Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-11-23
A Free Press.

There was hardly any subject which was not dis
cussed and calculated by DANIEL WEBSTER, in the
course of his long and highly honorable and useful
public life Upon the subjects Of educati on, tn
freedom of religious worship, and the freedom of
the press, he was especially impressive and he has
left to Lis countrymen many lessons on these topics
which they cannot too frequently read or too faith
fully follow.
In speech delivered at Worcester on the 18th Of
October 1882, he advanced the following very sound
views as to the responsibilities, the duties and the
rights of free press -
I'm all popular governments, q free press is the
most important of all agents and instruments. 1t
not only expresses public opinion, but to very
great degree it contributes to form that opinion
1t is an engine for good or for evil, as it may be
directed but an engine of which nothing resist
the force. The conductors of the press i'll popular
government, occupy place, in the social and poll
teal system of the very highest consequence
They wear the character Of public instruction.
Their daily labors bear directly on the intelligence,
the morals the TASTE and the public spirit of the
country Not only are they journalists, recording
political occurrences, bat they discuss principles
they comment on measures, they canvass characters
they hold power over the reputation, the feelings
the happiness, of individuals. The public ear is
always open to their addresses, the public sympathy
easily made responsive to their sentiments. 1t IS
indeed Sir, distinction of high honor, that theirs
is the only profession expressly projected and
guarded by. constitutional enactments. Their en-
pleylnent scars high in its general consequences
it is so intimately connected with the public ha?pl-
ness that its security is provided for by the fun
daln.,,tal law. While it acts in manner worthy
Of this distinction the press IS fountain of light,
and a source of gladdening warmth 1t lnstructs
the public mind ard anmates the spirit OF patriot
ISM It's loud voice suppresses every thing which
would raise itself against the public liberty; and its
blasting rebuke causes incipient despotism to perish
s ans S ss%.mbs, Sir that these are X attributes
of free press only And is press that is pur-
chased pensoned more free. than press that is
fetered? Can the people look for truths to partial
sources, whether rendered. partial through fear or
! through favor2 Why shall not manacled press be
trusted with the maintenance and defence Of popu.
lar rights? Because it is supposed to be under the
! influence of power which may prove greater than
the love of truth. Such press may screen abuses
in government, or be silent 1t may fear to speak.
And may it not fear to speak, too, when its conddc-
| tors, if they Speak many but one way, may lose
! their means of livelihood2 Is dependence on gov
! eminent for. bread no temptation to screen its
abusesp Will the press always speak the truth.
I when the truth, if spoken, may be the means Of
-silencing it for the future? Is the truth in no
danger, is the Waterman under 70 temptation, when
he can neither proclaim the approach of national
evils, nor seem to descry them, without the loss OF
| his place?
Mr. President an open attempt to secure the aid
=, and friendship Of the public press, by bestowing
the emouments of Office on its active conductors,
seems to me- of every thing we have witnessed, to
be the most reprehensible. 1t degrades both the
government and the press. As far as its natural
effect extends, it turns the palladium of liberty into
an engine Of party It brings the agency, activity,
energy, and patronage of government all to bear,
with united force, on the means of general intelli
gence, and on the adoption or rejection of political
opinions 1t so completely perverts the true object
of government, it so entirely revolutionizes our
whole system, that the chief business of those in
power is directed rather to the propagation of opn
ions favorable to themselves than to the execution
OF the laws. This propagation ofopinions through
the press becomes the main administrative duty
Some fifty or sixty editors Of leading journals have
been appointed to Office by the present executive
A stand has been made against this proceeding in
the Senate, with partial success but, by means o.
appointments which do not come before the Senate
or other means, the number has been carried to the
4 extent have mentioned Certainly, Sir, the edi
tors of the public journals not to be dsfranchis
ed Certainly they are fair candidates. either fol
popular elections, or just participation in Office
| Certainly they reckon In their number some Of the
! first geniusss, the best scholars, and the-mos
| honest and we'll pripcipled men in the country
But the complaint is against the system against thu
practice, against the undsgused attempt to secure
the favor of the press by means adore sed to it,
/ pecuniary interests, and these means, too drawn
from the public treasury, being no other than thu
appointed oompensatons for the performance o
official duties. Sir, the press itself should resen
this. Its own character for purity and indepen
! dence is at stake. 1t should resist connection
j rendering it obnoxious many imputations.
should point to its honorable denomination in on
4 constitutions of government and j. should maintain
the character, there sscribed to it. Of free press