Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-02-15
From The Michigan (Whig) Expositor.
Free Speech and a Free Press.

We have few words 10 say with regard
TO the disturbance which took place at Odd
Fellows Hall on Tuesday evening. Aud
first, let us premise, zee haze no sympathy icih
The doctrine Of disunion, whether il he found
in Carolina cnnclave, or an Abolition Lee
ture at the North hut those WHO think the
Union can he broken by either of these
agents, must, we think, entertain a poor
opinion OF its strength. Now we have not
the least fear that any two men who can
come among us, can in any degree weaken
the bands which bind these States together;
aud tie idea of sensible men getting up
meeting, and organizing company to dis
turb nnd brenk up lecture ofa "disunonist,"
IS III orr opinion, absurd aud unculled for
IL public lecturers pronulgate false aud err
roneous principles, they must be met by ar
gument and not mobs. The sllrcst way TO
difinsc and establish an error, is to mob it,
Look at MormUnism, but for the prosecutions
it has received, it would have ere this been
mouldering with the walls of Nauvoo temple;
but ioiM these prosecutions, look at it-in-
creusng with strides unprecedented in the
history of any sect of latter times.
We hold and we think correctly, that the
premises laid down by Messrs. WALKER and
TREAT, that "compucts mud governments of
all kinds, must be demolished before the
rights of an individual man shall he abro-
gated" are unsound, and that other argu-
ment then goose quill trumpet" can, aud
ought to be brought to refiIie the error. We
do not intend here TO discuss this matter, but
merely suggest for the consideration of such
as may he inclined TO the doctrine of the ST.
perior rights of f"individuality," that we have
been taught TO believe, that the true policy
10 be aimed nj is "the greatest good to the
greatest number" We believe thnt were
this Union to he dissolved because of Slavery,
the cause of Human Freedom throughout
! the world would suffer ten times more injury
than the dissolution could advance it,-tlat
for the good of the cause of Human Rights
throughout the world, the Union will and
ought TO he preserved, though for a while
we must tolerate slavery. But because these
men think differently, and so declare, shall
they be molested? Where, fellow citizens,
is your bonsied liberty of Free Speech, aud
free dissemination of thoughts and princ-
| pies, nmenable not 10 the mob, but the Law,
for the abuse of speech? Does man use
unlawful language? The La,0 must be the
remedy. II he does not abuse the rights
guaranteed TO him by the Constitution, then
the man who disturbs him is law breaker
and dlsorganizer" in society. Arguments
| nlust Dc met ny aTgUUlcuIS, ana IIdu NOT TIE
meeting been disturbed, the unsouud posi-
ton of these men would have been fairly
met, as they invited, aud we trust answered
correctly.
We tell you, gentlemen, when you encour-
age such proceedings, you are handling edge
toOls,-yOu know not how soon these weap-
ons may turn against yourselves. We ought
10 remember that mobs do not contine their
efforts TO the "preservaion of the Union,
as on Tuesday evening; for ut one time they
drag the minister from the pulpit, aud an
other hang the gambler without judge or
jury-at one time mob man who attempts
TO capture fugitive slave, and at another,
the same community will "hustle out" the
man who condemns the " fugitive law"
| There is no safe way but TO abide by la,o
and the man who neglects TO do so, opens a
flood gate that may sooner or later under
mine all the foundations of penceable socic-
! ~, aud bring upon himself worse ruin Than
| he planned for others.
We repeat, The liberty Of Speech and Of he
Press must be respected, or you are violators ol
the very principles Of that compact you pro-
fcss so ardently 10 love.