The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1861-08-21
THE GAG

clares: Congress shall make no laws
an establishment Of religion or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or
abridging the freedom of speech or the
press" 1t is phuu'y to be compelled
thus gravcly to cite authority against the
enforcement Of the gag, to deliberately ar
quo for tho right of freedom of speech.
Transformations are taking place with tho
rapidity of lightning in our country; for
the time now is when Grand Juries, in
the largest city of our Union, gravely
present for Indictment and punishment
our most prominent journals for daring TO
express their opinions respecting govern
mental policy.
So far as the right to suppress ncwspa-
pcrs is concerned, it makes no difference
whether the doctrines they publish are
right or wrong, the intelligence of their
readers is to mako the discrimination.
Consequently no emergency can arise in
this country when the gag law can be APP
piled or tolerated. Because an individu-
al may abuse right, that is no reason
for dcpriving him of its possession. Be-
cause political newspaper advocates a
wrong policy or doctrine, that is no just ar
gument for mobbing or the gag law. Who
shall decide as 10 what is right or wrong !?
The Editor and readers Of paper, or a
Grand Jury? What touchstonc shall be
applied TO make the discovery Where
did the Grand Jury of New York obtain
the means of deciding as to what opin-
ions wero nuisanccs, and should be sup
pressed?
Have they had special revelation,
and do they possess means of acquiring
intelligence denied to the Editors of the
journals they PRESENT. Bah! We ven
turc to say that if every faculty of the
brains of each man of that Grand Jury
was multiplied hundred fold they would
then possess but minute fraction Of the
intelligence to be found in the editorial
corps of the Journal Of Commerce alone
What better proof do We need Of it than
the simple fact of their presentation
With the article in the Constitution We
have quoted staring them in the face, they
ask Judge if political journal may moi
be indicted and brought to condign pun
ishment for discussing the policy of thu
Government. That Grand Jury do no
require, as Dogberry did, Town Clerl
to write them down asses! They can de
it themselves eHectually.
We have had too much of threats [,
gag and suppress; too much of bluste
about mobs and lynching. From GU
BLAIR, who wasn't going South until al
the traitors at home were hung on trees
down to MAZE, of tho Newaygo RcpuJli
can, (and that is great ways down
though not starting from very higl
point there has been continual blathe
about quoting by mob law all who wer
not willing to swear that GREELEY wa
the Tribune Of the country, and BEECH
Err its High Priest. This kind of fustian
however, has not been practiced by con
servativc Republicans, on the contrar,
they have condemned and have beer
heartily ashamed Of it; but the intoler
ant and bigotod spirit of Abolitionism
that can only be appeased by violence an,
blood, has fairly reyelod in the idea tina
every thing opposed to it was, to use
term Of its own, to be squclched.
Now, we are opposed to this squolch
Ing business-think it ought never 10 b
resorted to--but if it could be justified
in any instance, it would be in making q
application of it 10 Southern Fire Eater
and Northern Abolitionists, who havo 70
years been sowing dovilisms broadcas
over the land, and have, at last, succeed
ed in raising a literal hell, reverentl
speaking, upon earth, in this country.
there had been, long since, censorship G
the press, and of politicians, that woul,
have silenccd treason and disloyaIty, bot
North and South, we probably woul,
have been spared tho evils of to-day
But they are now upon us, and the al
tempt to mitigate them by mobs or ga,
law will find countenance only anon,
fools and fanatics. If the reason assigned
by the Grand Jury of New York wa