Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1865-08-26
rprom the N. D. True Delta. ]
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INFAMOUS.

BLACKSTONE ueitueS3 liberty VI tu0
press as "the free power Of publish
ing what one pleases, subject, how
ever, TO punishment for publishing
what il miscellaneous to the public
morals, Or injurious to individuals.
This definition is, no doubt, correct,
but Judging by the course Of many
journalists in this country, they rs
sumo the right to publish what they
please, aud set all restrictions at
naught. This they could not do if
public opinion was IN healthy
state. Then an ef1,ectual corrective
would be applied to glarins and
growing evil, witch is fraught with
consequences deplorsble as can be
conceived to all the best interests
of society. With such journalists,
liberty and license, as applying to
the press, are convertible terms
Such is not the. view Of those who,
regarding well regulated liberty as
a blessing Of incalculable value.
see in liberty unrestricted and de-
generated into license one OF the
worst evils that can affect society,
and one that, il not timely checked,
is the sure forerunner, first of licen-
tious anarchy, and then Of the oppo'
site extreme OF rigorous despotism.
Iu 10 other country docs the
press assume such license as in this.
In none other is the power OF the
press welded to such an extent for
iguoble purposes. In none other
has the good it has accomplished
been accompanied by so much evil,
the result OF it, teachings. In none
other has its influence been us great,
| to az great an extent deleterlous. OF
| threatened, unless 1t is soon and
thoroughly purified, such terrible
| destruction to the social fabric, and
to all the best interests OF mankind
1t is to the abuse Of the power ol
| the press that, TO . great extent
the troubles this country has lately
endured, and still endures, are ow
ing. A large portion OF the press
has been and is devoted to party
and sectional interests, to the utter
disregard of all consideration for th,
public welfare. La seeking the &C
complishmeuts of its purposes, it !;
unfettered by any considerations 0
propriety--of right or wrong II
all it's instincts it is debasing. M
man or woman, ii obnoxious to it, j;
too pure to escape It's calnmny.-
Nothing said Or done, escapes its de
traction aud Misrepresentation, J
such be deemed necessary. Regard
| less Of truth, lalsehood is Is active
and exbaustIess capitaI. lteleyate
| demagogues aud unworthy persons
to public station, To the exclusion
of able and good men who will no
lend themselves to it's purposes |
hesitates not, in pursuit Of its oh
jccts, to put il jeopardy the exist
ence of our governmental system o
by all the means in its power tt
embroil this country i'll disputes
with Others. Even now, an th'
country is slowly emerging iron
the sore troubles that have 50 grie
vonsIy afflicted it, powerful bod,
Of the Northern press, instead 0
seeking TO restore harmony ant
good feeIing between oil parts Q
the country, ID rIoting in the enjoy
ment of what it deems a sectiona
triumph, is seeking still further Il
inRame sectional feeling, is still dc
ing its utmost to embitter not onl,
the political but the social relation
Of The people North and South |
neglects no means nor oppoftunlt,,
to excite angry and indignant pas
siohs, aud is daily guilty of SUP
preston, cxaggeratiou, misrepre
sentation, and deception. and al
| this for the qualification OF the ig
noble passions Of party of me,
who apparently for tee accomplish
ment of their detestable object, th,
degradation of the Southern people
will not hesitate to set at naugb
all laws and constitutions.
| The TOMATO AS A FooD.--A GOO,