The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1860-08-30
The gcsIitiOn Law.

Every person at all acquainted with the in
fqmous "Sedition Law" which undertook 10
coerce opinion and deny the liberty Of speech
end Of the press, will undoubtedly remem-
ber the odium and condemnation IL
brought upon its authors. Stephen A. Doug
las is the only may Of modern tipes who has
felt the necessity of proposing the revival Of
this law. This he did last winter in the Sem
ate, and that our readers may have rome idea
Of the nature Of this act, we give that porto on
in point:
SEDlTioE Acr 49, And bp it furlher pnocte Il
That il any pctson she'll write print. utter or
publish, or shall cause or procure to be- wri T.
en-. printed. uttered or pubished,or shall know.
lngly or willingly assist or aid in writing priut.
| ing, uttcring or publishing any false, scandal
ous aud malicious Writing or writings spains,
| the Government of the United Sts.es, or either
| House Of Congress of the United States. or the
Precedent OF tie United States, with intent 70
defame the said Gutcrnmrnt, or either House of
Congress,or or the said President, or to bring them
or either OF them into contempt or diSrep,Itr: or
10 excite against them ON either or any of then,
the hatred Of The good people of the u. S. or
to stir up sedition within the u. S;or TO ex
cite any unlawful combine tions therein for nm.
posing or resisting any law of the u S.. or aI,y
act OF the President OF the u. s.. done in pur
suunce of any such law, or of the puwnTs i'm
him vested by the Constitution Of the IF &
then such person being thereof cnnvicrcd br rnre
any court in the u. s having Jurisdiction there
OF shall be punished by fine not exceeding
two thousand dolors and by imprisonm n ,
not exceeding two Yeas.
Now here is what Mr.. Douglas had to say
on the subject:
Mr.. DOUgldS. dS.-"Mr. President, the mode
OF preserving peace is plain. This system OF
sectional warfare must cease. The Cunslitu-
Con has gwen the power, and all we ask of
! Congress is to give us the means, and we, by
indie ments and convictions in the Federal
Courts OF the several States, will make such
examples of the leaders of these conspiraces.
as will strike terror into the hearts of the OH
crs, and there will be an end to all this cru
sade. The great principles that underlie III,
organization of the Republican party are vio-
lent, irreconciable eternal walflre upon the
institution OF Americas S'agery, with view
10 its ultimate extinction throughout the land
Sir, confess the obi ct of the legislation
contemplate is to TUT DOWN this outside inter
f"rance; 1t Is to rePress the irrepre$siUe CON
! Rict'"
What do you think Of man. who profess.
ing paternity to the doclne of non inte,vcr.
ton, thus attemptsto to muzze free speech Is
it not clear that Douglas bad no other object
but to defend and perpeiulte the "nstitulor
of Slavery" Republican members saw this
and Senator Harlan of Iowa in order TO test
the intent and purpose of the movement, Of
fered the following amendment as a provi>o:
"But the free discussion of the morality
and exp diency of Slavery should never be-
interlered with by the laws of any State, or
the United Statcs; pnd the freedom of speech
and of the press, on this and every subject OF
national and domestic policy should be main
tanned inviolate in all the Safes"
This amendment was rjected-the IT Re
publicans voting Tor it, and all tie democrats
against II Thus the democratic party ha,
placed itself on the record, in the Senate, q,
the opponent of the freedom of speech, and
the rioM + tie people to discuss matters which
affect self governments