Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1860-12-29
From the Philadelphia Sunday Transcript.
AN OUTRAGE UPON THE RIGHT OF FREE
SPEECH.

The daily journals of Philadelphia are, most OF
them, such partizan OF such dish water concerns,
that they have feared TO charactesize the con-
duct of the Mayor IN such language as it deserves.
We will, therefore, tell a plain tale, which we
challenge ALEXANDER Henry, or his satellites, to
contradict or explain, if they dare.
1t is well known that the peoples Literary
Institute" Of this city-an organization Of some
years standing-has, for several seasons past,
maintained briliant and attractive courses OF leot-
ures. The Institute alleges that it has endeavored
to obtain lecturers from all parts of the Union'
and of all political parties and religious procliyi-
ties. 1t has tried to secure, for this very season.
the service, among others, of ROBERT TooMDs,
STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS, A. IL. STEPHENS, r. BARN
WELL RnErT, Senator HAMMOND, HENRY A. WISE
EDWARD EVERETT, Rev. DR.. MoRIATY and Arch
bishop HUoHEs. They have made application 10
no less than forty.two OF the more distinguished
men Of all parts Of the Union. Only two weeks
ago they put npou their rostrum that eminently
conservative citizen, DAVID PAUL BROWN. But ID
turns out that Southern gentlemen and conserva-
tive gentlemen are not much given to lectures and
literature and 80 the Institute has been compell-
ed to treat tho public to lectures mainly from their
Northern fellow-citizens of liberal views. Some
of these are litcrateurs and lecturers by profession
or by constant habit. The three most celebrated
t lecturers in the Northern States are Rev. HENRY
' WARD BEEcnER, Rev. L. IL, CAAP1N, and GEORGE
e VIZ. CURTIS, Esq, and, very naturally, these three
D are standing attractions Of the"Literary Institute"
8 Mr.. CURTIS is widely known, both in Europe
J., and in America as a scholar of varied and elegant
!, culture, q writer of rare ~vividness, nature, grace
and genius q graphic and telling delineatOr OF
: the manners and life of the times; o graceful and
!, persuasive orator. His books are among the most
i classic and finished specimens of our literature;
g his lectures are sought after in every great CITY OF
the North by large numbers of the most intellect
r ual and scholarly of our people, and ne has lee
tured over and over again in New York, Boston
e and Philadelphia, as we'll as in neaaly all the prin-
i cipal towns.
e Last winter, Mr.. CURTIS, in pursuance of an
appointment made months before, delivered an ad-
d dres in this city, to an organization of young men
II who had specially invited him to do so, upon "The
Aspects of the Slavery Question" A set of ruff
y ans, said to have been encouraged, hired and PAID
by certain merchants, and egged on by one or two
newspapers, undertook to prevent the delivery Oh
this lecture by mob violence. 1t is we'll remem-
70 bered, that on that occasion, ALEXANDER HENRY
III sustained the right of Mr.. CURTIS to speak, and OIL
ID our citizens to hear him. The mob, although
le urged by wretched demagogues to attack and burn
d, down National Hall, were beaten back by the po-
q lice. Mr.. CURTIS finished his lecture, interrupted
Is only by Kisses inside the Hall, which were soon
stopped by the police, and by missiles and oil OF
tn yitriol, occasionally throw in at the window upon
ladies present, The lecture of Mr.. CURTIS, on
cd that occasion, was admitted afterwards by oil, and
endorsed by the Mayor himself, as being ooncilia-
tory, and moderate in tone, and not at all justify
ing the excitement respecting it, gotten up in adj
nd vance by interested parties.
- In making out the programme for this winter
IRE GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS was, as usual, invited to
lecture, and fixed for an evening of last week.
The particular week and evening were selected
merely by chance, as it we're, just as other eve
nings for other lectures were chosen, because they
in happened to suit each ones respective engage
der ments and convenience. The time of Mr.. CURTIS
!, a lecture was fixed and arranged at least two months
the ago; and without any reference whatever to an
Mr.. other occasion of any other society
ion The course of ALEXANDER HENRY, in sustaining
was the right of Free Speech, at National Hall, los
lee winter, was approved by every decent man II
ord Philadelphia. But although the community ap
his, plauded him, he betrayed his weakness OF natur
i'm. by procuring some Ofhis personal and social FRIEND
ook to address him q special letter of approval, in OF
der that he might have an opportunity o. apof0g
and zi0g for his course, and catering q little to sh
ime pro-slayery element. Accordingly, he replied
self a very ill-conceived epistle, making excuses IL
md what he ought to have been proud OF, and utterin
he filings at the dominant sentiment OF the free State
five But Notwithstanding this, ALEXANDER HENR
was quite enthusiastically hailed as the champ'o
ould of Free Speech, and the more Republican elemel
200 Of the "People's" party demanded his nominate
as q tribute of deserved gratitude for hrs condu
land in the National Hall affair. lie was re-nominat'
for his present office almost by reclamation, n
because he had any special party strength, b.
because he seemed to stand as the representatl
of assaulted and imperilled Free Speech. The Del
only ocrats, although nominating a very estimable &c
orth ,Ioman. were 30 foolish as to accept the issue tie
ing dered them, and, on that issue, we're deieate
ALEXANDER HENRY was re-elected; and his re-elC
men ton was a distinct and emphatic declaration
1 the tho people of Philadelphia, that the right Of FIR
solu- Speech should be maintained to its fullest cons
leg tutional extent. His candidacy and acceptance
part Office, on that issue, was a solemn pledge that
lzens he had, so he would continue to uphold II
leses Speech.
that But the recent conduct of ALEXANDER HEN
ether proves that he is false to all the expectations VIII
% full produced his recollection. A few weeks ago, up
n Sc the announcement that HENRY WARD BEECH
soiz- would open the course of Institute" lectures,
Mayor sent for the acting manager of the lnstitu
'urity Mr.. WHITE, and endeavored to frighten him int
led to withdrawal of Mr.. BEEoHERl He expressed gr
me to fears of a riot whereas, in point OF fact, wi
Of all, Mr.. BEEcHER did lecture, everything passed off
before the most perfect order and quiet. Upon the
hang proach Of Mr.. CURTIS turn to lecture, the Ma
lption renewed his professions of fear. He wrote to
com managers of the Institute 10 dissuade them Fl
in putting up Mr.. CURTIS. lie sent fol Mr.. VIZ
that and informed him that a secret meeting Of n
luton chants and others had been held at the ContiI
Lnl untel 10 lnyisn q nlan for nraYenling Gu!