The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-12-10


inc public opinion. We invoke the aid OF
our contemporaries against further contin-
uance of daily secret sessions. which even
the Yankees do not practice, and which
spread weakness in our counsels. i
NO EXCUSE FOR SECRET SESSIONS.
.sr From the Macon telegraph
Last wear much dissatisfaction was ex-
pressed by the people and the press Ut the
:ssecret sessions of Congress. We trust
there will be no cause for these complaints
at the present session. There IS no excuse
military affairs, when facts brought out in
debate might prove beneficial TO the enc.
.my. The people have right to know the
position aud bearing Of their representa-
lives upon questions affecting the interests
and, it may be, the liberties ofthe country.
We fear that some Of the servants Of the
people have got the idea into their noodles
that they are the masters, and would fain
play the part of grand seigniors. Let there
be an end to this insolent. presumption
else We warn these gentry that the bubble
of their greatness will collapse suddenly
and disgracefully. Some shallow brains
in the land have lately grown SO blatant as
to hint that the curtailing OF the liberty Of
the press would be benefit 10 the cause OF
independence. They affect to despise the
means by which they were brought into
notice and elevated to power, and would
fain crush out the fourth estate, that their
|1itt1eness and corruption might not be OPP
posed. II such an attempt 10 made, as 1t Is
whispered there will be. these .'illustrious
obscure" will attempt to hide their assaults
upon the liberty OF the prees and the peo-
pie under the cover Of secret sessions. Let
the press look to it. If the fourth estate
will but assert its rights and vindicat0 its
prerogatives, which are but the rights and
prerogatlves Of the people, it will soon
crush the vipers it has warmed to life,
Let the discussion Of public matters in
Congress- be had with open doors. No stabs
| in ths dark; no secret sessions. F
The .Cdr0linian has weakened somewhat
the effect Of its protest by it's attempt to
screen the President from the RI sponsibili-
| " OF this Unconstitutional recommends
ton. It was never before suspected nor
intimated that the President was not the
author Of his own messages; or that any
thing found its way into them which was
not either originated or sanctioned by him.
1 He, and he alone, is responsible for ev-
cry recommendation offered to Congress in
pursuance Of his constitutional duty. He
\ will not attempt to evadetha responsible
Ity, nor thank any one for attempting to
/ gestion that he is or could be tool in the
LANDS of others. S
We heartily second the proposition OF the
| C0nstitttti0m1liSt for q convention Of the
press, to defend its freedom and rights
against this threatened assault of Execu-
tive tyranny. We,very much fear that un-
less active measures be taken to prevent it
a subservient Congress, which has hereto
fore manifested disposition to register
every edict Of Executive will, may in Sc
cret session strike this deadly blow at the
freedom of the press, SO insidiously recon-
mended in the Presidents message.
STRONG OPPOSITION TO THE HOLDING OF
| raz SECRET SESSIONS.
[From the Augusta Chronicle and Sentinel,
Nov. lei
The Confederate House Of Represents.
tives has gone into secret session again.
WHEAT secrets now are in the wind Mont
We Shall undoubtedly learn BY and by.
when we find that the people have been de.
lprived ofsome constitutional right. Those
/ who commit deeds Of darkness always pre-
fert0 do them under cover. .
For Congress 70 consider in secret session
any bill which affects the liberty of the cit
isen-except it be some I'M which relates
to army movements or matter-is afro.
cious. Nay, more, it is Infamous.
DAVIS ATTEMPT TO MUzzLE THE PRESS
A CONVECTION OF THE REBEL EDITORS
10 OPPOSE THE UsURPATloN PROPOSED.
From the Augusta Chronicle and Sentinel.
| Nov. 1871
il 010 gnu W sS0 tO0I the press or the
South 10 very generally speaking out
against the unconstitutional propositions
Of the President to abridge its freedom hv
suhjecting it to his own arbitrary control.
Even the press Of the Administration ara
loud in their dennnciation Of the Execn-
tive. They are forced to admit that II
eyinces an alarming disposition on the part
OF the President TO usurr despotic power
IN utter disregard Of the guarantees ofrhe
constitution. They are startled and alarm.
ed BY the exhibition Of executive fntoler-
ance and desire to crush those iournals
which have had the independence to criti.
else his acts and policy. Much as thew
nave been disposed 70 yield the Adminis-
tration AZ indiscriminate support. thew
are not prepared to surrender the freedom
secured to them by the constitution. and
bold their rights to exist at the beck and
n0d OF the President and his military sr,h.
ordinates. 49,. suD-
The Columbia Carolin,nm, which has not
been q lukewarm supporter of the Presi1
dent OF late, gives utterance 10 an emnha-
tic protest against this latest atte,nnt st
executive usurpation.- Macon ;Gua inteI.
/ tiQsncer, sth. 1''''