The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-10-05
THE RIGHTS OF DISCUSSION.

The RIGHTS OF DISCUSSION.
aWhen the Abolition rufians Of Chicago
b-oke M the meeting at that den OF iniquity,
and prevented Judge Douglas from speaking,
in common with all decent orderly, and we'll
disnosed persons. we condemned them without
stint. We endesvored to show, that when any
number of free citizens propose 70 hold pub
lie meeting for a specified object, and invite ell
friendly TO that object to attend, it IS an out
rage for men opposed TO the object to go to the
meeting raise clamors noises, and disturban-
ces. and break the meeting up. The opinion
that we expressed in regard to the Chicago dis
turbances is our general opinion IN relation to
all such ousrages. We disapprove of all Of
them Washington Sentinel
The Sentinel proceeds to condemn the disor-
Derby conduct of the Know Nothings at the
late meeting of Administration men at CarusPs
Saloon, in this city, but reminds the Public
that they could plead very respectable prece-
dent Last winter, i: says, when the Hards Of
this city attempted in meeting Of their own,
to pass resolutions expressing their views freely
of the Administration, the supporters Of the
latter interrupted their proceeding and broke
up the meeting; and yet some of the1h are
now most indignant in den0uncing similar mis-
conduct on the part of the Know Nothings
A word as to the Chicago demonstration.
Senator Douglas was not gaggcd-he spoke
freely and was listened to, until becoming ex-
cited, ne INDUCED in Irritating denunciatiOn /;
then, the audience became excited too, and the
antagonism resulted in an uproar, which pre-
cludcd all further discussion. We have yet
seen no evidence Of pTemeditated purpose to
prevent free speech.
But. whatever was done, was the work of
th3 People of Chicago, generally; to charge
it npon AbolitiOnists," is to utter ground
less calumny. Senator Douglas is in the
habit Of denouncing as AbOlitionists all who
oppose his views on the question of Slavery and
his friends do likewise. Opposition TO the Sen
alter and his bentling, the Nebraska Bill, is
nothing but Observation-Disclosures the Peo-
pie who opposed him in Chicago were Adolf
tionists If this reasoning be correct the Abe
Ftionisis have multiplied beyond all precedent
since the passage Of the Nebraska Bill, Ioc thus
far. in every State where an election has been
held. the ballot-box has shown large MAORI
ty Of the People opposed to Senator Douglas
and his Bill; and by tho time oil the State cleo
tiors have been held, the dem Onsration will be
complete, that /" the Aboiihonists have the
majority IN every free State! We congra!u-
late the o-Slsrery press here upon the cheer
ing prospect
But, # the Ssntinel means to charge upon
rbn &C. inf
ing with the rights Of free discussion we meet
it with fat contradiction. No class of our
citizens has suffered more in defence OF the lib
crty o. speech and Of tie press, and of the right
Of assembling together for the purposes Of free
discussion; 70 class has 50 Fturdily and consist
emily defended .hass rights in all cases, for 9th
ers as well as themselves Ia no class have
those rights been SO often and so grossly out
RACED. Their presses have been destroyed,
thair Offices burned, their meetings broken up
By violence, their agents tarred and feathercd,
and, n orc ease one # thc;r editors was murder
e. and al the while such papers as the Union
and Sentinel applauded the outrages CT the mob,
and such papers IS the Inteiligcnc,r had no
word Of ceHsure Dat Tor those whose extrava-
gances of speech, they said, provoked popular
indignation.
Now, point to a single instance whcro these
much-abused men, or any Of them, have broken
up a Pro-Siavery meeting, prevented Pro
Slavery harangue, gagged Pro-Slsvery advo-
cate who attempted in their own assemblies to
support or excuse Slavery! You cannot do it.
TO their enemies you must 60 for precedents in
favor Of mob Violence. The Slavery Party, to
(Which you belong, Nlr. Sentinel, has denied
and violated the right Of fee discussion; and
now, when you fell out among yourselves, do
not be surprised that they are similarly out.
ragged. You have sown the wind, and you reap
the whirlwind You have substituted brute
force for the right, aud now pay the penalty.
Administration men break up the meetings of
their Hard opponents, the Know Nothings
break up the meetings Of the Administration
men, and by and by they must take their turn.
lou oil now maintain that when any number
Of respectable free citizens propose to hold a
public meeting for specified object. and invite
ali friendly to that object to attend, it is an
outrage fos men opposed TO tho object to 90 to
tue meeting, raise clsmors, noises, and disturb
anco, and break the meeting up ~ and vet
should number of free citizens propose to hold
public meeting in this city to get up memo.
rial praying Congress to take measures for the
removal of Slavery from the District. how
many Of you would stick to your principles
should turbulent effort BE- made to break Il
up?
When a man shows himself as ready to re-
spcot the rights OF his neighbors rs to defend
his own-when he habi.aslly aooords to an
opponent the same freedom of opinion and ex-
preston he claims for himself-when ne vindi-
Gates promptly and firmly the liberty of speech
and of the press, and the right of assembling
together and of petition, no matter what may
be the object sought by their exercise or what
Party is for the time specially interested in
their rocognition-we know that has profession
of faith in human rights is not lie; that with
him, Principle is stronger than Prejudice Par
ty, or Self-in a word, that he is a good and
true man. How many such men are to be
found in the ranks Of the Slavery Psrty?
A VALUABLE PAMPHLEr.-D. NJ. Dewey
publisher, Rochester, New York, has Issued a
wen got up pamphlet, containing without
note or comment the Constitution of the Uni
toi States and the Laws relating to Slavery,
viz: The Fugitive Slave Act of 1893; the Mis-
souri Compromise Act of 1920; the Fugitive