Washington telegraph., 1865-04-19

THE PREss.-There has been much exaecr-
alton Of the influence Of the press-that is Of
| some particular presses, whose papers have
nevertheless wide circulation. This results.
when it happens, from lew STANDARD Of edito-
rial duty on the part Of Its conductors. 1t is
not by any means tho first and highest duty Of
an editor te interest his readers. That iasures
subscriptions certainly. bat often at the cost Of
real influence
Perhaps the great evil Of modern journalism
has been the toe free indulgence of the LasA, ~
1t Il somewhat afrogaatly called. Diatribe and
dsnunciation, sharp cri,icim, and attacks even
upon the private characters Of men having any
public or social, or business prominence, are
always read with avidity. The enemies Of the
suffering parties gloat over it, the indifferent
smile and read from prurisnt curiosity. and the
friends of the partiesresd to whet their indig
nation In any case the paper is read and the
editor for the time puts money in his purse" and
continues to do 50 until the public becomes
satiated, IS il will With any low amusement,
and q DISCUS: suPsrvenes which Is too apt to
attach to al the press indiscriminatsly.
This has been the crying sin Of tho press Of
:he U. 8. since the time Of Washington; and
eliminated in the N. ". Herald.
No good was ever accomplished by il. The
readers become demoralixed, and no offenders
were ever reformed by such course.
We take il that the highest duty Of the press
is to diffuse correct intelligence. and to- keep
alive in the minds Of the people the true prin-
ciples which sho uld regulate civil and domestic
duties Whom 1t becomes necessary to criticize
public men or measures, as II somesimes il. il
should be dons in spiri. of candor and fairness
without passion or want9n insult. Even that
should be avoided where no remedy can be ap
piled BY the people, and whom the only effect
can be to produce discord and angry dissension
in times of great and Imminent peril, when
harmony and cooperation are essential to safe
ty. Most especially is It desirabls that all mat
ters ofa personal nature, in which the public
has no csncsrn, should be vigorously ex c!uded
An innocent man may be injured thereby be-
ycnd remedy, and we have never thought an
sditor could justify his conscience in that event
by saying that /; was Published as an ADVERTISE
meat. or in communication, Of which be was
willing to give the author. A paper belongs TO
The proprietor. and he has full control Of all its
columns. He has dedic icatcd them to the public
serviss, and not to wrong and injustice. or the
| chance OF them. Private quarrsls. or private
denuncixtions are unfit matter for tbs public.
The temptation to pitch in" to every thing.
and every body, Is greatest for the weakest,
mil, To Ia -s.A
needs little intellect. The editor becomes the
centre Of sensation at the cheapest sxpendi-
turs Of brains. The ehucklngs of the public
CRAFTY his v ain gicry. and his total immunity
from legal prosec ution. with his comparative
immunity from the eudgel. enables him 10 claim
| the character OF the greatest courage. " tbs
slightest risk. IL requires much moral courage
and a humane sense OF justice to resistit In
fortunately too few editors have had that, until
the public CHANGING 10 miss It's usual excitement
when the occasion Offers is apt to consider itself
injured. and fully entitled to blow up the editcr
hinseli ioE bis failure, and charge hIm with cul-
pabls lack Of spirit and courage
The true motto is "nethinr exteRuate nor set
down aught in malice" TO which should b.
added the virtue Of silonce, when nothing but
disccrd could arse from any untirn-ly pressure
of dissgrseasls truths. Al editor will have
enough ~ do Gust now ~specially) il inform
principles. sustaining their patriotism, and en-
couragiBg them to the indis ensable support Of
MI oEe-Ts, civil and military. within thD is.i
range u th-ir powers and duiies.
EXEMPTIONS. confess ourselves unable
to d-i-rrnine precisely what changes in cx-mp-
sions have been made By the last Congress. We
see bill gsng the rounds OF III. papers Of this
L.
| resembling the old one pretty much. except in
leaving cut tbs agricultural exemptions 1t con-
tains clause, however. anthorizing the S~cre-
tary Of War. under direeiicns OF the President,
10 grant exemptions or details Oh suck tcrrs a.
he may prescribe to such farmers. planters or
ovcrsecrs, as he may b. satisfied will be more
useful to the country in tho pursuit Of agricul-
ture than in the military service. Alss, details
As formerly, on the general grounds Of public
necessity, justice or equity.
On tho other hand We find the following in
the St. Louis Republican Of the Goth ultimo,
which abolishes agricultural dstails, and leaves
the ED law as ii was ia other respects. This
wsuld still enable the President 70 grant er-
emptsns On the ground Of public necessity,
ists-
IFrom the Eehmsnd Dispatch |
The following IL the exemption sill finally
agreed upon by the two Houses Of Congress.
and which nov only awaits The approval Of tbs
President TO become the law. Ii concerns and
interests great many people:
A BTb1 TO DIMINISH The NUMB n OF Ex-
BMPTIONs AND DErAILs
The Congress Of he Confederate sfaref Of
Auerica do enact, That so much Of the "act to
organize forcss 10 serve during the war" ap-
proved FEBRUARY 18th, 1854, as e1smpts one per
son a. oversscr or agriculturist each farm or
plantation upon which there were. at specified
times, fifteen able bodied field hands, between
the ages Of sixteen and fifty, upon certain con-
ditions, is hereby repealed, and said persons
shall be liabls TO military service. upon the ex-
Pration of the time for which they secured ex-
snptos BY reason of having executed bonds
for one year frem tho date thereof Prouided
That exemptions Of spcrsons over forty-fve
years of age may be granted under the provi-
sisns Of the act Aforesaid
SEC. 2. That no exemption or detail shall bo
granted by the President or Secretary Of War.