Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-10-04
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

\
slsvacy.-0ne of the influences of slavery
say the abolitionists, is, that il curtaiis the
| liberty Of speech. This is true to certain
| extent. and Il results from the necessity OF our
| position There is no absolute legal restric-
ton upo n liberty of speech in the South, al
though he abuses of this liberty arc punish.
| able tbe re, as under all governments. But
sven with in the limits of the law, the public
sentiment of the South will not tolerate hos
tile discu. sion of slavery, and for the very
obvious re sson that such discussion, if uure.
stricted, would lead to servile instruction.
There is nr such danger in the North, and
therefore tho largest freedom of speech can
be safely allowed. It does not follow that
slavery is wrong Of itself, or that the Southern
people doubt in the least degree its Justice,
because from motives Of policy they do not
choose to allow the subject to be openly de-
bated. No man would be permitted in any
country to 60 on board of ship-cf-war or into
q garrison, and attempt to call in question tho
right of the constituted officers to govern the
sailors or soldiers under their command, or to
remonstrate as to the mode Of their treatment,
,
condition and pay of the men and officers,
whether the former were present or not at the
discussion. Certainly it would not be con-
sderod very illiberal, nor as an unwarrantable
restitution Of freedom, of speech, if discussion
of this kiad were prohibited; neither would
such prohibition be regarded as an indication
that the ofcers doubt ed the leg atty or justice
oc Iii tsx5f he thos-
command.
This is a precise parallel to the position Of
Shareholders OF those IL terested in slav cry and
Abolitionists, at the South. In both cases the
same reasons existsfor prohibiting debate. 1t
is very easy TO persuade the ignorant that
they are oppressed By those set over them,
whether they be 80 or not, and it is the duty
of all COVER uments to prevent, by Law or
otherwise, the discussion, by the imprudent
or the design ing, of such questions ms tend
unnece ssarily to inhame the passions or en-
danger the security of the community
Chesapeake end Ohio Canal.-This work
il is but too we'll known to the stockholders
has for many years yielded little, if any thing,
in repair, Notwithstanding the advantages
available to make it profitable source of
revenue. To say nothing Of the coal mines
agriculture, by means Of that channel of in
terconmunicaticn, can always find a good and
readT market, Vi lille it serves to connect the
West with the chipping on the Atlantic The
imp oyement Of the Potomac river suggested
by g eneral W Washington, was designed to effect
a transit similar t. that now more effectually
furnished by the canal Energy, tact, and
economy are, however, necessary to phase it
IL such condition as to fully answer the great
purposes designed and hence we are graft.
fed TO learn that it is the purpose of the Board
to put every part and point Of the work into
frst-rate order for the opening of navigation
in the spring.
The HstsHigeneer alludes to the fact that
the Board of Directors of thu Chesapeake and
Ohio canal have been two days in session at
their Office in the City Hall, and concluded
their labors yesterday afternoon Business
of mach importance to the canal, and by con-
sequence to the country through which it
passes, as we'll as to the District of Columbia
and the city of Alexandria, required and OBJ
tanned attention and adjustment.
The result of the deliberations of the Board
consist, in the main, of the following measures
asd resolutions
1. The Board has entered into q contract
for the erection OF masonry dam at the site
of dam No. A, to take the place Of the present
structure.
2. 1t has taken preliminary steps, to be
matured at the next meeting Of the Board,
for the construction Of a masonary dam at dam
No 5
g. 1t has contracted for the construction of a
weighlock at Georgetown at the sum Of sl5,- |
600, said lock to be placed at a convenient |
spot west Of the Alexandria aqueduct
4 The Board has resolved to notify the |
contractor for the pump work at the mouth of |
the 1st Of December to fulfil his contract, but |
failing in which the Board will thereafter take |
the matter into its own hands in order to new
disposition of the work to secure its objects at |
the earliest practicable moment.
5th, and lastly. Orders have been issued to
the general superintendent of the canal to
make forthwith thorough and minute survey
thereof, from end to end Of the line, to find out
and report where repairs may be necessary,
where leaks exist or are likely 10 occur, what |
levels or spots are shs' lower than the proper
depth, where dredging may be requisite, and
IN general to indicate everything which in his
judgment may require improvem ent, extern.
zion, correction, or renewal.
A Reform" with q Vengsan &c rec
ley, of the New York Tribune, denounccs
what he calls til g. stupid custom" of having
a multiplicity of speakers at each political
meeting. lie says:
"Nost such public speeches are for this
reason botches. Men are advertised to sneak
just as il they were members of circus-trav.
cling company. Unlike the circus, each one
is in the others way nothing is properly
worked out argumentstively, and auditors
who come to be convinced 60 homo either un-
convinced, or ut least undecided. Thew are
confused too by the multiplicity of speakers,
independent of the fact as We have stated it,
that each speaker is incomplete Besides this
when an orator has an evening to himself he
does his best In manner and style, but when
he is tied down to watch tickinvs and the das !