Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1837-07-07
ESPIONAGE AND PRESCRIPTION
From Wise,s Speech at Norfolk.

Not only has the freedom OF debate, but
the freedom of speech throughout the land,
been held sacred by every true '98 republi-
can. Now, sir, l assert it, that during the
las; winter when the investigations Of the
two committees were going on in Congress.
II real inquisition was established in the Ex-
ecutive departments to extort from some Of
the poor clerks who had given information
TO MIR Peyton and myself OF certain abuses.
The gag-law of prescription was held over
the head Of every one who showed the least
disposition to disclose voluntarily Sir, one
of the most crying abuses, daily before my
eyes, was one which was enough to freeze
the blood Of freeman in his veins Often
were | and my friend Mr. Peyion, visited
by certain true hearted patriots, flor there are
some such belonging TO the departments,) by
stealth, in the dead hour Of night, who, when
the door was locked, and they had cast their
timed gances at every curtain and closet in
the room, would reveal by hints, seldom d.
rectly, what they knew and what might be
known concerning every species Of vice and
mischief in the administration of public al
fairs Their mouths are stopped with bread.
have numerous letters from some of them,
which clearly show the worse than Turkish
despotism which reigns at the metropolis OF
this boosted republic. AS an instance. Sir,
a worthy man OF one of the departments cal.
led and told me of certain crying abuse-I
commenced upon its Trail. In day or two
| received an anonymous note-l knew the
handwriting. III am suspected Please
have me summoned, and ask me number
OF questions, Indifferent, no matter what, not
touching the matter informed you OF, as a
blind they'll suppose l did not tell you Of
that, and that you did not know knew Of it,
You surely will not let me suffer for giving
you information of the truth. This plan
mag SAGE me-" Sir, could not adopt the
plan; why2 The man was honest and
reminded him he would be sworn to tell the
sehOie truth. The only plan was TO dess,
from the important inquiry, 10 save an hon,
est and true man from the most tyrannical
torture OF persecution and prescription. Oh,
il the walls of these pententiaries. called
departments, could speak they would tales
unfold which would arouse the blood oil
Freemen. and make tyrants and their tools
feel their hottest vengeance. How hard was
the struggle for light and truth against the
trained bands of an overwhelming majority
Of recreant, faithless representatives in the
House. against party machine for Speak
er-against the stocked pack Of committee
against the President and heads Of depart.
ments--against prescription and pensioned
press! The odds were great against two
feeble, denounced. slandered men. of little
experience in public life, who were actually
putupon trial for their efforts-honest,th though
they may have been sometimes in error, in
the cause of light, and liberty, and truth, and
who were unsustained except by few stout
hearts who stood by and gave them the light
of their countenance. and the encouragement
OF their cheers Thank God the triumph
was The greater Triumph we did. We did
drag to light many of their hidden deeds oil
darkness; and, above all, made them show
of what they were capable, by the mode and
means of their resistance.