The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-11-20


whole faculties in pointing out the mos
advantageous changes in establishment,
which he considers radically defective
or sliding from their object by abuse"
John Milton again -" For this is moi
the liberty which we can hope, that nc
grievance should ever rise in the Com.
mohwealth; that let no man in this worlC
expect; but when complaints are freely
heard, deeply considered and speedily
reformed, then is the utmost bound OIL
civil liberty attaiaed that wise men look
for"
Plutarch nobIy says" Without lib
erty there is nothing good, nothing wor-
thy the desires of men,
Retteck -" Curse on his memory -
The press is to words what the tongue is
to thoughts. Who will constraIn the
tongue to ask permission for the word it
shall speak, or forbid the soul to generate
thoughts? What shouIH be free and
sacred if not the press ~
Benjamin Franklin: -" Fteedom Of
speech as the principal pillar Of free
government: whea this support IS t4hen
awoy, tie Constitution Of free g0rerameat
Is dlssOtved, and tyraany is erected on its
ruins"
Erskine {" 1t is because the Liberty
ofthe press resolves itself into this great
issue that it has been in every country
the last liberty which subjects have been
able to wrost from the hands Of power.
Other liberties are held NRder govern
ment, but the liberty Of opinion keeps
governments Themselves in due subsection
to their duties. THIS bus produced the
maUyf|0m Of truth IN erery age, and The
,0OrLd h0S only been purged Jr0m ignor-
aace aojb the innocent 6i0Ol Of Those a0A0
hare ea'ighteaed IT,"
James N'!nonsh: " One asylum Of
free discussion is still involate There
is still one spot in Europe where man
can exercise his reason On the most I'M
portant concerns of society, where be
can boldly publish bis thoughts on the
acts of the proudest and most powerful
tyrants."
"Ihe press of England still free.
It is guarded by the free constitution OF
our loreiaherS. 1t is guarded by The
heart and arms of EngIishmen; aud |
trust that may venture to say that if it
be to fall, it will fall only under the ruins
of the British Empire
Curran: What then remains The
liberty Of! the press only; tina sacred Pal
ladium which no inf uence, no power
no minister, no government, which no
thing but the depravity or folly Of a jury
can ever destroy. As the advocate oil,
society, therefore, of peace, of domestic
liberty and the lasting union of the two I
countries, | conjure you to guard the lib,
orty Of the press, that great sentinel Of
the state, that grand detector of public
imposture : guard it, because when it
sinks, then sink with it, in one common
grave, the liberty Of the subject, and the |.
security OF the crown"
Such are the opinions of some Of the
great and good of other times which
seem to burst from organized souls amid
tears and blood,
But our fathers did not leave this basis
of all liberty to the uncertain opinions o /
men The United States Constitution
article |, of A. says Congress shall
make no law nbridging the freedom Of
speech or Of the press The Cons'itu-
ton of Kentucky, section Z, article 10,
says -" The press shall be free to eve
ry person who undertakes to examine
the proceedings ofthe legislature or any
branch Of government; and no law shall
ever be made to restrain the right there
of Tbo Cyon conon,un;co,;or &c tbo,'o
and opinions is one Of the nvuIncrablo
rights OF man, and every citizen may
freely write, speak or print, on any sub
ject, being responsible for the abuse Of
that liberty" Then 1 call upon Will
lam Owsley, Governor Of Kentucky, to
protect me in the constitutional re-estab-
Ishment Of the liberty Of the press
! his is case Of domestic violence. If
he has not power enough here in Ken
lucky, demand Of h m in the name of
the spirit Of tho 4th article Of the Com
to call upon James X. Polk,
President Of the United States. to as,
sist with all the power Of the National |
arm, in vindicatlng the violated laws aud
broken constitution The liberty Of the
press is my inheritance. 1t is mine, by |
The common law Of the land Congress |
has no power to take it away, bat to
make it secure. implore the Amert-
can people to vndicaie their birthris hit
and mine. To the National govern
ment owe allegiance, and in turn
claim Of it protection; demand of the
Congress of the United States to pass
suitable laws, by which the rebels of the
18th, if they attempt TO redeem their
pledge, and renew their violence may be
brought TO summary punishment, SO that
l be protected in the liberty Of speech
and Of the press Yes, Americans, ifI
yau are not slaves, this thing will have
to be done. 1t isyour cause, not mine.