Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-06-18


'ne'r advocates. In our most admirable
government is this especially the case. 1t
Is one OF the GROWING glories of American
liberty, that all questions involving the
prosperity of the Republic and the general
welfare of the citizen, shall be omen n
Ialr and untrammeled discussion: that the
freedom OF thought and speech are secure.
This right has been more carefully and
rigidly guarded and protected in our or
ganic laws, than perhaps any other, apper-
tanning to nation of individual and col
lective freemen, except that of trial by
jury and habeas corpus, and is not inferior
even to these. To deny this right is to
libel the name of liberty, and to SANDER
the institutions and government under
which we live. To adopt the language Of
Col. HATToN at Winchester, this is a
right which cannot be waived, and which
no. American should ever surrender" 1t
may be abused by the thoughtless, or it
may be denied by the hasty and illiberal
but it remains to us, part and parcel of
our liberty; not to be destroyed or invaded
until we lay down our liberties at the feet
of despot, and assume the livery of
slaves. 1t was this sacred right that en-
abled our present Governor to pass
through this State two years ago, with de-
nunciations upon his lips, which would have
caused the very hairs of the head to stand
on end, and have brought him or others
to their graves, if they had been applied
personally to the members of the Ameri-
can party.
Acting on this right, but not emulating
the example of Gov. Johnson, Col. HArToN
chose to denounce at Fayetteville, and else
where, "the doctrine of alien suffrage as in
famous and iniquitous." 1t was for the peo.
pie, whom hewas addressing, to say whcth-
er that doctrine was properly or improperly
characterized. If they believed afirma-
lively, they could say so at the ballot-box
if otherwise, then they could say other
wise. We put this question now, to the
people Of this generous and chivalrous State
whether Col. HATToN did not have a right
to denounce that doctrine Some NAV
think he did it with too much harshness or
yehemence 1--WE do not think he did;) but
the simple question is, did he have the right?
Who is there in Tennessee, Democrat or
American, who is prepared to say that
man has no right to freely entertain and
express his opinions off there be any,
let him speak, for him have we offended"
The next question is, was there anything
in that denunciation, towards Gen. HAIR
RIs, personally? No matter what con-
struction Gen. Harris may, himself, have
placed upon it, does the language itself
convey the personality? 1t is not pretend
ed but that Col HATroN used the word,
doctrine, and qualified it with the words in
famous and iniquitous This is proven be-
yond doubt, by the action of the commit
tee of conference, appointed by the gentle
men, at Winchester. 1t was there deter.
mined, as we understand, that the denun-
citation of doctrine was not the denuncia-
ton OF its advocate. This, indeed, did not
require the adjudication of committee.
1t is universally recognized, in this coun try
both in the press and from public speakers.
From this it follows, that Gen. HARRIS
acted precipitately, and without cause.
lie ought, by all means, if he desired to
preserve the peace and amity which seemed
to prevail up to that time, to have been
certain of Col. HATToN's meaning and inten-
ton. Gen. HARRIs's friends say, that he
struck Col. HATToN in the midst of a SEN
tence, when he could not have known what
Col. HArroN was about to say. We have
nothing to say, in this place about the mo-
tives which actuated Gen. HARRIS. 1t is
clear from all the statements, whether the
assault was push" or "blow.n that
Gen. HARRIS was wrong in making the as
sault. lie attacked Col. HArroN without
sufficient cause, and o. this we leave the
people TO judge, upon the facts as given by
both parties.
1t has been roundly stated that after
Col. HArToN was knocked down" off of
the stand, he made no resistance; in other
words, that Gen. HARRIS did not receive
a blow or mark Of any kind from Col HAT
roN." Whether Gen. HARRIS received a
'mark of any kind from Col. HArroN," we
cannot say; but we have as good authority
as any in the country for saying, that the
statement in reference to the elbow" is
wholly untrue. And if those who gave
our contemporary Of the Union and Amer.
io9H the information, protested to have
seen the struggle on the ground, they
knew, at the time, that they were stating
what was untrue. 1t is our wish that the
facts only, as they occurred, shall be stated;
and we earnestly demand, that our neigh.
Dor will take the statements of his in.
formants over their own signatures. and
give them to the public. The remainder
we are entirely willing to leave Tor the
people 10 decide.