Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-01-26
The Duty Of the Press.

The following remarks from the Richmond Es-
aminefWill receive the approval of every real friend
of the South. Two years ago the people and the
press of the South were as free as air, and It Is
sad reflection that the hG6eGa corpus should be
pended, and terrorism and mob violence should be
resorted to in order to promote harmony among
brethren. We are all in the same boat together.
If the bost floats we are saved butfit it should sink
we will all be lost. A conflict between the crew
in the presence Of the enemy only result in the
most disastrous consequences. The EEdniaer
says: .. a ...... ..-..
Nothing Is TO be feared from the independent
uttsrances Of the press. There is no Opposition"
in the nvidious of the word There is no dis
p1te about the end which is the same to every true
patriot; that there should be much debate about
the means is not only natural and legitimate but
eminently useful. Nobody inveighs against the war
as unnecessary; against our separation from the
Yankees as heartrending divorce of brother from
brother. No respectable journal hints at recon-
struction. Blunders in the conduct of affairs are
freely criticised, and the ful6llment of repeated
prophecies is often smployed to give keener edge
to the criticism but we have seen no trace of the
malignant exultation which prefers to be IN the
right, like Cassandra rather than in the wrong, like
Jonah. The opposition, as it is called may be hard
to please but the administration is harder to please
Pass bill ike the aDti,substitute bill under official
Inspiration over all remoRstrance. The 'opposi-
ton acqEesce and merely insists that the law shall
be carried out faithfully, that the experiment be
fairly tried-in short that the government organs
shall have their will and yet We expect strict
ures on the evasions of the law to be as i'll received
IS our objections to the billitself The government
assumes bold position somewhat late in the day,
it is true-in the matter of our foreign relation,
we re-af6rm. our approval of that position; we
strengthen it by illustration and argument; we
maintain the wisdom Of the policy. Our approval,
our arguments, our advocacy are regarded as so
many covert sneers. 1t is well for the peace of
mind Of all journalists who undertake to review,
impartialy the state Of public affairs that the pleas
ure of the administration is matter of no impor.
tance whatever. -..-.s. ~ -...-,-> ...
But we are told the Yankees derive great en-
eouragemeut from our wrangng, and expect the
dissolution Of our league to follow close in the wake
of our dissentions' If these dissensions had any
reference to submission; if we we're debating the
expedieney Of accepting Lineoln's amnesty, the
Yankees would do we'll to be jubilant; but as our
disputes relate simply to the best method Of rspe
ing the invader, as we are all agreed on the policy
Of dispstching CerbeEus and no. appeasing him, We
can see no reason why our enemies should be ex-
ultant Far better reason would they have for re-
joeing If our Congress should pass any of the des
perste measures which that body has suffered itself
to entertaia; and whether the Yankees are exult-
ant or not We must learn, once for all, to walk IN
the good old paths Of hereditary constitutional right
without regarding the frames and feelings 81 that