The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1864-04-09
How are we Governed !--W hither Drift.
iur

| From the y. y. Journal of Commerce, March 90.
lhe papers within few days have con
taiheo Two curious announcements for 4
Tree country. Ono stated that the gov
eFhh'eht oIlcers IN an eastern city had
| seiIeu ali the locomotive engines in a
machine shop for government use The
other, that General in a peaceful west
ern city had prohibited in his department
the circulation of a newspaper which he
did no: like, and which is published ia
New York city.
II the government cannot procure en-
gines for service on its railways it must of
course seize them by force and pay ior
them at leisure. But have we reached
that point? 1t would surely better com
POI. with the principles Of free govern
ment like ours to pay any price for the
manufacture or puchase OF an article
from f. citizen, rather than seize II by ar
b!'rary force. There are machine shops II
the country where government could have
plenty Of engines built, and, If the time
is pressing, then the fault lies IN not hay.
ing previously provided for the emergency
The other case presents da! kcr aspect
The Suspension OF Il newspaper Is the cX
ercise of the highest power OF sovereignty.
1t is the absolute will Of the government
opposed to the freedom Of popular discus
sion. That freedom may Ie exercised 10
a criminal degree and the editor may thus
become 2 criminal !! so. he is personally !
ameua ble TO the laws. II he has not com
mItted . cr.miua offence. for which he can
be arrested, tried aud punis he'd. then he =
not TO be puHisnad. IN any event a news
paper is entitled 70 ;ree circulation, unless
II contains matter properly Objectionable.
The suspension OF the circulation {:
news paper IS 4 proceeding unknown to our
laws. The puGishI-cut Ct Hoe! or sed!-
ton, or even cOmsl Tracy, = not against the
new paper, but against the person oi the
editor This distinction ought 10 Ue kept
constantly il view. The seizure and G=s-
truc!ion of the copies u . paper contains
ing sedilious article NAV be propeg ur>
der the circumstances This may Ue the
duty Of military officer al the seat Of
war. Bur the issu. Of . spect!ye order /.
asainst 4 newspaper, b. name, protesting
70 see what il will contain, i a violation /
Of law and al offence against free prnci-
; les. Ii til, Is to be allowed, The changes
Of administration IN State and couLtIy
would result in successive crdsgs suspend
iug all newspapers first Of one and then
II another party. II would result IN !
making the law Of newspaper editing en-
tilely subject O. official whims When
an officer does not li.,a uhat he has seen
in a newspaper, he takes it for granted /
thaf tho future issues Of the paper VIII be (
equally d!sp!cas.Eg 10 him, and lie orders /
IL JiscOn;iruauc-. Thi@ Is the end O: ;
free discussion The denial OF the use Of :
! a.- mails 10 opposition newspapers has cost /.
our country millions of dollar, and thou. /
sands Of lives The first step in tyranny /
vas TO crush freq discussion, and IS d
the administration wen. at =
;al!op on the road to iuiI. 1t Is tire to
stop Those seizures Of engines aEd sus
tension oi newspapers saTor of dero.:sal.
They DO not lDo., ue.. IA free .,:Gc-ca.
They disgrace US