The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1868-02-07
Memorial TO the General Assem-
bly, OF the State Of Tennessee,

W tHC ASSCul-
bly, OF the State Of Tennessee.
We, the representatives OF the loyal news
paper Press of the State, beg leave to me-
morialize your Honorable Body in behalf of
the publishing interests Of the State. The
Press is an important element in all popular
governments, lwieldiug mn influence which
generally tells upon the destiny Of any and
every measure Of public interest, moulding
the public mind, and controlling public opin-
ion. The sword is powerful, but the Press
Is q le%Ter-power which CONTROLS the destiny
Of the nation upon every question Of the
day. And there are but few things, if any,
Of more Importance to the welfare of the
country than a patriotic, loyal, and vell-con-
Quoted Newspaper Press.
Your memorialists have no apologies to Of
fer, nor are they in any way responsible for
TIE evil effects produced by venal, recon-
stiucted rebel Press, to the influence of
which may be attributed much of our late
troubles, and present unhappy condition of
the country. Arrayed upon the side Of the
rebellion, they welded their influence in
feeding aud keeping up the fire of the same,
by Misrepresentation and the suppression of
the truth, urging the people on 10 ruin and
disaster. And when the sword was sheathed
and the arms returned to the arsenal, and
the people ready to return to their allegiance,
they famed again to life the smouldering
flames Of the rebellion, ouenched bv the
blood Of a half a million Of brave hearts,
and urged the d%isloyal element to array it.
self afresh against loyal rule, and strive to
accomplish at the b0llot.boT, what it failed
to effect by the sword, teaching treason and
rebellion under the mask of Conservatism
and Democracy, appearing like wbitei sep
ulchers, being full Of dead mems bones.
This the loya! Press has strove TO combat.
though uuder many and discouraging cir
cumstsnces. Many If not most, Of the men
who control the loyal Press Of Tennessee
followed the hag Of their country with its
changing fortunes through the long, dark
night Of war, in the capacity Of officers and
~privates, and returned with ruined fortunes
and broken health, and locking alone to the
opening future, they resumed their sanctums
and cases, against the combined power and
influence Of the reb'l Press, which has the
prestige OF the patronage OF the country
mainly, being fed and sustained to n very
great extent by the legal advertising all over
the State, which Of right belongs to the 10y
al Press, Nothing is more unreasonable than
that while the loyal people OF the State are
masters Of the situation, and have a loyal
newspaper Press all over the State, the rebel
papers receive fully four.ifths of the legal
advertising patronage Of the various court
officers. But such is the eHse.
But the point TO which your memorialists
wish to direct your asteation, is the uneoua,
not to say unjust legislation, which REQUIRES
the printer to work FOR parties l,isating at
one-half the price that is paid 6y other par.
ties, for the same amount Of labor, ane
which is uniform nll over tho cuantrr in tbiJ
and ether States. u is certainly a mistake
TO attempt to fl the price Of labor BY legis-
latiTe enactment. Labor in any department
Of business must. in the very nature of
things, regulate itself. Hence, the lerlsHa-
ton which 6Ksd the printers fees twenty
years ago is found TO be ]ruinous 10 the news
paper interests, while preseRt high prices of
material, labor and living, rule. The Legis-
lature in 1865, found that the laws could not
be printed At former prices and 4, was IN.
der the necessity Of increasing the rates to
meet the prices OF the times. Your me-
morialists would simply ask, as a matter OF
justice, a similar favor at your banda.
The loyal newspapers, though BY M means
nor Of any very, great pretensions
claim to have been instrumental, to the foil
measure Of their ability, in contributing TO
the bringing about the present happy state
of affairs in the reconstruction OF the State
Government, aiding and sustaining the noble
band Of brave men whose hands took hold
Of the sinking ship, and brought her again
20 safe mooring. The loyal papers Of Ten.
nessee have come up to the full measure Of
duty in contributing to the present
State Of affairs.
WV. 3AKEE & SOY, BeAiaHriHs Eaisrprus.
Travis WISHAH, Freu and T1ass.
JoHS BLToS, Jr. NsnBAis PoH.
JoHs B.. BRowNLow, RnoTri, Wig.
JoHS RUHN, T%eHHstsss Stadb Zsitung.
X. s. KESDRIcK, Chattanooga Rspu6lean.
GEo EDGAR GRisuAN, and
s. A. BovELL, JoHeI5oro' Union Flag.
Buck / TAYLOR, CdrksriHe Patriot.
Nelson s.. CoBLEieH, Ahsns Repu5lean.
T. n. B. CAN, Hsyrsssboro' Tatekman.
JAMES Ross, Shs!byrRe RPuJtean.
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