The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1854-05-12
From the Pa. Saturday Evening Mail.
M LIBERTY. Z

kHOW uO SouhHJ :" "S"
10 little true Independence Of mind and
freedom, Of discussion, as in America
Within certain barriers, indeed, an author
may write whatever he pleases, bu, il he
ever step beyond them he will repent il.
Every sort Of compensation, even that of
celebrity, is then refused 10 him. His
fellow creatures will shun him like an
impure beins,an even they who are most
persuaded Of his innocence, will abandon
him, lest they should be stunned in their
turn."-De Tocquerille.
Such are tho "hard sayings" Of an ac-
complished Frenchman, the grca, philos-
ophsr Of democracy, and the friend and
admifer Of our country and its instilu~
lions. Tha, he thus spoke from con-
viction SO strong as TO be compulsory, is
plain from tho following:
"If ever these lines are read in Amar>
lea, ! am well assured OF two things,-in
the frs, place, that all who poruse them
will raise their voices to condemn me;
and in the Sec, nd place.. tina, very many
or them will acqui, me a, tile bottom Of
their hearts,"
Whether the frs, clause Of the philos-
ophsr'S prediction has been verified, wa
do not assuredly know. If has not, the
case m,y probably !e, that his book has
never as ye, become exactly p'pu'ar read.
Ing.
Now, this statement, deplorable as II
10, aS por,raying the condition Of things
ina free country, 10, il not absolutely and
literally, yet TO great degree true. And
what . truth! Wha, is liberty worth il q
chain be fastened on the lips! II is, 10
be suro, something. .ha, the limbs are un
fettered and life and substance hang on
no Irresponsible capricious will. But il
10 q most useful subtraction from the sum
total OF freedom, that speech. one Of the
most transcendanl Of the divine gifts,
should be so crippled and restricted in
its exercise, as TO bo for mos. practical
and desirable ends nnnihiu!ed. How
vitality is progress, whether individual or
social, concerned in unlimited scope and
largest ut,erance being conceded 10 the
though's and specuIa,ions of one and sill!
The denial Of these is likely in the end
to jeopardise the very existence Of all
freedom whatever. And il is inevitable
chat such denial should render tardy and
uncertain, il i, does not totally dcfea, the
redress of existing grieveance',,he remo-
val ot presen, evils, and the development
and establishment Of novel truths. And,
al the very best, i, is as though the trav-
eller should take upon himsef heavy
and utterly superhuous burden TO encum.
Dor his movements.
VIVA, gross and shameful inconsis'en-
cy too! We proclaim ourselves free land
We vaun, our freedom loudly. And yet
we forbid ono another 10 speak this or
shat, though it may be unteniable truth,
and truth, too, of the higheat and most
enduring importance.
But do We actually thus forbid! Not
i, may be, in so many specific TERMS
The latter, however, were the honesser,
rnanlier course. But We pay, "think,
speak, freely and unconstrainedly."-
Suppose an individual does thus think
and speak, being encouraged thereto by
the letter Of our declarations. Soon, too
soon, he fnds himself visi,ed,in ono form
or another, with our diSpleasure.
Thus, If a clergyman, and exercising
legitimately his function Of teacher, he is
led by his more comprehensive kDowl-
edge and deeper studies 10 some opinion
differing from those held by the majority
OF those he is appointed TO instruct, and
expresses such opinion, he is forsaken
probably by one after another, aud if the
point be Of great general intercst,he may
be thrust forth from his high place penni-
less and shadowed by i'll repute.
Ifan office-holder, no is at once ap>
prised that his ''room is preferred to his
company"
If the conductor Of newspaper or a
magazine, his subscription list is cur,ail-
ed. ,aeaa3 a .apa
In fus ifin any employment or yoca>
iion depending on patronage or custom,
and very few arc no' SO, he is reached
and punished for his Independence thro'
such patronage and custom. Now we
boast, ever dd naaseas, that among US
mems lives and liberties are never touch