The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-05-06
NO. rs.
Informing on Ourselres.

There has been nothing during this
war which sensible people have regard
ed with more amazement, and which
has operated more successfully against
the success Of our arms, than the per
petual publication to the whole world
Of Odr military plans and movements.
If Jefferson Davis had 3 numerous
corps CT paid spies in our midst, watch
ing the acts and orders of the War and
Navy Departments, and reporting them
faithfully 10 the enemy, he could not
possibly be as well and as promptly ad-
vised by such agents as be has been
and is yet by ourselves. 1t is idle to
say that the Richmond authorities get
their intelligence from secret but real
sympathisers with their cause ia the
North. The fact is, that the Northern
newspapers, which design what news
appears IN their columns for their read
ers here, are carried directly to the reb-
el capital almost as speedily as they
could be carried therein time Of peace;
and hence there need be no wonder
that the chiefs of the rebellion know all
that we intend to do, in our military
and naval operations against them
quite as soon as the loyal people of New
Hampshire or Michigan Ii is only a
question Of mails and the distance they
have 10 travel from New y York or Wash
ngton.
Need we say that this is all wrong2
1t is the supremest folly. It is much
worse than foolish it is positively IN
imical to the interests of the National
Government, and is, therefore, virtually
reasonable. But we have heard the
Northern press bitterly complain that
any censorship was exercised az Wash
ingtOn over the communications sent
TO it by telegraph. But IL is not the
censorship that should be complained
OF, but any improper mode Of exercis-
ing It. The thing itself is right, ems-
nently right, and fully justified by its
object All that Is necessary to make
it entirely unexceptionable to the press,
and cheerfully acquiesced in BY It, Is 10
commit the very responsible Office OF
the censor to honest and intelligent
hands. This has not heretofore been
done; and the consequence Is that tho
journalists of the North have not only
felt the censorship TO be an injurious
and vexatious interference with their
rights, but they have used all possible
means of evading it
Here, then, is q case calling loudly for
reform The communication 70 the
Rebels of intelligence which will aid
must be or certainly should be speedily
and affectually stopped. But this should
be done in such q manner as to prevent,
at once, denial to the loyal press Of
news which could, il published, do no
harm TO the Government, and the pros
ttution Of the censors office to his own
private profit in using, for secret Oper-
8tiOns IN tbs money and stock circles
Of Wall and William streets, New York,
that Information which is withheld
from the general public, BY excluding
it from daily papers
In order to show how grossly the pub
cations Of the enemy, who has been
whipped when he showed tight, and out
witted when he showed strategy. Il
Price had not been fooled 70 evacuate
Camden, he could have kept Us at bay
for a long time. There are nine forts
here and other means Of defense, which
would have enabled a small force 70
hold it against superior numbers.
Price let it 60, being as badly fooled in
the intentions Of General Steele as ever
he was in his life.
Our friends are we'll Rice was slight
ly wounded Colonel Manter enjoyed
the thing hugely, and was in his ele-
ment lie was born for war, aad was
as cool as the nights in the sunny South
Capt Wheeler, Sokalski, and all tho
Major-Generaps staff afforded efficient
service This is a most important
point, and We viii hold it for ali time
A fine large boat, the Homer, was at
Camden Just before our forces took the
place. She got off, but General Steele
sent a force down and captured her
thirty miles below