The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-12-14
John A. Andrew on Freedom of speech

The following letter from the pen Of the
Governor elect Of Massachusetts,, Is worthy Of
being printed in letters Of gold. II is beauti-
full and truthful homage paid to that dearest.
best and most important, because ofits value
TO freedom) right-the freedom ofspeech, with
out which there is no liberty. as Mr.. Andrew
says. 1.-THE men who denounce Mr.. Andrew
rs radica! in his views, had the brains to under.
stand him instead Of maligning and misinter-
prcting his opinions II would be we'll. We
predict that his popularity with the people Of
Massachusetts, will never be less than now.
The letter was addressed to Moses Kimball,
Esq.
BOsroS, Dec. 4, 1850.
My Dear Sir: am tempted to write to you
from my house, where am confined by tempo
rary illness, to express my cordial sympathy
with the result Of the Republican Convention
in your nomination last evening. And beg to
suggest that you should plant yourself for one
position, ut once, on the great right Of free
speech. AMI put yourself before the people on
that issue directly; not to the exclusion Of other
ideas, but In connection with them. "The
right to think, to know and to utter" Is John
Milton said, Is the dearest VI all liberties
without this right there can be no liberty to
any people; with 1t there can be no slavery.
care not for the truth or error of the
opinions held or uttered, nor for the wisdom Of
the words OF time or their attempted expression,
when consider this great question Of funda-
mental significance, this great right which must
first be secure before free society can be said to
stand on any foundation, but only ON tempo
rary and capricious props.
Rich or poor, white or black, great or small,
wise or foolish, In season or out Of season, In
the wright or in the wrong, whosoever will
speak let him speak. end whosoever will hear
let him hear. And let no one pretend to the
prcrogatiyc ofjudging another mans liberty.
In this respect there Is, and there can be, no
superiority ofpersons or privileges, nor the
slightest preteIt for any.
"Error Of opinion may be safely tolerated
SO long as truth Is left free to combat It," SO
said jefferson. and firmly believe II. But
even i'll did not feel 30 sure If that, still
would contend for the right to utter the error
rs well rs the right to utter the truth, simply
besause the right is not derived from the thing
spoken. but belongs to the speaker, irrespective
Of, and anterior to, the speech contemplated or
made; and also because the public spoken TO-,
can only decide between the various claimants
to the possession Of the truth, atler they hare
spoken and been heard.
The men yesterday who broke up q meeting.
the original calling Of which I could not but
disapprove, only put themselves In the wrong,
aud pnt the callers of II in the right. And l..
for one, am free and happy to declare myself
ON the subject wherever have any proper oc-
casion to do SO.
trust you will have successful CANVASS
II will be out OF my power to participate in IT,,
oyertasked and over worn as | am already by
numerous cares.
But assure you Of my hearty sympathy and
my best wishes, and am, very faithfully, your
faiend and servant, JOHN A. ANDREW,
Hon. MosEs KIMDALL