Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1859-04-22
Loo Al. AGENTS.
Progress Of Civil Liberty in the United
States

Progress Of Civil Liberty in the United
States.
We once heard the venerable Joshua Il.
Giddiuss remark, that he was light years
in Congress before he was allowed IN discuss
the question Of American slavery upon the
loor II the House. and that the gentleman
who ErsI allowed him TO open his lirs upon
tbi. subject. as chairman Of the committee
Of the whole. wa. from Maine, IN the person
Of Hon. Nathan Clifford.
Many Of our readers will remember the
GAG rule. Of those times. which not only
suppressed debate, but denied the right Of
petition to the people. Mr.. Giiiins' was
one Of the early champions OF freedom Of
speech and the right Of petition in Congress.
lis Err, effort, upon the slavery question
wsrr delivered in the House. with drunken
bra.car,', from the South, gnashinS their
tceib .r,ani him, with their pocket. cram
med with pistols, and coats bristlIng ~i,h
bowic.kniycs, threatening hr life. But
there was another man in Congress in those
early times, whose public acts were 30 close
" Identified with the great battle that was
tough, 10 secure freedom Of debate aud the
right OF PETITION. that we cannot even speak
OF the conflict without .peakins Of the man.
We mean the then venerable John y. Ad.
ans. Almost single handed and alone. he
fought southern fre-csters and Northern
doush'aces. aud in the end won a splendid
victory over the whole. Blu; we DAD not
take up our pen 10 attcmp, anything like a
history q those p'rilous time. but simply
10 draw a contrast between the pas, and the
present. Our readers well know that for
years tho slavery question which was kept
out Of Copgrr.. by gag rules and southern
bravaio. has been cor the las, eight or ten
year. the principal topic q discussion in
both Houses Of Congress. Twenty five year,
az this subject was not only excluded from
The ball, oi legislation. but in the free States,
free discussion upon tbs topic WAS not al.
lowed ia many localities Men who under.
took 20 .p@ak upon the question were mob.
bel. iarrrd and f-athcr,d. aud had all man.
nsr Of abuse la,i'hei upon them. In Name
We had mob. % put down free discussion.
and Ne well remember two or three demon.
sir,lion. Of ia. k,ui We ourselves witnessed
in the cIty OF Portland. just notice the
contrast Now no one has any fears in thu.
direction. vh, enters into discussion Of
the great leading question Of African slave.
~. Ml'1crat. dare rot show their heads
" undertake q interfere with free discus
sion. Tic same remark we'll applies 10 the
press. During the times above referred TO.
the pres was subsidized 'nd muElcd. To
allow the domestic institution" to be over
hauled. even in an indirect manner. was a
crime to he visited upon those charged with
summary vengeance. Who does not remem.
bcr the amen,ed Loyeny who was shot
down like dog by a drunken rsbble, in
Illinois. merely Tor derrndiu. hi, press
agains; the fury Of the mob. lie was not
the only man who Tell martyr to the IA.
na,ical fury Of a misguided public opinion
neither was his press the only one tha; was
destroyed fJr speakins out acains, the sin
Of slavery. Now, IN all the free States there
Is freedom Of discussion in the Halls Of Leg.
islailon, on the stump, and in the public
press. Formerlywe only now and then had
a man in Congress Who openly advocated
tie great doctrines laid down in that chart
Of American liberty, the Declaration Of In.
dependence. That great apostle Of liberty,
the now venerable Gldding.. was year after
year returned from the Western Reserve,
and now a. then we had Slade. Pal.
frey. Root elected 10 stand by his side
bat the men we're few who were allowed
seats in tina, body, who advocated the doc
trine OF the fathers upon the slavery ques.
t.on. Now, powerful party. NUMBERING:
more than one.third Of the United States
Senate. and a majority in the next House
stand by the platform erected in 90. These
great changes are but 80 many indications
Of the wonderful change tina, has been going
on lor years in pubic opinion. The GREAT
NORM has wheeled into line and stands In
solid columns ready to push on the battle
which is to decide the momentous issue
pending between freedom and slavery. The
battle hres OF freedom are now cleaning VI
on every hilltop and valley in the Grea,
West; while from the Middle and Northern
States the bOndres Of the sons Of liberty
shoot up their streaming light to :he very
Heavens. lie who faneies that this great
revolution wrought out within few years,
Is TO be confined within the limits Of the
free States, must be ignOran. Of tho signs