Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-11-22

The Freedom of the Press is one of the
great bulwarks of liberty and can never
be restrained but by despotic govern
ments.- Virginia Bill Of Rights.
Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting
the free exercise thereof, or abridging
the freedom of speech, or of the press !;
or the right of the people peaceably to
assemble and petition the government for
a redress of grievances.-Co Constitution
Of the Confederate States.
The message of President Davis, which
we publish to-day, is the most remarkable
and extraordinary document which ever
emanated from the Chief Magistrate of a
nation. 1t seldom occurs in the history of
nations that any Monarch, Despot, or Die.
tator, has evinced such wanton disregard
of the rights of person or property, and it
has never occurred in the history of writ
ten Constitutions that the Executive has
paid so little respect to the instrument
which was intended to be his guide and
which he has sworn to support. .
He sums up, i'll fattering terms, our
victories in the past, and speaks with con-
tidence Of our success in the future, and
upon the heel of this summing up, he rec
ommends the adoption of the most despe-
rate measures. If any man had uttered the
sentiments six months ago, which Mr.. Da-
Wis announces in his message, he would
have been sent to lunatic asylum as ma
miac or arrested for disloyalty and cast i'll
" Castle Thunder"
Mr.. Davis, the once fearless defender of
the pro-slavery party, and the proudly &C.
knowledged champion OfSouthern Rights,
IS now paving the way to universal eman-
cipation and unlimited monarchy.
We have, in our previous articles, ex-
pressed our decided opposition to the pro-
ject Of enlisting slaves as soldiers, and Civ
ing them their freedom as a reward for
their services. Emancipation would not
be reward, but punishment.
Mr.. Davis wishes all exemptions repeal
ed and the fraudulent system of details
substituted, or in other words, he wants
the whole matter placed in his own hands.
He wants to grasp as much power as pos
sibIe. This, in our opinion, is precisely
the opposite of what ought to be done.
The corrupt system of details ought to be
abolished, and more liberal system of
exemptions adopted. Congress acted un-
wisely when it gave the. President power
to make special exemptions and to grant
details. But the evil results which follow
ed the present exemption act, are due more
to the mal-administratio of an obstinate
Executive than to the imperfect legislation
of Congress. 49,
The President so far forgets himself as
to recommend the repeal of long list of
exemptions which have never existed ex-
cept by his own act and his favorite scheme
of details. His recommendation aims
mainly at teachers, physicians and the
conductors of the Press. To conscribe ed
itors and printers will be palpable viola
ton of the Confederate Constitution, for it
will be abridging the freedom of the Press,
which that instrument expressly prohibits.
The Virginia Bill of Rights also extends its
protection to the Press. Will any sane
man contend thatthe CONSUMPTION of edi-
tors and printers, will not be an abrid ge-
ment OF the freedom of the Press? If SO,
ne asserts that mere machinery, press.
m!nlon and nonparil, can publish paper
without the aid Of human agency. If