New-York daily tribune., 1853-12-16

large meeting was held in the Park for tne purpose o
denouncine the whole proceedings Both the report OF
the original arrest and OF the doings Of the meeting 10
tIe Park bave appeared in odr columns The former
m TUESDAY rnd the latter yesterday AT the meeting
in the Park Mr. Parsons made speech aaI il wls
announced that he would resume bis old poscnatthe
foot OF Third.st on Sunday next, at r NJ, and pro-
ceed with bis preaching sohat the case ia not yet
done with.
Tie arrest of Mr. Parsons made on the grounl
that his preaching WAS likely to ncte mob and lead
TO serious disturbance. We take it for granted howe
YER that be violating no law or city ordinance. or
he would not have been sumnarily released. The
only City ordinance we presume, that approaches bis
case is the following:
"No reson shall be concerned or instrumental in col
ctng promoting any assembage OF persons under pre-
tense Of or for public worship exhortaton in the PARK
or Battery any OF the markets or streets or any pub
c in the City Of New York laid ont and appropriated for
the common Of the citizens, under the penalty OF TWEEN
ty-fvo dollars"
But il is stated that Mr. Parsons was not preaching
either in any street or public place appropriated for
City use but was occupying shpyard by consent of
tie owner Thus it would appear that the Mayor has
transcribed bis authority and given rise to the ex-
stipg complications of the The truth would
TO be that if he bad bad clearer OF certain general
principles which prevail extensively on this continent,
or keener eye for the experience of the past that he
would have sent lis police force, if he had sent il at
all to protect rather than to arrest the preacher 1t is
totally out of the question, we should think NOBODY
need be told to undertake to abridge the liberty OF
spreech or Of the press among us, in defererce to tho
wishes or demands of anybody. The people have the
right of free speech, in doors and out and they viii
certainly exercise it in all cases. with the exception OF
those made exceptional by positive enact nent for the
general convenience as in the of streetpreachng
for example.
We have no Indignation to vent on this occasion be-
cause we DO not any deep laid scheme tyranny IN
this particular case which threatens our liberties,
which some Of the speakers Wednesday evening con-
sdered in great peril Mr.. Parsons, we understand,
breaches against Popery and this is the great grief OF
those who would shut his mouth Those who dislike his
doctrines or who are offended by violence ofdeaun-
citation, declare he must shut up or they will mob him.
Now we admit that this is highly improper aud If there
were danger of such outrage the authorities should
nerpose to prevent that and not to stop his speaking
There is but one rule for all such cases. SO long as
people keep within the bounds of law and observe
peaceabe demeanor, they be allowed preach and
inculcate whatsoever doctrines they choose and to
make Just such exhibitions of wisdom and folly of good
temper and bad, it pleases them. There must be
clear field for all exposition and discussion and there
will be- Let error DO its worst and let truth be free
to combat IT, These are not the times and this is not
the country to imprisOn 10 burn for heretical speech
The utmost latitude of thought and utterance is de-
manded and every attempt to check and suppress the
spirit that everywhere prompts free expression shall
be driven like chat before the tempest As to this Mr.
Parsopss doctrines know nothing and nothing.
To whomsoyer they obnoxious that is under
no necessity to hear them To whom they not let
him listen if he chooses and let him be protected n his
right to hear and the preacher in his right to speak