Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-12-23

FREEDOM OF TIE PREss.-A free press has ever
been the terror Of despOts and tyrants. free
government cannot exist without it and a despo-
tism cannot exist with. it Aware of its vital I'M
pOrtance for the preservation and continuance of
liberty, our ancestors in penning the Constitution
of the United States and our States in Montgomery
in framing the Constitution of the Confederate
States, put into their Constitutions the following
clause:
Congress shall make no law respecting an es-
Establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free ex
ercise thereof or abridgng the freedom of speech
or of the press the right Of the people peacea-
bly, to assemble and petition the government for
redress of grievances"
Now, what is the meaning of the prohibition to
Congress to pass any law "sbridging the freedom
of the press ~
The Gar of Russia and the President of the
United States abridge the freedom of the press, by
seizing the editors and their presses, and mprson-
ing the or con6scating the other.
The Emperor OF France abridgeS it by giving
warnings, through cenSOrs of the press of any Of
fensive article; and. after the third warning, the
press is seized. "Abrdge" according to the die
tionary, means to make shorter in words" Ito
contract" "to diminish "to deprive of; :" to "cut
off from" Any one of these things the Constitu-
ton prohibits Congress from passing law to ef-
feet.
President Davis, in his late message to Congress,
proposes that Congress shall pass law enabling
him not only to abridge, but to destroy the press.
He may not only diminish" contract" and
make shorter in words" by taking away such a
portion Of the workmen as will disable the press
from printing extensively or freely bat by taking
away all the woTkmen, to destroy the press alto
getheT Is it possible for any man, who can put
two ideas together, to doubt that such legislation
in Congress would be palpable outrageous usurp-
alton?
The public good the plea of all tyrants-is urg-
ed in support of this policy. What does the public
of the Confederate States gain by such legislation?
; Fhe whole press Of South. Carolina does not employ
more than fifty men at the outside.
To put these men into the army, not one half of
whom, from the nature of their occupations can be
of any use in it is the benefit to be obtained. On
the other hand, light is to be shut out from the peo
pie, by the destruction of a free press and base,
Venal factory of lies in behalf of the government is
to be set up in its stead.
1t it be said, that exemptions of the editors and
legislation we admit it But this is the very thing
the Constitution has DONE 1t has made an express
exceptional prohibition in behalf of the press To
carry out the Constitution the legislation with re-
spect to the press must be Exceptional" Power
to legislate on other matters is given to Congress,
but all power to legislature in any way "abridging
the freedom of the press" is expressly prohibited
to Congress. congress shall make no law abridg.
ing the freedom Of the press" Can language be
palmer or more conclusive' And when it is remern-
bered, that whole struggle is struggle for con-
stitutiona hberty-can language be more impera-
tive and solemn in its obligations i Charleston
Mercury.