Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-06-06
INDIGNATION Meeting IN New York.

Inauguration Meeting fnNeW YOrk
The following is the speech of Charles
King, Esq, President of Columbia Col,
lsge, at the Indignation meeting on the
S0th ult:
III. President and Gentlemen IT i:
not without great hesitation that in tbs
position which l now occupy and which
has necessarily separated me very muct
from all political meetings, that have
consented to come here tonight at the
request of some of our friends to utter
the very sentences with which / shall
trouble you. But this is not an ordinary
political assembly. This is not an occa
sion in which any man whose heart beat:
the blood of the country dare absent him
SELF (Cheers.) belong toa race that
had some hand in forming that Constitu.
ton, the gross outrage upon which has
called you here tonight. If have fdel-
ity to anything, it is that constitution, and
if my life has been devoted to any one
principle more than another, it is to that
of free thought, free speech, and a free
press. loud applause.) And when ]
see all these struck down by brutal, cow
ardly assassins tremendous cheeers,) /
may not take counsel either of my posi-
ton OF my years, of my grey head or of
my long service to hold back and refrain
from saying what is on my lips to say,
and my heart would be dastardly if it
did not scorn the act. I scorn especially
the ignoble cause of all slavery, (tremen-
dous cheers, long continued, with waving
of hats and handkerchiefs.) I desire to
refrain from using any exciting words,
or dwelling upon any exciting topic.
had some misgivings when l got up.
(Go on go ~ I feel too deeply to
be quite sure that VIXEN 1 commit myself
to utterance 1 shall be as discreet as [
ought to be. (No danger! GO on go
onD But, gentlemen. I am here to speak
the voice of New York-the voice of
men who are born free, and mean to die
free Qoad applause of men who claim
for themselves the largest liberty of
speech, and who insist upon allowing it
and defending it for others. GOOD, good +!
loud cheers Il has been well said by
the gentleman who preceded NE, that the
reign of force had begun-the reign of
the bully, of the bludgeon, the BLACKBOARD
whereas it has only been the reign Of
freedom, the reign of thought, and the
reign Of patriotism. All that IS over
ruled. This is not the first instance; this
very session we have seen, stricken down
IN the Streets Of Washington a man who
of all men that I know, most challenges,
as apprehend, the respect of this COM
rnunlty, for his services for the free press.
(Imnense cheering and waving of hats |
Mr. King attempted to proceed. but i
was prevented by three cheers for Horace
Greeley, which were given with a will. |
We talk very often of high courage in
military and naval acts i know no in
stance Of higher moral courage than that
in which, taking his life in his hand, and
knowing that every hour of his STAY in
Washington his life was in jeopardy, was
evineed by Horace Greeley. He went
there to tell the truth; he did tell the
truth and he was felIed there on the
avenue for telling the truth. Now, gem
tlenaen, there are many of you who do
not agree with Horace Greeley, but / do
admire and respect the course which
seeks tofind the truth, add dares to utter
it, let who may oppose. Continued ap-
pIause.)
And now, let me say another word, 1
have q Tenderness, may almost saw. for
the public press. The best years of nv
HE have been passed with the public
press ! consider the vocation of an ed
itor { ask no pardon) of allothers. the
highest vocation which can be given 70
mortal man in a Republic. (Cheers.)
| consider the man that, in charge of a
paper, honestly, boldly, and conscienti-
ousiy expresses his opinion, seeking to
De right, I consider that man the bene-
factor OF has country. (Applause.) We,
tnen' nave spoken of Horace Greeley
Anere IS nov in jeopardy, at Washington
az editor whom know we'll; a man who
Is not afraid of anything in the shape of
man east-(eheers)-and that man.
too, James Watson Webb-(three cheers
were gives for James Watson webb,
N the midst of those who are willing att
all times to attack the weak, will be let
alone. cloud applause) But his mer-
u VIII beno less. He is there in the
midst Of the camp of the enemy. who |
would willingly assail him, but that he is
: : hi'le piece ofaporcupine. (Applause.) Il
1Sn''enen, the free press cannot be