Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-09-15
Freedom OF Opinion Confined 60 ParaIs
let's OF I,ntitude, Al

SAT RDAY...........".....~ : ter EmBBR 10
Freedom OF Opinion Confined 60 ParaIs
let's of LNtitude.
The City Council of Covington refused to
permit the Republicans to hold meeting in
the City Hall, although the other parties
have held their meetings there at pleasure.
The Cotaier Of this city thinks they did
wisely, and that Republicanism should he
confined 70 this side of the river. We doubt
If our Covington neighbors will feel fat
tered at the different standard of freedom of
opinion which the Courier sets up for Ken
lucky, and for this side Of the river. On this
side journal may be started on means en-
ureIy exgnneous from any support which
may be expected from its legitimate busi-
ness, and IL may naturally be supposed to
depend Irir cipally on the patronage of an
sdministri tion which is odious to the whole
peop'e; it may advocate cause which can
not Chin any hold upon the people of Ohio,
and with an editor imported from Ken
lucky expressly for the purpose
Yet such journal win be treated with
courtesy here. Its rights will be as sacred,
DOM among the entire people and in our
courts, as those of a journal representing the
most popular cause. That is the spirit Of
our people and Of our State, aud the people
OF Ohio regard il as an eternal principle
which the fortunes of parties can never dis
turb. 1t would argue a poor appreciation of
this spirit and these rights, if one who had
made go large draft on them in his own
case, should advise his neighbors on the other
side of the river to prescribe the opinions of
the minority. and drive them out of the
State. The people of Covingfon can Bot feel
compiDented thatone who claimsthe largest
liberty of opinion here, should hiss them on
as if they were set of hounds, to deprive
their own citizens Of the freedom Of discus
sion; nor do we believe that the cause of Mr..
Breckenridge is likely to be advanced in the
free States by fastening such code to it. 1t
indicates mlsapprehension of the spirit Of
the people of all parties in Ohio.
As to the epithets which are applied to the
various parties, they are mere pot-and-kettle
phrases. Douglas and Breckenridge handy
the charges of disunion, disregard of the
Constitution, and treason, back aud forth,
and both have various epithets for the Re
publicans. To apply an Opprobrious epithet
70 party or man does not Justify any vio-
latioD of justice OF law toward them.
Taking the statements of either faction of
the Democratic party as evidence against the
other, either is worse and more "incendiary"
than the Republican party. Neither are in
a position TO claim any sanctty. But there
is principle of freedom of opinion in this
question of more Importance than the sue
cess of any party. Slavery has lost more by
the folly Of its professed friends than it ever
will by the attacks of its enemies and when
men set up the principle that where slavery
Is, there shall be no liberty of opinion, they
place it in a position which there is no need
of and which must result to the damage of
slavery; for the white people are not going
to be suppressed: it is idle to talk of it. The
sincerity of such friendship for slavery may
we'll be distrusted.
There is another branch of the case. The
recommendation of the Courier includes all
the means necessary to drive 'incendiary
sentiments"-as it calls Republicanism-to
this side of The river. 1t is merely preach
ing that mob-law brutality which has so
damaged the South, by convincing many
that il is inseparable from slavery. We are
by principle opposed to prononncing con-
demnation on men by classes or sections, or
States. We know that there is q type of
high-bred courtesy and chivalry in the
South. On the same principle we do not
assent to the wholesale praise or superiority
of classes or sections, or States. No terms
have been more abused than those of chiv-
airy and hospitality in the South. The vir-
tues Of q few have been made to cover bar
barity in many, until the most ignorant
bigotry and savage cruelty that could pos
sibly be exhibited by Northern mob, COM
posed of the dregs Of society, have come to
be called chiyalry and hospitality in the
South.
This is an abuse Of the good men and the
good fame of the South, which should be
corrected by just discrimination in the use
OF terms, by which courtesy, ehivalry
and hospitality will be distinguished from
the brutality Of mobs and from their ad-
visers. We might refer in this connection
to the absurdity of men working themselves
into a state OF violence on anV difference
between the political factions on the question
of slavery, when the party which processes
TO have the South in its keeping, has no
better disposition of the slavery question
than TO entice the owner into the Territories
with his slave property, by the protection of
the Constitution and of Congress- and then
abandon il TO an abolition conflict, when the
change to a State takes place. This, if ever
reduced to practice, and If it were to
result in a State Constitution abolishing
slavery, would be nothing but civil war;
and to encourage citizens to establish
their property in Territory by legal pro.
lection, to be taken from them by political
change would justify rebellion and armed
resistance. Republicanism proposes to ex
clude slavery from the Territories That is
we suppose 80, Tor they are rather tender
about mentioning any positive measures by
which this is To be done. Mr. Breckinridgt
proposes TO protect slavery in the Territories
and leave il TO be abolished by popular SOW
ereignty, on the formation of State Consti.
tuition. Which is the abolition or the incen-
diaTyismH 1t seems to as that until men
can find some more logical ground than this
to stand on, il would be absurd to take any
very violent interest in it.
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The Railway Meeting Last Evening nj
the merchante1 RxchuuRe-The SubfenI