Shreveport news., 1864-12-06
COnst Infringe IN e mt.

our humble opinion, when it devotes
its precious time to the discussion Of
placing editors and printers into the
service. We arr so unfortunate III
this department in the way of obtain
ing late information from the eastern
portion Of the Confedcracy, that it is
with difficulty an editor attempts to
post his readers on the proceedings
of our Congress. To dat we hav"
published the fact only, that Con-
gress had assembled and that the
matter of detailing editors and en-
ploy eos was agitated, we are, there
fore, fully one month behind tho
times, and consequently ignorant of
what has transpircd. But to our
subject.
| The Constitution of these Confea-
crate States should he held sacred
aud invinlatc, for the moment We
IiSre~pect its provisions. we com
mrnce to verge into desposism. AL
ready it s said that We are fast be
coming a military despotisn, and Of
this fact no better proof will be
wanted than the enactment of any
law in contradiction to the guaran-
tees Of our Cons titution in relation
to the Press,-"the voice of the pco-
pie aud the strong arm Of the coun-
try" The Hon. Henry S. Foote. of
Tennessee, at present a member Of
the Congress of the Confederate
States, who served with credit in the
United States Consrer., We are
pleased to notice has taken his posi-
tisn. on the momentous question,
and we find him adhering to the Con-
stitution, despite the Accommodation
of Mr. Davis, who would, in this III
stance, trample under his feet such
portion Of the Constitution, as in his
opinion, allows freedom respected
and acknowledged by all nations
protesting freedom, and not ruled by
tyrannical laws. Unless it is the in
tention Of our rulers to convert this
once free country into n despotic mil
itary government, why does Congress
NEEDLE with the Press From
where does Congress derive its pow
erl From the same source which
protects the prcss-tie Constitution
The 18th paragraph, 9th section,
reads: "Congress shaUmdke no ian
abridgimg the freedom Of speech OIL
ofMe press" How can the mo,tA I,
representatives of the people, there,
fore, presume, to interfere with this
freedom which has always been tol
Grated, and We hope ever will be, tc
the honor of the country. The mat
ter is delicate one, and We dislike
much, as an editor, to be compelled
to speak IN behalf of the fraternity
but circumstances will not permit o
our remaining quiet while such a DO {
and unconstitutional Infringement i,
attempted, attacking the very vital.
of the eomtry-"the press, thu
tyrant's dread" The people viii
not allow themselves to be kept i,
Ignorance, We opine, by any sucl
contemplate effort as muzzling tn
Press. MIR. Davis in his message t,
Congress says, on the subject of tx
empting the Press. 1t is unmisc an
not dcfcmsibfe in Meory leading Us t
, suppose that the trainers of that al
: powerful document were fools in hi
, estimation, so far As that portion of
t is concerned, or that he is endowe,
with more intellect than the wisest @
the wise who assisted in framing tn
powerful instrument unanilnousl
adopted for the government of on
Confederation, and to which all lool
for relief and support.
" We hope that the press of tn
South will not be recreant to its dut
h when it sees in the attack upon it
s liberty, the attempt to violate ii,
/ compact which holds together til
. States composing this Confederac,
n and threatens to Set at naught the OF
d ly bulwark of defence to free an
u independent people.
- The effects of not strictly follow
Is ing the letter of the Constitution {
a country must be apparent to ever