The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-07-10

,a4 s4ss,.- From the Cincinnati Enquirer. :,
Freedom Of Speech and Freedom o.
the Press.

The great features of American insti-
tutions which have been hitherto, our
boast and pride, have been freedom of
speech and freedom Of the press. Within
the last few weeks they have been sub,
jected to severe assaults, with q view to
their destruction, and Journalists even
have been found degraded enough to
cheer on the war against these outposts
and strongholds of our liberty. Those
who are guilty of these attacks who seek
to idlragoon BY brute force all opinions in
| to conformity, with their own, are unwor-
thy of citizenship in a free country. They
have no conception of the rights and du-
ties which belong to IT, The attempt to
play the despot and tyrart over their fell
lows, ought to stigmatize them forever.
1t is nothing more nor less than an effort
to degrade the free. and constitutional Re-
public of the United States into a despot-
| ism over thought and mind equal to that
of, Russia and Austria. ..g-;,.- q s.so.se
It is worthy. of note that these enemies
of free press-o of freedom Of the press
have professed hitherto to be the exclu-
siyeschampions of these great constitu-
tional rights. Free soil, free speech and
a free press have been the notices upon
.thsir banners. How recent events have
developed the intense hypocrisy of these
rallying criesl Their freedom of speech
and freedom !. of the press means simply
that everybody must speak as they do,
4 aud write. as they do ) How long ago,
pray, did it become treqsonable to de-
!, nounce the policy and acts of an Admin.
issration of President Of the y, Statesi
When did ,ths latter become SO exalted. as
\ to be. above censure,, above criticism
above reproach? WHO in bitter and ma.
, llignant assaults upon an Administration
, ever equaled in nnbridleds license these
gentry, that now regard such attacks with
-iholy horror? Fresh from calling Presi.
y denis Fillmore Pierce and Buchanan ev
kerya opprobrious tepithet and infamous
d name which their 3fruisful Imagination
could conceive, having no respect for the
+ honor or digni'y of the station. they are
4now, forsooth, the especial champions Of
1.-THE President, and cannot bear to thinb
slithat he shoald be- spoken of other thar
a as paragon of Perfection. .c,} la5oi
IL lShall~we take lessons how to act to-
a ward our country upon critical occasions
3 from those who in the 9past were ever
!. found wanting and have never ralliei
, around her flag when it was 10 peril from
foreign enemy2 Are those persons wht
have evsr been trne to tho Union--whos,
r advice, if followed, would have, saved III
81 from our present calamities-7to be stig
ID matized as traitors by those who hav'
g been fDisunionists for years, who hav'
> tcarried sixteen.starred. flags 10 process
sions, who have burned the Constitution
and who, deliberately, and wickedly, hay,
f fEsown alienaticni aud distrust between th,
8 two great divisions Of onr eonntry2 Shal
i. the old, reliable Union men allow thes,
b new converts of the eleventh hour to tn,
= Union and, its flag. which they have put il
o olieepardy of destruction, take the lead ART
;, precedence of them, asds presume to ques
!, tion i their positioh2 No, neverl Th
? G Constitutional Union party of this coun
ltry is not to be brow. beaten or oyerawed