Democratic banner., 1848-03-27
The Freedom OF SDeecll---Our COHntry
Right or WrOng---Disputed Terrific
r., &c.

sure, it is both wise and honest to act il
accordance with that conviction. Whel
they impeach the motives of others who
differ with them, it would be well for then
to examine the ground they occupy them
selves, as well as that which they hav,
passed over since the separation occurred
Having satisfied themselves of the correct
ness of their position and course, it be.
hooves them, then, to look ahead with al
unbiased eye to condemn, and to approve
whereby good may result. "Freedom O
speech' is one of the bulwarks of a repub
lican government, but like all other beau.
tiful and f~avorite maxims it has its extreme
To show the baneful effects of this ex.
IRENE, or rather to show the extreme, let.
quote another equally popular motto, thai
is said too to have its extreme : "Our coun-
TRY right or wrong" is a sentiment cher
isIled by every patriot, and is right IN its
proper understanding ; but we hold that this
maxim is intended to prevent no one from
Fighting the ship of state when the pillows
roll high, nor does it excuse them in fold
ing their arms and abandoning her to the
storm, it matters not how that storm has
been raised. Much less does it tolerate
mutiny or excuse them in ascending her
spars-in bending her to the storm, and
weighing down her efforts to ride triumph
ant DER the troubled sea.
1t plainly marks our duty, to stand by
the ship, whether encalmed or enstormed;
to right her when leaning, to correct the
compass when varying. More than this
may be considered an extreme or perver-
sion of the maxim we have cited. Its true
no where requires us to aid in.
running her upon the breakers or guiding
her in the melstrom, merely to say we have
stood by the ship; nor does it allow us, I'M
der any circumstances, to divide the
strength of the crew, by endeavoring TO-
pass upon the one side, while the captain
and part of the crew are trying to pass her
upon the other-that would be worse than
the elements.
Experienced seamen prefer in a storm,
the ploughing the ocean, TO lacking back
upon the coast, where the rocky reafs lay
concealed. "Our country right or wrong,"
its literal sense is brave, is patriotic, is
noble; in its perverted sense it is base, il
is unpatriotic and ignoble.
"The freedom of speech" is the science:
of a republican government, ,chere That
Is altered for its utter's country's'
good. When the voice of the statesman is
raised for nobler ends than party gain, 10
guide and council his country, we listen
but when it is raised to clog the wheels of,
government, to embarrass the administra-
ton, and to afford 20 the enemy arguments
to them before unknown, to madden and
i~nfuriate them, we deprecate l.,
Think Of our brave men being drawn out
battle array, by the legal acts of our
representatives; the enemy is martialed in
MS might in their front, when an American
voice is heard at that dreadful pause be-
the conflict is commenced, exhorting
he enemy to deeds of daring, "for it is you
who are defending your wives and your
then another of the law-giversil
If the northern republic exhorts that army
'to give our soldiers a bloody reception and
nlospitable graves" Call you this free
lom of speech in the republican accepta-
ion of that term? IT'S the ssmodern dem
who would cheat patriotism out
# its noblest~ impulses, who is heard tc
for the freedom Of speech when
lis reasonable conduct is attacked. The,
freedom of speech" is a maxim we cher
in its purity, and when perverted we
lain under its head the freedom TO lash
he recreant to the interest of his country.
Gut says the demagogues our country isl
It war, her character is at stake, and il we
10 not lend our aid to arrest her declining
nor, we will be justly branded as traitors
e eyes of the world. Listen to their