The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-08-30
SION.

The Home Guard of this county having been or
dered out for service in the field. and as Editor
and all printers within the age are liable to service
of that kind. necessarily obliged to suspend
the publication of the Democrat for few weeks a
least until we return. Individually we have not the
least objection to turning out. for it will afford u'
some relief from the unceasing toll of a printing
Office but we dislike being compelled to deprive
our subscribers temporarily of the paper fol
which they have paid, and do not like the idea
OF having 1.-THE press" suspended by any power
whatever. The Home Guard officers are not to
blame but the Legislature is responsible for this
interference with the freedom of the press.
The editors aud printers of Chan lotte cannot be c.
csed of wishing Grade their duty, because hereto
fore they have always volunteered for service whom
Morganton Raleigh and other points threatened
by raiding parties when the Home Guard was
not called out.
reg We publish paper in advance-of usual
publication day, because will not have time at
tend TO it on Monday.
THE MILITARY AND THE PREss-T special
order of Col Brrm in to- days issue, ordering out
the Home uard for sixty days service will, unless
special exemption is granted TO the printers, eff
fectualy suspend the publication of the papers in
this town. The law, as construed 10y the officials,
exceptions,
everything else, will have to stop
During the siege of Richmond, Petersburg. Char
lesion, and Atlanta printers enough have been left
to keep up the reg liar issue Of papers although the
enemy was 'knockng at the door"
IND the present construction 0f the law. North
Carolina whose issued the first Declaration of
Independence will have the privilege Of being the
first State in the Confdrracy to interfere by law.
with the liberty of the press.
Printers however, although exempt by the law
of the Confederate Congress- at all times ready
and willing to perform their duty to the State, if the
authorities deem ii necessary to call them into the
field at the sacrifice of stopping the press Char
lotte Bulletin.
The order referred to. we have been advised will
withdraw for field service the Editors and Printers
Of the papers in Charlotte, who in consequence of
the call. will be forced to suspend their publica-
tions and as consequence all information from
armies by Telegraph will he cut off.
The Confederate Government, by special legsla-
ton. exempted Editors and their necessary EN-
pl", ees. bnt the Legislature of North Carolina
gardless "F tn" example. acting directly opposite
the policy pursued by every ohsr State in the Con
froeracy. have determined to break down the Press
by putting into the field its Editors and operatives
to hunt dr~ertprs
Although Atlanta, Mobile. Richmond, Petersburg
Charleston and Savannah surrounded by the
enemy the Press in those cities has been sus-
pended 10y Home Guard, militia any other sort of
calls.
Editors in North Carolina ought to be free as
those IN OMAR SThtcS ana the Press uDrammeIed
any way.-Chori0tc Times.
TIL" above, from neighbors is correct statement of
the AS we have already remarked in another
tice very willing to suspend our paper the
thOrities consue the Home Guard law So require it,
1t is true that in tn" various towns and cities Of the Con-
f"dracy, whr" assaulted by the enemy, the Press
has been nerfred with by any of calls for men,
but hre in North Carolina necessary suspend
for the purpose of catching desclter Congress has de-
cared that the Press shall be free and untrameled but
Legislature must have thought otherwise when passing
the bill know n the Home Guard Law"
For part we had take the field
remain coopcd up i'll Printing Office, where have
been since thirteen years old; but protest
against the exercise of any power that affects the freedom
Of the Press unless it be guilty of treason reasonable
and ncendary language 1t is established maxim that
the Press in Republican governments shall be free and
untranmee. and the Legislature of North Carolina
amend the Home Guard law unless it is determined to
violate this principle and shackle the Press. As in
dvidual find no fault with the law but a member
If In" Pr do object to the ground that it affects
the freedom of the Press Apart from that moth
ing about it.
CT on fall