The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-07-13
NO. IL.

as IL the inability OF voting be Sufhcent reason
for expecting and exacting from those thus dis
franchised perpetual silence in relation to mat
tiers Of general interest, why should not this ex-
clusion be also applied TO the Territories, which
are governed Immediately by persons appointed
by the Executive, and whose delegates on the
floor of Congress have no right to exercise any
other privilege than that of joining in the Con-
gressonal debates, the privilege of voting and bal
1otting being denied them by the Constitution
Will any one presume to assert that those grow
ing and important members of the Republic are
forbidden from the open, bold, and unfettered ex-
preston of their opinions of public men and
things? Do not their delegates in Congress and
the people at home exercise that freedom of
speech whichais secured to every citizen of the
land by the Constitution to which we owe our
existence! And are we, inhabitants likewise of
2 Territory, which, though not governed and re-
presented as Florida and the rest, still claims
every member of both houses as our immediate
representatives and legslators-are we, / say, to
be denied the exercise of privilege which is not
refused even to the foreigner who has not been
long enough in the country to learn title of our
4 language, men, measures, and institutions! In
what does the mighty difference consist between
the citizens of this District and those of the Ter
ritories governed by Executive appointments and
more or less under Executive CONTROL that the
FIRST should be gagged and prepared for state
OF servitude and oppression, whilst the others are
permitted and encouraged to enter freely and ex-
clusively into the discussion of subjects which
come home. to the heads and hearts of every good
citizen ihthe land There is nothing in the Con-
stitutions nothing in the laws Of the respective
States orTeffitoFies which denies to those of
their inhabitants, whether minors, females, aliens,
or nom taxables, who cannot deposite their votes
n the polls in general State elections the right
Of canvassing the tendency of measures, the
claims, merits, and dement's of the various can
didttes for public confidence and honor / deny
most emphatically, that this privilege Of public
expression Of political preferences or diskes de-
ponds in any manner upon that of voting. The
two are totally distinct and by no means con-
.nected or flowing one from another. The o.lly
difference that can be discovered in the results is,
that generally where the two rights exist in one
or the same person, the influence and weight of |
that person are thereby increased, and rendered
of more effect and value. But SO far as the abb
stract question of right Of expressing an opinion
about public men and things is concerned, every
citizen of the Republic has a natural and indie
feasible claim to freedom of speech and discus
sion, which he cannot resign without becoming |
slave, and of which, without his consent, free and
untrammelled, no power on earth can deprive |
him without being guilty of tyranny and oppres-
sion. t
Can any one of those who tmidly, and am
somewhat disposed to believe treacherously, come
forward for the purpose of resigning privilege |
without which life is a burden and degradation, |
be found to assert that by the Constitution or by
law an exception has been made in the case of |
the citizens Of this District from the general and
universally received axioms of republican form
Of government? Will any one be SO lost to the
most common Meelings of manhood, as willingly
and for filthy lucre, to cooperate with demapo- |
CUES and selfish politicians, who so far forget or
violate the rudiments Of liberty, as to seek to put
locks on the tongues, gag on the press, and |
check on the thoughts and actions of 10000 Amer
lean citizens II such foul wrong is to be done |
in this free land of ours if such sIavish and gro
yelling doctrines are to prevail and flourish. let
them at least take their birth in other soil than |
this, the favorite spot of a Washington. and
iondy foreshadowed by the fathers of the Const- |
t9uon as the point from whence the tocsin of |
alarum should be sounded by the bold sentinels
on the watchtowers Of liberty when the republic
10 in danger!
No my fellow citizens, it never was intended
Il.. u's district should be rendered cdious, and
. cry and contempt. Those who fought hled and
toileo ior the great prize OF American indenen-
0ence, never would have 80 far proved recraon,
10 their principles and objects as 10 denr;,e
ton Of their countrymen Of rights and nrivanaa
10 dear and necessary to men Of honor and nr;sc;,
pie. The trainers Of the Constitution in,en ,L.
and desired nothing more, by the selection If
these ten miles square as the spot for the estab.
lishment and operation of the Government SO
dearly won and so solidly established, and the
grant to Congress of exclusive jurisdiction
within its limits, than the protection of that body
from popular insult and control. For this pur-
pose they denied its inhabitants the right of voting
IN general politics, and made them dependent
leon Gongress. but not its slaves and scapegoats.
The liberty Of legal and peaceable discussion and
the freedom OF speech and action, they could not
touch or alter. These natural rights of man
were beyond their control. even had they harbor-
% such dtshonorabie Intentions, and we would be
fools and madmen indeed, were we to offer our
selves up ~ lambs for the slaughter, and flatter
ourselves with the idle hope of SECURING protec-
t'on, kindness and support, by the sacrifice of
honesty and honor.
In my next shall endeayor to nroua hu ana