Year: 1861

attack is upon he readers of that paper, in
voving denial of their right to read any
thing save that which is prescribed for
them,


But there is another enlarged aspect in
I which this matter of free press should be
considered We refer 10 its influence upon
the character and position of the press gen
orally. So soon as the Government in the
exercise of lis arbitratory power, shall de-
Prive the people of one independent press,
! such newspapers as remain, become ty that
| fact ependen., and are published simply
/ by permission. AS the organs of public
! opinion, or of the opinions, OF their pub
Usher, they become devested of title to
consideration or respect They become
bot the sewers through which flow opin-
ions dictated 10 them by their masters.
/ Their editors dwinGle 10 mere mouth pieces
of others, without the right 10 more than
rattle their chains, The blow which de-
prives them TO human machines Their
nobility as free and independent men van
ishes.wi the first invasion of the right of
their neighbors. The censorship which
Preseribes The boundaries OF public discus
sion is as necessarily humiliatiug and de-
structive TO those who submit TO that censor.
ship as 10 those who refuse, since whatev-
er Their disposition, The sacred right of in>
dependence is taken away. The human
being who submits TO degrading bondage
because he likes ii, is as much slave. and
much more abject and degraded, than the
one who makes a resistance for the sake OF
freedom. The forcible discontinuance of
one press, therefore, enslave ALL and leaves
them no attribute worthy of respect


Probably the freedom of the press and
Tie TTeeuuuI OF rPeUvt mover weIe ItIf,in.vJ
upon, except upon the plea of public ne
cessily. |: was the theory of Mr. Jefferson,
and oil The founders of the Republic, that no
such necessity could exist in Republican
government, since the suppression of popu-
lar discussion could further bad cause,
and 10 other. 1t was argued, moreover
and rightly, that if men in power were
made the judges as 10 the existence of such
necessity, there would be no limit 10 the
occasions upon which the suppression of





The practical wisdom of this view has been
fully illustrated in the United States within
the last eighty years. No parry has ever
held the reins of the government in its
hands which did not professedy believe
the government endangered by the opposi-
ton and no political convention has ever
met since the organization of national par.
lies which did not charge upon the oppo-
sing party design TO subvert The Conslitu-
lion.


The present case does not differ essential
ly from others, excep: that the executive has
become possessed OF greater militia.
ry power. The emergency is grea. it is trne,
public danger indeed exists. But the truth
of the principle yet remains. A free press
is dangerous alone 10 bad cause II there
is any truth in the theory of our republican
institutions, bad press cannot overturn
good Government, much less a press truly
and avowedly devoted to the support of the
Government. So as TO The policy of the
Administration in the present war. If that
policy is based upon good sense, upon right
and justice, the voice OF no opposition press
can drive The people from IFS support or en-
danger lis success. IF the measures of the
Administration are in themselves right ard
expedienl, they will bear discussion and
prevail, and il otherwise they will not be
sustained. though our sireets throng with
The armed agents of tho Government and
our prisons overflow with lis victims.