The Kansas herald of freedom., 1856-11-08

condemns the Roman plan, and prefers
that the right should vest, where it exists
In England and America, IN the hands
Of the people; observing that by die
tating to the people their judgments of
men and measures, it takes from them
that freedom of thinking which is the
noblest privilege as we'll as the. frmest
support of liberty" But the freedom
Of the Press in England did not spria,g
at once into existence. Like the rest
of those noble institutions which she
has bequeathed to the world, it arose
from insignificant beginnings, and grew
gradually into strength and importance.
So late as the era of Lord Coke, one of
the greatest of the English judges, it
was by no means relished even by pat
riots, who hated both oppression and
the oppressor. Coke himself was in
favor of the despotic DEGREES of the
! Court of Star Chamber, against all who
presumed to write upon or discuss
political subjects. and declared that
I" the right institution and orders there
of, being observed, It doth keep all En-
gland q4iff." But the shackles on the
Press did not 5ie with the abolition of
the Star Chamber: for even the eele-
brated Long Parliament revived the an
cient regulations against its freedom !;
nor was it until the year 1894 that the
English Parliament, refusing any longer
to re-enact those statutes, which in that
year expired by their own limitation,
first asserted the great principal which
has accomplished so much for the true
glory and prosperity of England and
her widespread colonies.
Since that period the Press has been
nominally free in Great Britain, but as
is shown already, it is still subject to a
slight censorship, which may at any
moment of excitement be converted into
an engine of oppression. In America,
however, it has dropped its chains, un-
furled its pinions, and scars in triumph
throughout all the do1Sains of human
thought. Politics and religion are
equally subject to its inspection. and
private no less than public corruption
trembles at its power. 1t applies the
lash Of ridicule, the sting of satire, and
the thunder of denunciation, indiscrim-
inately to all who betray public trusts
or violate private confidence. 1t hunts
the hypocrite from the pulpit, the
imposter from the tribune, the traitor
from the Capitol. Itloads the criminal
with fetterS stronger than those of iron,
and Kisses the quack, the demagogue
and the pettifogger, into a despicable
oblivion. 1t has become that great
avenger, which the ancients in their ia
bles named Nemesis,
"Who never yet of human wrong
Left the scale unbalanced"
It has taught tyrants the insecurity
of their thrones; the robber, how
slight the tenure of his plunder; the
murderer, how impossible to conceal
his guilt. Its eye, all-seeing, like that
of Jehovah. p:erces every ramifcation
of society, and ferrets out the secret
rottenness of the body polite. 1t has
more arms than Briareus, more heads
than Cerberus. more eyes than Argus,
more tongues than Medusa. It's clar-
ion notes echo over sea and land, and
reach the wanderer in the uttermost
parts of the earth. 1t is the only solid
basis of Republican liberty; the only
sure foundation of national morality,
the only firm friend of social reform.
Bride it, and you curb the progress of
| the mind, smother the voice OF truth,
and check the march of nations En-
franchise it, and the path is open to
national, social, and religious liberty.
The assumed law-making power in
Kansas has attempted to enslave the
press, and the Judiciary has demolished
| it; but, nevertheless. 1t "still lives I"
and Is a terror to tyrants. It's infu-
ence will be visible through many
generations. and its impress for good
viii be felt when those who attempted
its enslavement shall have mouldered
into dust, azd their names are for
gotten.