East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1861-09-05
lsuob Law in the Free states"

The following sensible article, under
the above caption, appeared in late
number of the N Y. Commercial Adver-
hser, which is leading republican paper
of the conservative school. There are
a few--very few, we are glad to say
mobish families in this county, TO whom
we recommend the article. We also
have reason TO know, and take pleasure
in stating, that Governor Blair heartily
approves of the sentiments therein ex-
pressed. 1t adds nothing to the credit
Of any man, either in his private or otfi-
cial capacity, TO be opposed to mob riot
ism; but in these times of popular dis
turbance, and when in fact many of the
journals in the interest of the Governors
party openly sanction this mode of adj
ministerng justice, the grounds taken by
him on the question will be responded to
by all lovers of law and order, and those
who believe with jefferson, "that error
cannot live when truth is allowed to
combat il :"-Jacks0n Patriot
Some of the Eastern States appear
desirous of rivaling Florada and Arkan-
sas in their lynch law proceeding This
"Judge" has just been holding court in
the Bay State. Our columns yesterday
recorded gross outrage perpetrated at
Haverhill Massachusetts,, upon the per.
son of Mr.. Ambrose l.. Kimball, an edi.
tor of secession sympathies. At the bid
ding of an excited crowd he was forcibly
taken from his house, covered with coat
of tar and feathers and ridden on rail
through the town. The local authorities
made an attempt to protect him but fail
ed, possibly because they were not in
earnest. Finally, on his promising that
he weuld never write or publish articles
against the North and in favor of seces-
sion, the poor fellow was liberated.
We blush to think that such piece Of
barbarity could be perpetrated in Massa-
chusetts, the State which justly boasts so
highly of her religious and educational
institutions, of her literary and scientific
attainments. Haverhill has placed itself
on par with the most ignorant commu-
nifty in Mississippi. Shame on it
With secessionism in the abstract, or
rebellion in the concrete, we claim to
have as little sympathy as any person liv-
ing. But however false or absurd the
doctrine, however wicked the deeds of
our southern insurgents, the fact remains
that any man has right to defend seces-
sion principles if he chooses, either
through the press or by word of mouth.
He has also a right to criticise the con.
duct of "the North, or the general gov
ernment, if he sees fit. That day indeed,
will be most calamitous one, when our
people will not permit the utterance of an
opinion in opposition to the will of the
tyrant majority. If there is to be sup
preston OF free discussion at all, let it be
done by some spiritual or secular auto
crat-Some Emperor, King or Pontiff !;
not by the people themselves. We can
not afford to bring ourselves to level in
this respect with the rebels, and crush out
freedom of the press, as has been done in
South Carolina. We cannot do evil even
that good may come.
1t is true loyal citizens feel indignant
that newspapers should openly manifest
sympathies with rebels and traitors, many
of whom seem to be devoid of the first
principles of humanity. But the Havsr-
hill crowd have pursued fatal course to
get rid of the nuisance. "The law is
open" and why not resort to it, as has
been done in this city? Cannot a Mas
sachusetts grand jury indict newspaper
proprietor, if guilty of giving aid and
comfort to the enemy, as well as one in
New York ? If there has been nothing
actionable in his articles, cannot a loyal
paper undo the mischief, if conducted
with average ability? 1t strikes us that
all intelligent editor could desire no bet
ter vantage ground than he enjoys as an
upholder of the Union, the constitution
and the laws. If he cannot spike every
gun in the hands of his opponents, he
ought to give way to those who can
WELD the pen to better advantage. If
he can, there is no mob violence needed
to secure the public condemnation of
those who advocate the claims Of Jeffer.
son Davis. Let us never forget the wise
maximiof Thomas Jefferson, Error may
be safely tolerated so long as truth is left
free to combat it," The people of Con
cord, Bangor, Haverhill, and lastly of
Westchester county, Pennsylvania, would
seem alike destitute of faith in the
power of truth, and of the first principles
of toleration. May these be the last out
RACES committed at the north, which it
will be our duty to chronicle.