Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1864-12-21
The Press Question.

The following article from tho Ssvs2lpai
Republican, meets our approval, end place
the much-mooted question OF the I1ibcrt,
Of the Press" in its proper light: -
We have been as long connected with The
Ptcss as most ..of our cotemporaries Of tie
Confederacy, aad feel quite ssjssious OF Qui
rsrso1.al and professional rights as any O
them; vet We can never subscribe to the doc
trine tkat man has-the right to ipjure bis
country Under any plea whatever, and es-
peeially through the abcse off a privilege
As editor o. q public Journal, wo claim. nc
rights that we arc not willing 10 accord tc
every eihzen.in tie community, and above
Lell, We shall never seek to shun personal res
possibility by dodging behind, any peculiar
professional exemption.
Our opinion, therefore, of tho whole. mat
| ter is, that the guarantee Of liberty. to the
Press was gives for good and virtuous, rea-
sons, and that those reasons aro to be- re:
garded ss tho limit Of the grant. 1t is o
privilege o,he used for the promotion o
virtue aud the good Of one's county, not ior
the qualification of personal animositics, tie
undermining af Government, Or apy other
unrigLteous end. This:letler IS not tho ex-
ercise, but au abuse of the privilege.
whilst the Press may lawfully criticise
alM condemn what is wrong. in Government.
in time Of var it mas no right,to do eren that
iu G manner to weaken ourselves and en-
courage and add to The strength Of tbs enc
my. This.!ast is sn abuse, q srieYous nation
Il wrong asainst his countrymen, and there
can be noiring to jnstify it. An open siding
With the enemy all must condemn; Ehere is
the difference, essentially when the sau;e
feet is,breugit aboSe by uny oticr mesls?'
( Hut we have beeE seducSd into . aigras-
sioa., So far as tho President is concerned,
we do not t.leye there Is &n hchcst man il
rhe country, OF one not tied 10 the fortunes
Of some psfI;''ieal a,ivcntures, who has pur.
pose Of bis oaa 10 accomplish. that hclisNes
in biz heart that the President i'll any:'ing
1sug,rs,cd in h:s Ia;c aauitaI message to Cen
sr.:'s, has l!ia Sig htes- desire to centre. any
portiin oi Tire suUiic Press.
I We s.re ip . struggle for existence o. q
nsiicn, against the d!abolica! eifDRts Of s
people who wish to conquer, degrade and
:.nslavc US and he simply mears TO say 'ta,
NIL nlen able 10 bear arms should elega!l. !.
liable to strike blow lhr 1ha '4;.is". H'
does no. refec To any particular Class .. Cd
.itors. bat ,iciulc5 all, fr;efh and ioc 1iike
lie curld neref make G ,.!.:i;l,,cl On Snci
grounds wi..iutt . palP4b!e ctir$5sse cil lhs
pubic sentiment of the c2nntry. Sor d2ss'
he seeb toviroli menlbtrs Of the Press to'
inmediaie, genera! scr:ite, as in tie case O
ether individuals. bat srnposcs flat AL ht
detailed and b.ought out O.. Wits! cmcrsen
cies. And Why s!'oul1 anybody baexemp'
! on s,ich cecGzons p To impute % desire t;
discriminate in the matter of granting dc:aii'
is to beg the question by a most gratiiiion
..and unjust insinuatien, which nothing ca,
be Gouad in the life of Jefferson Davis t
warrant, He is not the man to. violate afJ
right, and his devotion to our lihef:ies bs'
been teo sell pgoyed o. the field en1 il tl,
council for any man to. .saspec. hhn Ola de
| sire to ;nfriags them.