Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1863-06-13
The Adm snistrasiOn and Gen.
TBurnsidetS Policy.
Consistency is a Jewell.

1t is useless 10 deny that the Admin
istration stands before the country in
very awkward position, in relation TO its
policy with regard TO speakers and the
Press in Gen. Burnside's district.
Gen. Burnside undertook to suppress
reasonable uttcrances by the speakers
nud tie papers in his district. 1t was
delicate ard difficult business, but if any
man could Go it, that man was General
Burnside. A lifelong demecrat-a sol
der 81 PROVEN courage and abili.y-a
man of unquesiioncd patriotism and in
tegrity; the country had confidence in
him. and none doubted that his motives
we're pure, and his sole aim TO promote
lis couniry's good.
Reasoning that tho reasonable mani
f.s.ations which filed his district, were
TIE legitimate fruits Of the teachings of
coiperhead speakers and Presses-that
tie welfare Of tie country demanded
the suppression Of these; he suppressed
them. Presses were closed; ValIandig
ham was sent into exile, aud the Admin
is;rat;ou endorsed the policy.
A few DAYS since. he laid his hand on
tie Chicago Trmes-the most pcstilent
and the mos, influential of all the semi
traitorous sheets in the North. The SOL
d.crv t,,k possession Of the Office, and
suppressed il ~ I:eatiou. This bold
strike woke a Wild excitement. Every
coppcrLe 4 II the North, Kissed with
rage, anl many true and loyal men fear
u! tl.at The act was uuwiSe-an uncalled
trr interference With tie liberty Of the
PIs,s. Tie President, either convinced
Il tie error, or fearful If tic conseiuon-
cc<. revoked the order, and tie Times
eocs -, cSu..ing and crppcrheads shout.
Tietgry.
Naw this question Of the suppression
ii di>ioyai utterfhtes became an impor
,,., oas N Gen. Buras,ie's district, and
What rs I.smc lie Administration for,
Is. HAT ii ii, not MIXTURE policy, give
is Instruction., 10 Gen. Burnside, and
:aen faithfully carry ont that policy
Ours have been Kicked for ,l;sloyaI yelps,
lut tie big dog IS allowed to s. en- tic
"rami see"
We should lave been content with
whatever policy tie President had chos-
On to adopt. Ii he had thought best to
let traitors and fooIsraIk and print Their
treason anu folly, trusting to an enlight-
ened and patriotic public sentiment to
correct tie evil, we should have been
satisfied. Had lie determined, rs he hal
m undoub;ed right TO do, that no man
should SPEAK or print that which was
hurtful to the Government, and weak
ming It III its terrible struggle 10 preserve
the National Unity inviolate-had he
determined that all private and individu-
al rights must be held in subordination
10 Tie interc,, aud only exercised in &C.
corlance with the welfare of the Govern
mcnt. aud be suppressed when they con-
flic;ci with il, we would have been salts
fled and done all in our power to have
sustained It in carrying out that policy.
1t was simply question Ofpolicy and
the Administration las taken both sides.
TWAS either wise or unwiso TO suppress
tue Times. If unv sc, smaller papers
should not have been annoyed, and Val
land,eham should not have been arrest
81; if wise, the President should have
spoken tho word Of approval, though
-"Hell itself had gaped.
Ard lid him hold his peace"
What we com plain Of, is that tho Ad
ministra,ion did not consider this subject,
adopt policy, and adhere TO it, and not
lie compelled 10 snub one Of Its bravest
and most loyal officers, and win for itself
tie name Of having backed down.
We presame there will be no furthe r
military interference with the Press, but
It is humiliatisg to patriot heart to see
aPaper Ike the Times, which only few
days ago stigmatized the war as a crusade
against tie Constitution and every SOL
dier as murderer, have as many friends
as it docs. Il Onght to be suppressed by
the force of an indignant public senti-
ment.