The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-01-04
Postmaster General Holt.

death of John Brown"
Postmaster General Holt.
The late Instructions Of the Postmaster
General to Southern Postmasters, to violate
the sanctity of the mail bags for the purpose
of suppressing Northern newspapers, receives
no rebnke from Northern Democratic papers
$50 far as we have yet seen. but there are
few newspapers. even 10 the Slave States, that
denouncs this act of outrageous despotism.
In regard to this matter, the St. Louis
Missouri Democrat says:
We say that States have right to protect
themselves. but we also say that DO institution
is worth preserving if its preservation demands
the destruction Of free speech and OF free
press. Necessity is the styrants plea. Louis
Napoleon maintains censorship of the press
on the ground of necessity; 30 do all bis bro
ther despots. That plea. however, cannot be
recognized in the Republican States of Anne.
rica They were organized for the conserva
tion Of great principles, under the rule of ma
jorities. The constitution of each may be
altered, but the suppression OF discussion is
equivalent 10 q declaration that oligarchical
rule shall be perpetuated. When Tabor, OF
South Carolina. said that working men should
net be educated, he gave expression to the
thought that prompted the ukase of Holt
and the Virginia statute which that ukase
sanctions.
The history of this age will present a re-
maFkable contrast, when it narrates the ret
rosrade movements of popular freedom-of
the Democratic principle 10 this country and
its advance 10 England.and other monarchies
The legal maxims which that country has
abandoned, the prerogatives Of the Crown
which have fallen into disuse, the Southern
Staies of this Union seem TO have sratched
up.' under the belief that they are eternal
truths and legitimate. salutary powers In
illustration, we need only to point to the
movement for the ensIavelnent of free negroes;
The movement for reviving the African Slave
trade; and the movement against freedom of
speech and the freedom of the press. The
doctrines and practices which the Slave States
are laboring to resuscitate. have been swept
into oblivion in Rritain. by the advancing tide
of Democracy; and it were to distrnst all the
Lessons of the past, and all the bright omens
of the present. TO suppose that they can be
permanently re-established here.
a True Utterance from Democratic Journal.
One of our Democratic exchanges of the
] 2lst inst, "a Douglas paperj has the follow.
ing: .ftss.H
hooA ~ ihH sssAi
j The telegraph anhounces the following Com
/ mittees in the Senate Mr.. Mason remains
as the Oaairman OF the COMMITTEE on For
e,gn AIairsi MT gay ,. oo. on commerce; MT
L aiee 20. on Tost Cinee Mr. Green 90 on
!. errl1ories; Mr, manory oo' on Naval Affairs
Mr. bayaro 40: on Inc Judlclary, and Mt
Brown DO. on the District OF Columbia
These constitute all the important Commit
.srs ,;l Q. ina: oooy. enough 70 control shs en-
fseen t5at the South hape cot them al SS
!. far as the organization of that body is con
aerned, there is no North, no East, no Vest
iaoa !. Is an .1Sasa nooIh. sooIh ~ oecuonai
Fore;gn e on tFairsM o ~ V;sa;n;. I soIrTE
|, Clay, of Alabama, SOUTH
Post ofice-Y ulee. of Florida. SOUTH
Ierritories-'ireen; OF Missouri. :: SOUTH