The New York herald., 1864-12-04
Defence Of SECRET sessions.
. rYror, tha Richnnod a~nk;oeI ~ ~ 12

Ore OF tho nconveneooes that attend our form o. gov
Deqt superority - whole 70 oil others, the publicity
with which Affairs sometimes the most delicate are
are Tor T. the mos. neos:
sary measure without full exposition OF the reasons
mutudes OF JEALOUS, suspicious pcrsons who farcy that
viii Always Be- found, also, sho.s in pbc life or con-
nected with the press who will minister 70 this morbid
ssntimsnt and seek popular nvor oy display Of 1sa
Every ono compreheuds that however bold and honest
s % "ss b :ns pole. ma.
army scqussoss V .ss Necessity q c:Iog Kept 10 sno
Be 90 interesting to the fodors nothing so nearly con
csrss them. 40 the plan Of the campaign but the dulest
man in the ranks would be horrned a. the proposition TO
bold councils OF war with open dcors and n the presence
OF reporters. ft f-lAf t8 ! tE
requires but very slight reflection perceive that
questions may arise in the Legislation OF tue country
which require like reiiccncs part Of Congress;
and this not alone propositions that rcla,e mill
execution q the laws, and the admInis,ratios
OF justice; there are Quessi ~ OF diplomacy;
whcse adoption depends upos facts and
to be presently made known In short the civil we'll
the military authorities are Often compelled By consd
councils In secret These views are obvious that
almost need 70 apoogtse for presenting them. obvious
as they are however hsre are tsoss wAo eer do no,
und,r tand do not dpprectdte fhSm. For instance
newspaper before commenting on the fact that the
House OF representatives have been lately stcg with
closed doors portion Of each day bold declare
this proceed ng unless excused by condition that does
apply in this case. strocious-nsy more
famous "we shall undoubtedly learn lihc reasonl by
and by - II continues when We nnd that the people
have hay: been been. deprived o. some constitutional
always pre'er TO do them under cover"
Ths editor thus does all he may lnamc preudicos
present, but on all occasions And yet without hazard
IL may be declared that every sensible loyal man in the
confedcracy would say thst the subject which now
CAGES he House, Whatever tho action which proper to
be taken, Is one which should be discussed private
array he pop,e aeoina h,r inest. and TO 4,
odous for the public authorities 10 proceed with bc
coming prudence and crcamspcction: Happily. such In
ccpsiderate counsels received with little by
the sens bio portion o. the community that tho<e who
have shs mansgemen,o Of the public interests cau afford
20 pay thom no attention but yet the tendency Of such
teachings b to evil, and srch offer them 70 be
cassed among those whom tho people should hold 10 dis
Some OF our public men hold that We should employ
the arts Of diplomacy, we'll as the appliances or war,
soS means 70 w CD h.s
been 70 erring the Of such mbgutcs and tho
tender Of propositions Of such seeming advantage
shall create division among our enemies, without
mitting ourselves Some OF them have attemptcd this
diplomacy. Tnsy have made speeches, or delivered
a. subtle, and - nespinsess a. . party plat
form Of the oden time. They have csusurcd the
course Now that their attempts are over n might be
Instructive 10 learn OF them their opinion OF the ecacy
Mr. and NJ sogoe sS' csr
excited great dsii q ssimadversion here; We have
n0s learned that tbey made any impression among
would OF ITSELF have Destroyed their efficacy there. The
credit for plain saiug-whch n was desired receive
~ The Forthwas given them here not there In snort
ous people did not ccmprshsod that diplomatic
ye was being executed and did no. act the which
the stratagem required. Instead OF Assisting in the
scheme. they attacked the manseefa II the President
bad attempted the same annuvre bs would have met
The same fate In short such "dplomaoy' 10 country
Ike ours an impossbilily
The people, by their desire securing the erestsst
degree OF success IN the mhnagemsat OF public asrs
must however learn 10 repcse moro curiosity and 10
time being, they counde thar interest," Is lt thems
for the defamation OF q demsgoeue to require that
government shall have no secrets, that buncombe
shall BE eeborstely addressed, even on the most
cross roads must be invoked and consulted on
every possible occasion But conmop seuse tsscnes 10
thst In many cases nothing could be mtschsvous
and fatal than such policy We trust therefore, that
duty TO the people as TO give TO Its deliberations such
secrecy when necessary, may secure the good
effect OF 10 measurea The people viii 10 ppttely prefer
the ignorant or iuconsiderste.
Ours being government of tho people, high grade OF
wisdom and stesdneee In the citizens h absolutely
necessary for the udicious Of public affairs
people must learn 70 prize those who tell them the
truth, who make known them their faults pont out
their duty, and exhort them 10 be guided by passion
and prejudice, bus calm reason and good sense. They
must learn 70 dsrust those who atter and them,
aud 70 shun these whoss unchasenec Judgment csptous
lempers and volatile dspostiocs make them unsafe aad
fatal counssliors.
General Lee In the Rebel Congress.
[frcm the Richmond Sentinel, Nov a8
The DsTscA suggests that IL would DO sxcesdineiy
vausbis TO the public Interests and tend very much 20
aid Congress- In devising the most sdvastaeeous military
neasures, W hod pe'sousl conference With cen lee,
that they may savs frcs him views u the wants o
kho army IlN opinions Woud hsvo 4 o,aa, Sal0hA the