Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-06-11
THE LIBERTY OF THE PRESS.

meeting of Editors of Newspapers in the city of New
York held at the Astor House Monday afternoon
to consider the subject Of the nature, extent and right
full limitations any Of the public journalists to crtcise
the conduct of the Government time OF and civil
COW ulsOn"
Mr. HORACE GREELEY, of the Tribune, was elected
Chairman and Mr. ELoN CoMsTocK of the Argus, chosen
Secretary.
Among those present w. c. Prime, journal of
Commerce; Mr.. r c. Horton, Caucasian; Mrssrs. VIM.
Caldwell and Horace p. Whitner, of the Sunday Mer-
curry Horace Greeley, Of the Tribune, j. B. Beach,
Anson Heirck, Atlas; Rev. Dr. Prime, Observers p j.
Meehan, Irish American Mr. Ottendofr Stats Zeung
John Clancy Leader Theodore T"n indsgsndent
Scientific American; NJ. 8. Isaacs, Jewish Messenger;
James Brooks Express.
Mr. Brooks of the Express, stated the object of the
meeting in brief remarks after which Mr. Greeley
offered series Of resolutions, when the following gentle
men appointed committee TO consider the resou-
ons and report the result of their deliberations the
meeting: Mr. Brooks, Mr.. Tllton, and Mr. Prime. On
notion the Chairman and Mr.. OttendoHer added to
the committee.
when the resolutions Unanimously adopted, after
some amendments, as follows
Whereas the liberty and rights of the press, affected
by the existence and necessities Of state of war; and
especially of civil war; topics of the highest public
concern; and
where's recent events indicate the existence of grave
misa and amenabe confusion of ideas with
regard to this vital question; Therefore,
Res0tUd That conceptions Of the rights and duties
of the press in Of CONFUSION and public peril like
the present briefly summed up in the following propo-
stOns:
1--WE recognise and affirm the duty of fidelity to the
Constitution Government, and laws Of country
high moral well political obligation resting every
cit zen, and neither claim fir ourselves concede
others any exemption from it's requirements privilege to
evade their sacred and binding force
80 That treason and rebellion by the funda-
mental law of this every other country and
else so culpab abhorrent as in repub where each
has equal voice and vote in the peaceful and legal
ton of public affairs.
%. While we thus emphaticay dsclam and deny any
right inherng nasts hers to invite advocate
abet uphold justify treason or belon we respectfully
but firmly and maintain the right of the press
crtcise freely and earessy the acts of those charged
with the administration Of the Government also those of
all their civil aud military subordnates whether with in
tent directly to greater energy efficiency and
fidelity in the public service, order to achieve the
ends remotely through the substitution of other per-
for those in power.
"a That any limitations Of this right created by the
necessities of should be confined to localities wherein
h0stities actually exist, imminenty threatened ;
md deny the right of any military officer to suppress
the ssues bid the circulation journals printed
hundreds of miles from the seat Of war"
resolution adopted authorizing the President and
Secretary to forward copies of the resolutions to the Pre-
sden of the United States and to the members OF the
Cabinet Before doing however, they requested
to call upon the editor of each newspaper not represented
at the meeting and obtain bis signature if possible to the
resolutions. The meeting then adjourned.