The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-09-27
PROM the pennsyIy,ri,,
ular
FREEDOM OF SPEECH FREEDOM OF THE PRESS
JAMES BUCHANAN IT'S ELOQUENT ADVOCATE


JAMES BUCHANAN IT'S ELOQUENT ADVOCATE
We referred Saturday the historical truth that
DEMOCRATIC PARTY, early period of political N
isence rescued the freedom of the press and speech
warranted by the constitution Of the United States nal
the operation Of the laws enacted by the OPPOSITION
to the democracy. Ever since that time the press has M
guarded in is freedom by the democratic party of M
country the palladium of Liberty" The nation
history will attest this solemn truth The constitution 1
Pennsylvania adopted the I'd day of September l7s
incorporated the principles and guarantees of the
constitution just ushered into existence, in securing NJ
freedom of speech and freedom of the press. IbOu
Mlin, Of the signers of the Declaration of Indeps
ence, and the first governor of Pennsylvania as SOW
egn State president of the convention that framed
The 9th article of this constitution, announcing the %
laraton of rights" has the following section in rer
the freedom Of the and the freedom Of SPEECH
"SEcTIoN T. The PRINTING PRESSES shall be free to eys
person who undertakes to examine the proceedings Of NJ
legislature any branch of government; and law
be made 70 restrain the right thereof The free commu
cation of thoughts and opinions is OF the invaus
rights Of man. and every citizen may freely speak
and print subject he being responsible for the
Of that liberty"
The convention of Pennsylvania assembled in 1897 N
the purpose OF revising the old constitution and which
controlled by DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY, retained every
and syllable of the above section in the amended cons
lowing sections contained in the original Declaration
Rights" which, together, still form of the main pills
of the democratic creed in Pennsylvania:
"SEC 3. All men have natural and indefeasble no
to worship Almighty God according to the dictate
their own consciences no man can, OF right be compel
TO attend erect or support any place of worship
maintain any ministry against his consent no huns
authority can, in any case whatever control or inter-
with the rights of conscience and no preference shall n
be gi1en by lao TO any religious Embellishments moda
tDorship.
"SEc. A. No person who acknowledges the being d I
God and future state of rewards and punishments h
account Of his religious sentiments be disqualified
any office or place Of trust prch under the CoBsmonrea
Now let us hear James Buchanan, Pennsylvania o.
great son. the present standardbearer of the democ
party Of the Union its candidate for Chief MapisrI
on the "FREEDoa on The PRESS" In the celebrated 4
ong-to-be- remembered trial of Judge Peck Of MssO
who was arraigned before the Senate OF the Uni
States, sitting as 'hgh court of impeachment dun
the session of ls3o'al, charged with "high msdemea
in Office Mr. Buchanan appeared ION behalf of the HQ
OF Representatives and people Of the United Staes'
chairman OF the managers" to prosecute the impeachu
The charge alleged against Judge Peck involved quest
Of exciting and momentous importance The apower 1
purity Of the Judiciary" and freedom OF the press
seriously brought into conflict Judge Peck had ana
by the MARSHAL and summary brought before hin /
open court member Of the bar Of that court for hGr
commented in a newspaper, published in St Louis %
an opinion given by the judge in celebrated land q
which he had previously given publicity to through
other public journal The judge sentenced the atOru
ho~ triaL TO Imprisonment in the common jail for tv
y-our hours and Suspended lin from practice for n,
y eshfeen calendar mos.hsi The great William Writ
OF the counsel Of Judge Peck was the principal adv
q Mr. Buchanan before the Senate Of the United su
The struggle between giants in legal learning and
telectua power. Mr.. Buchanan closed the discussion 10
case We append the two first paragraphs OF bis mAsx
speech for the purpose Of showing bis estimate Of the vi
Of the freedom Of TIE press p !
Il concur (says Mr.. Buchanan) with the gentleman Vi
has last addressed you In behalf OF the respondent
Writ that the fate of the Judiciary OF the Uniud ga
may 10 considerable extent depend upon the event
this impeachment / belisve his position 10 be true 4
II - that Characteristic of this proceeding which ha
pressed me with the deep sense feel OF its great mp
ance. IL this high court Of impeaohment tbsu ssAhi
the claim which has been asserted by the
ball OF himself aud all other judges that they poses
power to proceed In summary manner against the aub
o. all publications which they may fancy or believe
derogaiory to their judicial dgnity--f thew NAV dtg
such authors Of their constitutional right 10 trial b,
ana subject them to fine and imprisonment at discrtb
then indeed the Judiciary will be in danger The I
OF tbs country love their judiciary we'll but they lo',
freedom of their press still better and IL these too I'd
branches OF r civil policy shall be placed Ia hostile an
against each other by the decision Of this Senate God
knows what may be the consequences II s this oona
ahon Which mas given such solemn importance to the
In which we are engaged
Mr. Buchanan proceeds in the second psraVrsph Of 4
speech as follows:
In the letter which Judge Peck addressed 10 The Ia
Of Representatives In explanation Of the charges which
been made against him by Mr. LawIess be uses this sr
language; The liberty Of the press has al ways been he
vorite watehword OF those who live bv its
has been from time immemoria /, stilI and ever vl :
the perpetual decantatum the lips Of all lbellerF
coneakue tnought that this remark a sneer the
ery OF the press and for expressing that conviction
been severely reproved by the respondents counscl
Be that as il may, viii here observe that IL the Ibid
OF the press has always been the watchwotd OF those
live BY its centiousness the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF the n
h@ hWsys neen the fayorte watchword OF those who
afraid OF It's liberty II has been the pretext used In
age since The art OF printing was known by every tn
who sought TO denosh It's freedom Even Charles
Tenth himself when he passed those edies against the
eset upon me people hurled him from bis thr
attempted to justify bis atrocious conduct by abug
hcentiousness The counsel who last add YOU
bali OF the respondent has presented TO ms several 6
OF speech Tor the purpose OF illustrating the necessity
restraining this great instrument OF our freedom Ho
ever happy and however eloquent these illustrations nj
have been, they might with equal trnth and propHs
nave been applied Though that gentleman would b
last 70 apply them to the edct OF Charles x Figurs
49, Pofeoniy tne ingenuity or the eloquenoe Of
grave discussion, when the guilt or Of an scc
person u 70 be established II would be easy for me
answering the gentleman 10 turn his figures against
sen ana say Better that the noble vine shoot into
inKuriance than plant eauker In It's root which wo
Destroy the tree or even commit II TO tho care Of sue
vne-dresser AZ the respondent lop away all lie fruit
branches, and leave II a neked trunk
We advise the shriekers7 for freedom, free spec
free press aud Fremont to read these extracts and
their silly camor about the democratic party and 10
nnsul'aed candidate being opposed to the "rssdon
Ors,'P