The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-02-19
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In very old book, we once read .
story about a man who was hanged on
the gallows he erected fOr another; it
Is said that The inventor Of the guillo-
tine psrished beneath its knife; and
Napoleon, on opening the doors of the
Inquisi,ion in Spain, compelled four of
the chief priests to die by the tortuTes
they had been so mercilessly inficiing.
But these things occurred in despoiic
countries, where babeas eospuses, and
trials by jury were unknown, and hence
were little needed By The people on this
eide Of tie Atlantic; it was never sup
posed that these tragedies would be re-
enacted in this land Of freedom, and
especially were they regarded IS impos-
sible, in the sociion in which State
rights were the panscea for al Ills.
Full of this faith, the rebel editors
have long been inventing a torture for the
people, in the shape Of prolonged war;
snd they finally succeeded in setting the
machine in motion but the victims it
carried away did not satisfy It; more
blood, and yet more, were its incessant
and imperious demands; until finally the
editors, and poIisicians-ths authors of
the rebellion, are now called upon to bow
/ their heads to the executioner's knife.
What! take us" they exclaim; "haat
was not ia the original programme; we
were to enjoy the fruits won by the blood
Of others; take US for that, are we not
! doctors" Bat the demands are impe-
rious they must be Obeyed; the pencil
must be laid down, and not the sword,
but an unclassic Belgian musket, taken
up in its stead.
What are these gentlemen Of the pencil
the pen is obsolete in the editorial
room now-a-days-to do in their dis
tress. They cry aloud, but like certain
other class, they are laughed ct, and
moeked, in this hour of their fear.
The Richmond Enquirer Of Feb. 6,
piteously asks:
Why not exempt, by law, the editors
and employees necessary to conduct the
newspapers, and require an oath that no
more ere employed than are absolutely
required? Printers over 45 years of age
are so very scarce that they cannot be
employed or detailed. To rely upon old
printers viii be stop the papers.
But JEFF. Davis can't see it; "come on
gentlemen editors" he says, you have long
been Boosting about courage now let
us see it" and the Editor wslks to the
camps, to the tune of Dixie, or the rogues
march, or something of that sort.
The Examiner is as angry as its neigh
Dor, and informs JEFF. that "Richmond is
the centre of intelligence, and there are,
or ought to be, more workers for newspa-
pers than elsewhere. We can tell the
Senate with accuracy how many persons
are distracted from the press in Rich
mond by it's new law-24. These are
all the reporters, mailing clerks, etc, Of
the five daily papers in Richmond, subject
10 the operation Of this law. For this
valuable accession to the Confederate
army, the Senate aurrenders free press,
hitherto valued in England and in these
Southern States, and supposed TO have
been specially guaranteed by the COnfed-
crate Constitution"
Well, VIC were always believer in the
doctrine of ultimate retribution and |
are glad that in this case, it has come so
speedily, and with such justice. Let
these ditors suffer, as they have brought
suffering on others.