Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-06-25
The Press and the Army.

The Corinth correspondent of the .niss:ssippian
thus speaks of the recent order Of Gen. Bcauregard
excluding newspaper correspondents from his army:
at is believed by many that Gen. Beauregard
would not have issued this unjust and tyranical
der but for the swarm of butter flies who bask in
his presence, many of whom are volunteer aids,
officers whose merits have been overlooked by the
independent writers of the day. The truth is, the
characters to whom l allude arc the bane of tho
army. There is not General in the service who is
not surrounded by multitude of volunteer aids
youngsters who have wealthy parents, and who
have not the patriotism to enter the ranks and per-
form the duties of a true man and soldier Iaey
are pert, !nsolent and impudent; ride fine horses,
consume an immense amount of gold lace, and rem
der themselves generally dsagreeabls and ridicu-
lous. Nevertheless, Gen. Beaureeard is responsible
for the ORDER and will so be held by the country
and oy the historian.
The freedom of the press though guaranteed by
the fundamental law Of the land exists only in name
The military authorities have for some time claimed
and exercised the right TO inspect all Geographic
dispatches, and to prohibit their transmission over
the wires unless they such they saw fit to
approve. Not content with this stretch Of power,
they now issue peremptory order, completely
closing the door, and in effect destroying the news
paper press of the country. Will the people submit
to this un Unsuitable proceeding? Ought they to
submit to it? A few short months ago, Gen. Beau
regard was condemnins the Northern despotism for
the very thing he is now doing The Federal gov
eminent was guilty of the outrage of searching the
house of citizen without due process of law, sus-
pending the writ of habeas corpus, Selling private
property, destroying the liberty of the citizen and
exercising surveillance over the press which
amounted to virtual denial Of all freedom of thought
and opinion. The military authorities of the South
are following fast in the footsteps of the Infamous
fura fb,tp lordc anSlaVn6 DpOnta
beyond the Potomac, and that seeks to subugate us
to its ruiEous rule. We had hoped that it could
never be said of U.S. it has been of our enemies,
that freedom was incompatible with or success, and
that to achieve our liberties we must first become
slaves.
When correspondent or other person in the army
violates any of the rules adopted for its government
it is proper that he should be punished but this
| is no reason why the innocent should be made to
sufer-and especially the people, who have been
lavish of their means and their blood in support Of
our cause This war is the peoples war; their
sons and brothers make up the army, and their
MEANS and theirs alone, support and maintain it,
And shall they not be allowed to know anything
that is Transporting within that army? When Their
sons MANNED or slain in battle shall they not be
allowed to see list of the killed and wounded? Is
the army to be sealed book to the country? Even
In despotic France and monarchical England, lit
erary men have been encouraged to accompany theil
armies and to write freely of their movements; bu
II mas been reserved for America alone to place &
muzzle upon the press"
Inc Mobile Nsvs, speaking of this order of Gen
Beauregard, says:
I'VE rebel against Injustice whether it come
rom nostlie Abolition subjugator or Confederat
military authority. When our Generals stand il
need OF the potential influence and many.tonguet
voices OF the press to arouse the people to gifts
means and men to meet sudden emergencies the
do not hesitate to call freely upon it. and the call