Question

can someone clarify this statement for me.. President Lincoln was a reluctant, censor closing newspapers and jailing "copperhead" editors who sympathized with the South, giving credence to the notion that war sometimes necessitates compromises of free expression.

Answer 1

Although in some ways he didn't want to do so, Lincoln still censored newspapers. He closed some and put some editors in jail for sympathizing with the South. His actions may lead people to believe that in times of war we must give up free speech.