The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-08-21
Freedom Of the Press and OF Speech Must
be Subordinate to the Safety Of the Re-
| hIIo

Freedom of the Press and OF Speech Must
be Subordinate to the Safety Of the Re
pu bic.
The folio W my are the excellent words of MI
Everett, taken from u recent article in the Led-
ger on this subject
There are presses, for the most part in the
Border States, though some of them are found
III cities more remote from the scene Of action,
which are daily pleading the cause of the enemy
disappearing and villtylng the Government
OF the United States, exaggcratlng every article
of unfavorable intelligence, and exerting them
selves to the utmost to dishearten the friends
and defenders OF the Constitution and the Union
But such is the all but supersitious devotion of
the people to the liberty OF the Press, that these
pernlclous journals have, with the exception of
d single instance in ST. Louis, never been int en-
Tered with. 1t seems to have been thought bet
ter by those in authority to tolerate the mis-
chief of these unpatrolic presses, that to ell
cvate them to greatest importance by prosecu-
ton, or to cncrouch in the slightest degree up,
on that freedom of public discussion which IN
ordinary times is justly regarded as one Of the
greatest safeguards of liberty. But it is pre-
! po-terous to sacrifice the end to the means We
should in this respect learn wisdom from the
enemies Of the Union While we regard as I'M
becoming our Christian civilization that resort
to Lynch law, by which every expression of
opinion adverse to the popular sentiment is sup
pressed IN the seeding States, We ought to 3e,
member that III toleratlng tratorous Press
among ourselves We practice IL liberality
which aWakens no gratitude at home ard 10
never reclprocated by the opposing party. 1t
Is in 1act IA ab5urdity in terms, under the ven
ar n Ia At nj thn r e.,
nit the systematic and Iceutious abuse oI d
Government which is taskcd to the utmost in
defending the country from disintegraton and
| political chaos. The Governor of Malta was
once censured in Parliament Tor some ALLEGED
severity toward the editor of )urnal in that
island, and the liberty OF the Press was deear-
ed to be IN danger. The Duke of Wellington
SAID he was as friendly as anybody 10 the liberty
OF the Press In London, but free Press in the
Island CT Malta was as much out OF place
as IL would be on the quarterback of u m N of
war. we suppose the most enthusiastic cham.
plon of the liberty of tho Press would hardly
think 1t right to publish a journal within the
walls Of Fort Mctienry, in which the officers of
the garrison should BIZ daily advised to de ,ert
and the men be constantly exhorted to mutiny ::
and whose columns should be filled with persis,
tent abuse OF the Government ana all engaged
ia l'a aelehce. Why should journals of that
description be allowed to dlfase their poison
beneath It's walls amidst the exeitable popula
ton of large city?
30 too with reference to the freedom of speech
IN debate, one of the vital conditions of repub
llcan liberty. The late session in Congress ha,
witnessed magnaminity on tho part of the ma
Jority In both Houses of truly romantic cast.
| The acts and the motives of the Government.
In the suppression of the insurrection, admit
ted by one of its most distinguished chiefs to
proceed mainly from the disappoin tmeut of
Leading aspirants to otice,) have been assailed
from day to day with a virulence and persis
tence which would be harmless in time of peace
put which in time Of war can have no other eff
feet upon the popular mind than to pernlex and
dlshearten those who are stalking liieand fortune
IN the cause OF the country. This generosity
exeltes no gratitude on the part of those towards
whom 1t IS practiced ; and SO far from being re-
i appreciated, the member of the Confederate t;on
greSs at Montgomery or Richmond, who should
assam the conduct or policy Of that BODY, as the
Government OF the United States has been as
sailed by the sympathizers with secession at
washington wonld not reach his hotel in safe
ty.'' lie would swing from the next lamp post
aY- See first page for an account Of the re,ep-
ton Of the Mortified Guards.