The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-08-31
BEWARE OF SPLIT TICKETS
Freedom of Speech in Kentucky.


Freedom of Speech in Kentucky.
The Free South, which was mobbed last
fall at Newport, Kentucky, and its type and
presses carried and thrown into the Ohio
river, appeared again last week. VIM. S.
Bailey, its editor, has lived in Newport over
fifteen years, and has a large share of that
tlme' by the help Of his wife and daughters,
published an anti-slavery daily paper there
right In the heart Of slavery. His Office has
heretofore received violence, and has been
burned down once or twice, but bv indefat-
lsable efforts Mr.. Bailey has always survived
the storm and continued his paper.
AT the time of that unfortunate John
Brown affair at Harper's Ferry, an infuriated
mob went to his house and after breaking in
the doors, removed and destroyed his prop
erty as above stated, and also threatened the
editors life if he did not Immediately leave
the state. Mr.. Bailey was not driven from
his home by these threats, but he was con-
tinually harrassed by the minions of slavery.
and twice he was shot at, but each time es-
capped unframed. Mr.. Bailey has now pro-
cured little old type, and has again issued
the Free South of diminished size, but not
lacking in its outspoken articles against that
great curse of slavery, the full force of which
he has felt so severely.
MIR. Bailey claims that he has committed
no offence against law, but says lie has SIM
ply exercised the right which every other
kentuckian has. that of expressing his own
opinion. lie believes slavery and slave la
Dor to be curse to any state, and he hopes
to see the time when Kentucky will have a
free constitution, and when white labor will
be respectable. In support of his argument
Mr.. Bailey compares the two states, Ohio
and Kentucky, lying side by side, the one
having as many natural advantages as the
other, and yet how different. Mr.. Bailey
tells them that slare,y makes the difference
and the common sense of every one teaches
the same thing.
We do not know but Mr.. Bailey may be
indscreet in his talk and acts, bat We cannot
but admire his pluck. And this courage
which he shows is true patriotism lie does
not advocate the emancipation of slavery and
the adoption of free state constitution, 9TH
er than from pure natives. He sees how all
the best interests, industrial and others, of
his state are cramped, and he longs for the
time when under free constitution she NAV
expand her interests, grow and enrich her
self like her sister state across the river. But
there are many persons in the city Of New
port who uphold Mr.. Bailey in his COURSE
Ia the last number Of his paper there was a
card signed by two hundred and thirty men
of that city, who say that "Mr. Bailey has re-
sided in Newport some fifteen or twenty
years, and has always been regarded as a
peaceable. law-abiding citizen, moral and up
right in his dealings. And though some of
US may not agree with him in his anti-slaverv
sentiments, yet We denounce the cowardly
and desperate action of the parties who de-
s,royed his type and presses, and likewise
the repeated threats Of making him leave his
state and home" This shows that there are
friends of law and order even in Newport.
TO say the least We cannot help sympa-
thizing with MIR. Bailey in the losses he has
sustained, and in the domineering. insolent
spirit in which the slave-tyrants would drive
him from his state and home. Slavery cares
for no law unless it be some law to protect
slavery. 1t trampes all others under foot
1t will uphold law and order so long as it is
on the side of slavery, but the moment it
goes against the peculiar institution it sets it
at defiance. 1t is the spirit of slavery 20
mob every paper in the country that is oppo-
sed to this institution, and the slave interest
would do it if they could. But they will find
that mobs do not at all retard the irrepressi-
bic conflict that is going on, and that will go
on till slavery is circum scribed