Indiana American., 1855-02-23

stiuhi i1totohs shes sesiNhihk iufes-
tigation erd public exposure which. IN
the North, brings every possible ques
iion 10 the bar Of public opinion, and
makes society boil like pot.
Yes, you may speak Of Slavery, !
you will defend il; you may preach
about II, IL you shingle its roof with
Scripture texts; but you may not tall
nor preach. nor print abolition doctrine
though you believe them with the in
tensity Of inspil stionl
The reason given Is. that II will stil
up insrrrection. And so it will. tits
said that free speech is inhamatory'-
So il is. That il would bring every
mans life in the South into jeopardy
thrt, In self-defense. they must limi
aud regulate the expression of opinion
But what is that theory Of Govern
ment, and what is that state Of society
under il. in which free speech and free
discussion are dangerous? II Is the
boast Of the North, not alone thai
speech and discussion are free, but
tfat we have society constructed in
every part so raloly, wisely. and justly
that they can endure free speech; nc
file can part, but only polish. We
turn on. any law, and say, discuss IL
that Il may be the strongerl We chal.
lengc scrutiny for our industry, for
our commerce, for our social customs,
foi our municipal affairs, for our State
Questions. 70 ali that we believe, and
all tina. we do, and everything that we
Luild. We are not in haste to be
born in respect to any feature Of life.
We say-probe IL. question II, put fire
TO IL. We ask the experience OF the
past to sit and try Il. We ask the rip.
est wisdom Of the present TO test and
aralyze il. We ask enemies to plead
al, they know against il. We chall.
cage the whole world Of ideas, and
the great deep Of human interests Ia
come up upon anything that belongs,
lis to belong, to opublic affairs. And
then, when a truth. policy, or apro-
cedure comes TO birth, from out the
womb OF such discussion, we know
that II viii stard. Ard when our
whole public interests asc rounded out
and built up, we are glad to see men
going around end about, marking well
our towers, aud coudting our bull
warks. May il do them good TO see
such architecture and engineering
And il is Just this difference that dis
tinguishes the North and the South
We have institutions that will stand
public and private discussioa--they
have not. We will not have law.
or custom. or economy, which cannot
be defended against the freest inquiry
Such n rule would cut them lovel as a
moved meadow They live in era
ter. forev'. dreading the signs of ac-
tiyity. They live in powder maya
zine. No wonder they fear light and
fire. II is the plea Of Wrong since
the world began. Discussion would
unseat the CEar: free press would
dethrono the ignoble Napoleon; free
speech would re, olutionize Rome
Freedom Of thought and freedom Of
expfess'oal they are mighty chompi-
ons, that 90 with unshielded swords
the wofld over, TO redress the weak,
to right the wronged, to pull down evil
and build up good. And State that
will be damaged by free speech ought
to be damaged. A King that cannot
keep his seat before free speech ought
to be urseated. An order or an insti-
tuition that breads freedom Of the
press has reason TO dread II. II the
South would be revolutionized by FREQ
discussion, how intensly does that fact
show her dying need of revolutionl--
Shc is dungeon, full Of damps and
death-air. She needs light and ven
tilation. And the only objection is,
that il there: :werc light and air let in,
il would no longer be n dungeon"
~. There is a noticeable contrast
between Northern and Southern ideas
of Religion.
We believe Gods revealed word to
contain the inhaence appointed for the
regeneration and full Development OF
every human being, and that il is To
be employed as Gods universal slim
ulant TO the human soul, as air and
light are the universal stimulants OF
vegetation.
We preach IL to arouse the whole
soul; we preach il to FIRE the intellect,
and give It wings bv which to compass
knowledge; we preach 1t TO touch ey-
cry feeling with refinement, to soften
rudeness and enrich. affections we
build the family with it; we sanctily
love, and purge out lust; we polish
every relation of life; we inspire q
cheerful industry and whet the edge
Of enterprise, and then limit them by
the bonds Of justice and by the mod.
Grafton Of faith which looks into the
future and the eternal. We teach each
man that he is q child Of God, that he
is personally one for whom the Savior
died; we teach him that he is known
and spoken of in Heaven. his name
called; thatangels are sent out upon
his path to guard and to educate him
we swell within him the uttermost ev.
cry aspiration, catching thciirst flame o.
youth and feeding it. until the whole
heart glows like an altar, and the sou
is temple bright within, and sweet
by the incense-smoke and aspiring
flame Of perpetual offerings and di'
vine sacrifices. We have never dont
with him. We lead him from the era
die to boyhood; we take him then in
to manhood. and guide him through
oil its passes; we console him in age
and then stand, rs he dies. to prophe
sy the coming heaven. until the fadinI
eye flashes again, and the unhearinI
ear is full again; for from the othe
side ministers of grace are coming