operation of laws Of this kind. LIE
US not give just of offence to them, by show
ing distrust of that elevated patriotism and uha
nimity with which they are sustaining their coun
try in this her hour of trial. Let us abandon THU
measure as impolitic, as it is insulting, Oppressive
and unjust. ask the yeas and nays on the ques
ton Of its indefinite postponement.