Washington telegraph., 1864-12-14
FRzgpox or the PrEss.-Iti. difficult fer

exemption Of the editors and printers, and COM
pei them to enter the army or accept Of details,
at the will Of superior officers.
1t Is utterly impossible for the people to
know whether the editor be actuAted by high
Of public good, OF prompted by
the lower feeling Of eovArdice and love Of ease.
A gentleman shrinks from sssh criticism, and
prefers avoiding the subject. We think it will
be found that, should Cengress pass such law,
a large majority of the editors Che same rcas-
ons will not apply to printers) will be prompt
ID BY pride, and fear Of miscOnstruct.s, to re-
fuse detaiis, and enter the army at once
Nevertheless, whilst the matter is being dis.
cusssd sill around ~, We think il proper to
waive our delioacy in this regard. and risk the
consequences Of = snssr, for the purpose of
discharging public duty to csr-rsadsEs and
the community.
We have ne hesitation in saying that we cor
slider this accommodation one of the few grave
mistakes Of an administration, which will, not
withstanding, stand forth in history remark
abls for frnness, wisdom, ssgaci.y and fore
sight. President Davis is recognized as the
man for the times. Hsworld be more than hu-
man should he never err.
Certsinly she persons of editors are not sa
crsd. W. have all along contsnded, that along
yith freedom Of speech should also 20 the free
dom OF the club and at the present time they
as we'll a. all citizens, owe a paramount duty
to the esuntry, and should shrink from no
trials or suferings In her cause. Il IL simply
. question of public good.
The avocation of An editor requires especially
three things: brains, principle, and frmnsss.
Tbs combination ID not Sc common as to insure
liberal amount of it to be found everywhere
it may be needed-amongss youths under sew
snseen. and aged pen OF fifty. If = press be
essential to a free people they must be taken
wherever found. That it 10 so essential has
been declared and inco GRATED in our own con-
stisusien as a fundamental principle Of Liberty,
side by side with freedom of religion.
Tbs public sentiment of the country as d the
army has sustained this since the beginning Of
the WAT Amidst all other nurmurs. none has
hoea heard Of she exemption Of the press The
greatest desideratumf'f an army, next to food
! and cletAisg, has been more newspapers. The
citizens at homo have shared the feeling. II
Congress pass the law, they will be sctustsd BY
reasons eesurring to their own ninds, and not
| iapelled by the wishes Of their constituent,
Il viii be hard for . man with princi
pie and pride Of character to edit . newspaper
under detail There may be dignity in eIsr.
| eissx mo ecsalic arts under details, or even In
setting type and dsing job work. These re-
quiro NO discretion ner in independence Of thought
But NO man editing paper whilst subject =,
any time 70 be ordered from his o6ice to the
ranks could avoid the noruf fying suspicion that
ne had csadescsnded to be made q tool in order
to secure personal safety and comfort. His
| thoughts might all esms from virtues fair
est springs" He might be defiant Of conse-
quencss and bold in the right. 1t would avail
him nothing, save to sustain him in his own
consciousness of An exalted patriotism. He
could have ne respect from the public, and no
influence IN moulding its sentiments and sus-
tanning the people in their efforts and endu-
RANGES. The greater probability would be, how
ever, that the better class Of men would throw
down the qrill for the muskst, and the press
bssome really as covering and corrupt a. the
people voald suspect it to be.
In return fer that, the Cenfederacy wseld
used to military life, and IN ftt.d for is BY ssd
sntary pursuits.
Whilsts public dsty would scarcely per
| nit us to pass this subject in silence, and willis
csndsr conpels to speak of the measure in
terms Of rsprobation, must be permitted,
fer the sake of those who nay have some lit
tie confidence in oar sincerity, to say . few
words personally.
Outside Of considerations affecting ths pub
lie service and the true liberties of tb. country
We do not care groat whether the law be pass
cd or net If it be, we will sustain it-oE.r
cheerful obedience ourselves and counsel 9TH
ers to do so, hoping ardently that events may
justify its wisdom. 1. is nc tins to quarrel
with the President and eur Congress We may
not doubt their patriotism, and their opinions
may be better than ours So far ~ We can do
50 with dignity, We will serve the country in
any capacity to which We may be assigned
Not moment iongsr-for :hs ranks are ever
spss to gentleman, and he can proudly take
his place side by side with the noblest Of the
our bones and muscles belong to our law-ms-
ksrs, and our country has a right to demand
then. Our mind is God-givea, in sacred trust,
and belongs to u.s. We will do voluntary ser
vice With it to our country, but we humbly
trust 70 be sustained against all temptation to
prostitute it to the ignoble interests Of our
physical we'll being. We hold it as Douglas
did bis right of personal friendship Substi-
tuts the Confederacy for the King and right of
sheaght for hand, arsi we adopt his language:
Par: We in friendship from ysur la.d,
And noble lord receive my hand"
But Douglas rouEd him threw his cloak,
Folded his arms and thus he spoke:
my manors, halls, and bowers shall still
Be open at my sovereign's will
To each one whom he lists, hows'er
Unmeet to be the owners peer;
Ny castles are my Kings alone,
From turret to foundation stone
The kssI Of Douglas is his ops;
And never shall in friendly grasp
The hand Of such as Marmion cIasp
10 The Eoquirer says: Col. Ould, the
Commissioned Of Exchange, authorized
hv the ConfeCerate Government rn.da :.