Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-11-22
SECRET SESSIONS.
DHNAb1A
From the Macon Telegraph ]

From the Macon Telegraph
Last year much dissatisfaction was exp o.;e,sn Of
the people and the press at secret Sessions
Congress- We trust there will be no cause ior 80
complaints at the present session. ineae militia
cuse for them, except pending discussions On w LIE
nv affairs facts brought out in debate mignI Pht
beneficial to the enemy The people pave To-
to know the position and bearing OF their :,
tatiyes upon questions affecting the INTERESTS .t
may be- the liberties of the country. "eie -
some of the servants OF the people nave and
into their noodles that they are tine masteis 1T
would fain play the part of grand seigniufs -
there be an end to this nSoent presunption eio
we warn these gentry that the bubble OIL men
ness will collapse suddenly and dlsgraceiuhy. JUL
shallow brains in the land have lately grow ~
blatant as to hint that the curtailing OF tue hoe
of the press would be benefit to the cause OF ~.
dependence. They affect to despiSe the means oy
which they were brought into notice and eie"a'eu
to power and would fain crush out the fo!i -
Estate" that their lttleness and corruption us!.
not be exposed II such an attempt IS msde as IL
is whispered there will be, these "illuslrous 1o
scuren will attempt to hide their assaults upon 'ue
liberty of the press and the people under the cover
of secret sessions Let the press look to 1t. IL the
Fourth Estate will but assert its rights ana Vhui
cate its prerogatives which are but the rights anu
prerogatyes of the people, it will soon crush Tue
vipers it has Termed to life. Let the discussion VI
public matters in Congress be had with open ooors
from the Columbus Sun.
When Conoressmen assumed to be wise beyond
the authority given taem by the intent of the Con-
stitution they resolve themselves into secret SEES
sion 1t matters little what they do in secret. Puo-
lie opinion that contending element IN all forms OF
free government cannot reach them They may
curtaiI the liberty of the citizen, but there Is no
remedy, because no party is responsible RESPONSE
bity cannot be established when the truth IS kept
concealed The people thus lose the control OF the
government Representatives lose all sense OF re-
sponsibty because the people have lost their pow
er in making their jud gment felt In extenuatlon
of this outrageous practice OF secret sessions, we
are exhorted to "trust the President" and to re-
nose confidence in the ability and integrity OF our
chosen rulers. A greater than President Davis
once remarked that con ence in rulers could be in
spired only by the acts of the rulers themselves,
and that when a people become dissatisfied with
their sovereign it could be. attributed to nothing
short of want of capacity or integrity on the part
of the men who rule. When the people note a
constant tendency towards Capitalization in connec
ton with this new passion for secret sessions, it is
natural that dissatisfaction should exist If Con-
eress would restore confidence and procure harmo
nv among the people, let them trust the integrity
and good sense of their constituents.
From Charleston Mercury.l
knowledge is power" and the political power
derived frem a knowledge of public affairs as con.
ducted by their agents In the central government,
belong to the people Of this Confederation A Con-
stitutional government intended to place all public
servants upon their responsibility for official con-
duct vet conducted in constant secret sessions, is
a monstrous anomaly and perverSion Protected
from public srutny, subjected to the alllrements
of political preferment on The one hand and threat
eued with nnerring prescription on THO other
without popular support IN independent exertons f.
the country and often weighed down by the pres
sure of Executive odlum-Representat!ve stand in
position Of great weakness and temptation Is il
to be wondered that many become passive and sub
servient? Nor can there be remedy where the
thing TO be renedied is covered. Responsibility
cannot be established where the truth is not known
Opinions cannot be formed in ignorance. Without
precise facts for data conclusions cannot be arrived
at. Public opinion is kept in uncertain, shifting
and negative and impotent condition, touching the
causes Of our troubles their necessity and the best
remedies to be applied. The people are shorn Of
their legitimate power of discriminating and in ma
king their judgment felt The press is shorn of its
| proper power, because upon facts supposed to be
partial the people cannot make up their minds
without reservation about measure and men. Hence
we drift along in faith and in charity, under the
auspices of men who have assumed to be wise be
yond any authority given them by the intent of the
| Constitution. 1t is high time for the people anG
press of the Confederate States to lift a voice o.
earnest condemnation of this new system of smoth
ering public opinion We invoke the aid of our CO
temporaries against further continuance Of daily
secret sessions which even the Yankees do moi
practice, and which spread weakness in our coun
| sells.