Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-11-24
PsosABLY so-An intelligent friend, who has been

PROBABLY So.-An intelligent friend, who has been
mewhat around thinks that there are two sides to the
eaion of exemptions even far the press is con
cerned He thinks, and indeed asserts, that he knows
that abuses have resulted from rather have sprung
MP under it. We have doubt in the world but such
is the case We know of 10 earthly thing that is not
liable to abuse, and may add that is not abused
when opportunity concurs with temptation. But if
details are to be substituted in all eases for exemptions
who will assure that the system of details is the one
exception to the general rule? That it and its agents
stand above abuse or temptation
We have no doubt in the world that some few pa
pers are kept up in sort of way, simply because Of
the immunity they give to few people, the nominal
editors included The real editors ere exempts from the
nature of things neither paste nor scissors have yet
been elassed among the weapons of modern warfare.
But these papers few enough in number and, from
the small amount of reading matter they give en-
pIoy very few hands indeej unless their editors certify
under oath to more than they really require. We
get some papers that do not to Us to be calculated
to any useful purpose, but We think that most OF
them will be played out" and unless by some
thing very like perjury it is difficult to see how The
whole lot of such in the Conftderacy could give en-
ployment to sufficient numoer OF men to make up
even single company. They also harmless IN the
way of paPer-they very little of that scarce
article
We thick that there might be some way of reaching
these without esortpg 20 calculated to
destroy public COZ flence in the ipdepender Of the
whole press even though in fact, that independence
should not be really inter'ered with.
We do not think we are rfueuced by merely selfish
consd rations in the have taken or the re
marks we have off RED upon this subject We have not
sought do SEEK and do not expect to seek any
ouse Tor license under the OF liberty We think
the conductors of the press ought to be even more
guarded their written expressions at least than any
other class of the community since such oresons
addressed TO cir lie OF readers exceeding any audiences
tn be drawn together to listen to the spoken ad
dresses of the most popular orators and besides
written and printed words remain record long after
merely spoken sen ences have faded from the memory
We have endavoured 20 bear these things in mind and
to shape our couTS5 accordingly. We have from the
first, given discriminating support to Mr. DAVIS ad-
mnisration, because cur Judgment has approved It's
general policy, and have felt it duty strength
its efforts in every way that honestly could In
der any system We would expect to pursue the same
course and could hardly the risk of being suspect
ed of subserviency while simply following the even tenor
vi way. we nave never hSkeu even OF ourselves
the question to whether we would be among those
left those TAKEN since that could not affect tie rea
son of the argument. We may observe however, that
so far that is concerned do perceive that there
anything likely to give unusual personal uueasress
in any event.
We make these remarks inau candor simply with the
view of setting of contemporaries right, or at
least OF showing them that all who think the PROPOSE
ton to convert the conductors OF the press into detailed
men, not acuated either by factious motives of op
position to the President, influenced by feelings of
personal concern for themselves.
There are presses which pursue factious, ard
we must think an unpatriotic course, and yet, as
matter of policy to say nothing of principle the legis
alton that would put in the hands of the executive the
power to crush them would seem to be highly danger
ous II not enforced, it would still give plausible
handle to the disafeced and if enforced it would add
fuel to the flame while appearing to smother it.