The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-11-18

AS no blood Was to be split, the house
proceeded to entomb the resolution,
as proposed by Mr. Barksdale-ayes IS;
noes l3.
The following morning the newspa-
pers Of Richmond growled fiercely. In
the privacy Of their editorial rooms, the
editors Of these papers aremost valiant
heroes-they can plan campaign, lead
an army or forlorn hope, on paper,
equal to the best of the brood who con-
stitute themselves advisers, counsellors
and mentors Of the Federal govern
ment and It's Generals But they are
content TO "snuff the battle afar off -
they are exempt and dread the policy
of detail Possibly they might be de
tailed for something more than gage
theatrical Therefore, they get in
rage The sulphurous Enquirer sees,
in the vote TO refer, an evil omen, and
aYows that It would have felt "securer
IN its freedom had the resolution OF
Mr. Foots been adopted 1t alledges
that great anxiety prevails amongst the
people, many of whom believe the'ree
ommendation Of JEFF Davis "to be tie
initial step to dietatorlal pososrs" And it
adds, IF he is seeking dictatorial pow
ers, what more certain way Of accom-
plishing bis ends than the unlimited
control Of the press, which the powero of
detailing the editors would give him !"
1t continues-"If the dictator sheme
has friends, what better way of adYanc-
ing it than the reference OF Mr. Foote's
resolution to the Military Committee,
there toslurnber until the plot has been
fully arranged, and is ready to be sprung
upon the country.
"Girardin tells the readers that
scheme Of making Patrick Henry die.
tator was talked of in the Virginia As
sembly in l776 Archibald Cary, meet
ing with Colonel Syme, the half brother
Of Henry, in the lobby Of the House,
accosted him.-".Sir, understand that
your, brother wishes to be dictator
Tell him, from me, that the day of his
appointment shall be the day of his
death; for he shall find my dagger in
his heart before the sunset Of that day"
And the scheme was abandoned for all
knew that 'Old Iron" would have made
good his threat There are desc 7dantg q
"Of Irou" Eging IN Virginia get
Poor dog TRAY" of the Wing chimes
in with his fierccst bark. He says the
recommendation, IL the "boldest at
tempt to muzzle the press, or to make
it speak only such language as the SUI
preme head may like to hear, that has
been made on this continent" And
then he tells tales out of school, declar-
ing that it twas IN contemplation at one
time, we heard, to suppress the Exam
liner newspaper, and this journal, for
certain differences of opinion with the
Executive, expressed in terms not suf-
6ciently courtly for the ear of majesty"
he goes on thus
VIII the Congress Of the Confederate
States consent 10 prostitute the entire
press Of the COnfederacy to the pleasure
Of the Executive? win they pass a
law limiting the exercise of the most
important functions of editor, to his
tools and dependents VIII they rem
der it impossible for the people--their
own people-their constituents-their
benefactors-tO hear the truth, if it be
unpalatable to President Dayis, or his
friends, or his tools, or his minions
Shall it, through their agency, become
impossible hereafter TO hear one word
against official corruption, no matter
how Neutrality-suspicious. Presidential mis-
management, however notorious -
against oppression, peculation, robbery,
and all that class of crimes Of which
free press Is the only possible correct
i've, because it is the only instrument
by which they can be exposed. II so,
then adopt the scheme of the message
detail editors and printers-make
them dependent for their daily bread
upon president Davis The object will
have been completely accomplished
You will have no editor who dare wills.
per complaint of those high in Office
no printer viii venture TO set up
line or q sentence which does not cele4
brate the virtues and the glory of the
Executive.
And what of all TINS outcry2 What
rights have the press ganG" above
those of the people2 In what consists
the superiority of the freedom of the
press over the freedom of ths people
These same editors who now utter notes
of alarm when they see the iron fingers
Of the despot about to clutch their
threats, have given him willing and
obsequious aid in al his efforts to strike
down public liberty, s:and to deprive the
people of their rights. They. know that
Mr. Boyce uttered an indisputable fact
when he declared he.Confederate Gov
eminent a despotism and they know
that all the freedom of the press they
now eujoy, amounts simply to nothing
Il is a shadow, an inoorporeal some
thing, they cannot grasp. Not one of
them dare 20 speak .the truth concern
ing their rulers. They are mentally
and morally as much slaves as the
negro on the plantation.
Put them in the army, JEFF, and let
them reap some Of the blood and suf
ferings they have aided you to visit
upon their fellow-citizens. :
The rehels and rehnl svrnrafhirera in !