Shreveport news., 1864-12-06

from the immoral George Washing
ton on the same subject. His langu
age was But let there be no
"chamse by usurpation for though
"this, i'll one instance, may be the
INSTRUMENT Of good, it is the GUS
'tomary weapon By mhich FREE Sor-
"crnmcmts are destroyed. The
precedent must always greatly
"overbalancr, in permanent evil, any
"partial or transient benefit which
"tle use can, at any time yield. A
"fire no: to be quencla |, it demands
- uniform vigilance to prevent its
"hursting into flame. lest, instead
"ot warming it should consume.
| Washington, in his day was con-
sid-red a great statrsm and the
same opinion will always be cherish
ed of him III the memory of all who
| profess to be Americans. His views
were liberal. and en- pasmlm the fol-
| lowing gives Us an idea of his opinion
of the press Promote, then,
''as an object of primary Importance,
constitutions for the general ditfusio n
"ot knowledge. In proportion AS
"thc structure of n government gives
force to public opinion. j; is essen
"hof that public opinion should be
"wiighte~cd.
! Should the Press Of this country
be- robbed of its freedom. We see moth
/ ing in the future but anarchy I liz
man who raiS.. his voice. against IN.
[ press, (Which We view IN he iigh,
OF free speech) in thu Congressional
! Halls. cannot be viewed other Iau
/ IN the light Of AZ! enemy TO freedom
an@ our republican form of govern
mcnt. Rob the press of its freedom,
and one by one will the rights of II
people battling for freedom, be taken
from hem they will no, only be
KEEP, in total ignorance, but tLcil
| hands will be manac!cd. their mouths
cease to open in giving expression To
their thoughts. and they Will discover
when. alas. too late. that the powers
that be have made them worse thai,
slaves.
That the press is fully represented
in the army needs no proof, rs til,
few editors and printers lett to rrprr,
sent the press are inadequate TO til,
demand We would ask in all can
dor; where would the boasted arm,
ct th. Cpnfrd.rat. States be. to. dav
had the influence of the Press no
been broagh, into requisi,ion! All
wh-r. would the rights guarantee,
by the Constitution to the people be
to-day, had the freedom of the pres
not been acknowledged Plac. Tia,
tvrant's heel on the Press, and W
remains TO defend the rights of tn
people, TO advocat. their claims. ant
to protect and guard them against al
would be daily felt. When NJ.
Davis suggested to Congress til
pr"priety of bridIiuS the Press, Ii
surely must have done it without til
reflection due il from person occr
plying the exalted and important pc
sition lie does. His motive ma
have been good, nevertheless it wi
be dangerous, and if put into practic
prove dagger thrust into the hea,
of the Southern Conf.deracy, an
when too late to retract the meas ar
it will be discovered. that til. deaf
: blow has been given, aud no remed
can be administered to restore lit
Our remarks We feel content are NJ
ill-timed, nor uncalled for. VIII.
action has been taken in the p. ennis,
we cannot say, as our latest disp'tcl
es only inform us that the bill W;
referred toa committee. Let us hor
tor the good of our cause, the welta,
;, OF our country, and the reputation
our Congressman, that the Press
still permitted to breathe with i
wonted liberty. DO away with II
liberty of the Press and the freedu
! Of the people is forever snatched fro
them, and when deprived of II
precious jewel, what have they lie
to fire the patriotism. which mu
. cease to burn when liberty
v . NIL. i :; AZ, ILL.,. ~