Year: 1861

The Gazette on Freedom OF speech


In an article entitled "The Belligerent
Rights of the People" the Gazstts, in its is.
sue of the 10th inst, endeavors to show that
the liberty of speech and of the something
different in times of war from what it is in
time of peace-that, in fact, the Government,
by getting into war, acquires rights over
persons and property, which in time of peace
it does not possess. Of its main position, we
propose in what follows to have something
to say:


at is apparent to every honest conscious.
ness" says the Gazette, "that there is no such
thing as liberty Of speech or press to oppose
the defense of the country against a foreign
invasion, or against an offensive war, or to
oppose the suppression of an insurrection,
or to oppose the Government in a civil war;"


Now I'VE trust'-like the Apostles
we have good conscience" which is about
the same as an ''honest consciousness" and
we confess we fail to find the truth of the
proposition of the Gazette as apparent as is
desirable, considering the size of its sheet,
the number of its cylinders, and the extent
of its circulation. Indeed, the proposition,
although laid down in very precise terms, is
q very indefinite proposition; and it seems
doubtful whether, in laying it down, the
Gazette was fully aware of all its conse.
quences.


A war, according to the Gazette, puts an
end to liberty of speech, and of the press in
the country engaged in it; the people, from
its commencement to its close, when speak
ing of it being restricted to such conversa-
ton or publication as is in approval OF, and
calculated to sustain, the plans, policy and
acts, whatever they may be, of the Govern
ment.


The defense of the Government in case Of
civil war includes the end it seeks to accom-
plish; the means it selects for the purpose;
and the degree of vigor with which it en-
ploys them: and according to the doctrine
of the Gdzette-to dissent from the views Of
the Government in respect to either of these
things, or to cavil at its acts, is to oppose it
which we have DO right to do. To deny that
the end sought to be secured is the proper
one under the circumstances, is oppositioni
to disapprove of the policy adopted or the
means chosen to secure it is opposition; and
to condemn its energy when it chooses to be
energetic, or of its moderation when il
chooses to be dilatory, is opposition.


This, it must be confessed, whittles thC
rights of conversation and journalism dowI
to a pretty sharp point and when we re
member that every man entrusted with any
official power or discretion is pro rata tn
Government, and that to oppose him is Il
oppose the Government, we begin to wonde
where is that boasted freedom of speech an,
of the press which, in times past, cut so fin
a figure in Presidents Messages and Fourt


Of July orations, to say nothing Of that nov


obsolete and discredited document tn


Declaration of American Independence.


The ideas of the Gazette are the growth


practice common enough in Journalism al
elsewhere of attempting to deduce rul


from single example. It begins by assuu


ing that ell who oppose the measures or di
sent from the policy Of Government are i
enemies, and are not only in the wrong, bI
wilfully, Indignantly 80. 1t places such o.
posers in the category of traitors, whose mt
, tives are criminal, and teaches that the Co
ernment has, in consideration of their man
fest enmity, right, at will, to put them
silence, It also assumes that the Govern
l ment is always wise and capable; and it
only when both these assumptions happe
to be correct that its rule has any semblan'
of Justice. 1t is only good when the Go
l ernment is faithful and its opponents NAL
ciously bad; while nothing could be wor
il. than it, if the Government is unfaithfuL al
: its opponents honest and sincere.


= Suppose, for example, that this insure


ton had come to head during the Admi


istration of Mr.. Buchanan. Suppose tn


the public forts and property had be-
} seized, an army raised, and Washington i


vested; while the President, instead


raliying an army and appealing to t
patriotism of the country, had declared Il
= there were no constitutional means to su


press the rebellion, and had, therefore, 9
4 vised the people to leave it to itself 1


Gazette would have found plenty Of bit


words to condemn such policy; aud y


in doing so, would not the Gazette have be
: guilty of Opposing the Government in
civil war;"


The Gazette will hardly venture to
: down the proposition that in an insurrecti
J. or civil war, the Government should rece
5, the support Of the press when it is right a
= when it is wrong; when the end 1t has
Z, view is just and when it is UNJUST when
"a means it has adopted are calculated to p


mote the object in view, and when they