Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-11-15

class of. crimes of which . free press is the only
possible corrective because 1t is the only lustru-
nent by which they can be exposed Ii so, then
adopt the scheme of the message-detall editors
and urinters-make them dependent for their daily
bread upon President Davis. The object will have
been completely accomplished. You will have no
editor who dare whisper q complaint OF those nign
in ofce-no printer will venture to set up line or
sentence which does not celebrate the virtues and
the glory Of the Executive.
To put printers and editors in the class with
farmers, shoemakers, tanners, and other necessary
trades and occupations is simply ridiculous There
is no analogy between these cases. There Is no
temptation for the Executive to Cypress any OF these
classes. He gain nothing by restricting the ex-
ercise of their trades and professions 70 his own
tools and parasites. 1t is, dangerous to give him
command of the press because it enables him to
corrupt the fountain of intelligence Because it en-
ables him to blind the people as to his own acts
Because it places him in q cloud, which the people
cannot penetrate.
We will not say anything about the impolt lance
Of a free press. Every member of Congress under
stands and feels it We hope this monstrous pro-
position will receive such blow will convince its
author that there is in prOlonging its exis-
teace or experimenting with it any farther upon the
docility of Congress-Rich. Why.
We are now, and have been from the first among
the firmest supporters of President Davis admins
traton from the belief that any administration
placed in the direction of affairs at this critical
period needed a cordial support, and from the fur
Their belief that President Davis deserOed such sup
port as an honest able, and patriotic administrator
of the affairs of the COnfederacy, although by no
means perfect one. Who could be
1t is therefore in factious spirit that we enter
protest against proposition the effect OF which,
It seems to us, must be the suppression OF the
Southern press or the forfeiture of it's independence
If the press is to be conducted by the detailed ap
pointees of the Confederate Executive then, Of
COURSE it to be free press or the press OF
free people; and yet such is the inference to be
drawn from the Presidents endorsement of the re-
commentators of the Secretary of War, as well as
from subsequent debates in Congress.
Some gentlemen in Congress, and other gentle,
men in official position, though not in Congress,
mag think lightly of the press and take pleasure in
showing that they do so. We do not say that the
conductors of the press all that they ought to
DE, or all that the responsibility OF their positions
would seem TO require that they should be. We
suppose they are not much better and not much
worse than their neighbours. As individuals they
are entitled to neither exemption nor immunity
| They appear In representative capacity. They
give utterance to public opinion they combine and
energise public effort. They the herads of our
modern civilization, and as such their office Is sa-
cred, and the preservation of its purity and indie
| pendence matter of far more moment to people
jealous of their rights than the smiles Of executive
| favor the frowns of executive wrath. Of far
more moment than the irritation of some honest
but excitable natinet, the contemplate wrath of
some fourth rate politician elevated suddenly into
into the title of an " C. and the dignity of al
| honorable.
| We shall have some further remarks to offer up
on this subject when it is properly before
We do not doubt the President but this power of
annihilating free press in the Confederate States
is power that ought to be conferred upon no man
that ever breathed and of course the press ceases
to be free when Its thinking and speaking is done
| by detailed men. We would not give the right of
appointing and removing the editors of the South
to an inspired Apostle much less to a like IN
| to ourselves his dangerous. Well we are taught
in the prayer of prayers, to pray to be led into
| temptation but delivered from evil
If papers are to be published; if editors are to
be independent; if the press is to be Free let their
| independence and its freedom be placed under the
| sanction Of the Lao.-W Vii Journal