, 1861-02-07
FREEDO1I OF SPEECH,
Noble Sentiments or q Democratic
Mayor.

This paper has no sympathy with the Carl
sonian Abolitionists. They and the Secession
lists Of the South are twin brothers, laborin.
from precisely opposite motives for the same
cnd-the subyersion of the Government. Eut
rs much as Te are opposed to both classes Of
disunionists, nc are still more opposed TO the
suppression Of freedom Of fspeech. This enor-
nifty has been perpetrated in some Of our
Northern cities of late, with the view to con-
ciliate traitors. It was pitiful spectacle. One
city, however, has honored itself in the p.rso1.
of its chief ma gistrate, in refusing to follow
the example. The Garrisonian Abolitionists
having announced q meeting in Albany, n T.,
the Mayor Of that city was urged to prevent
them from holding it. We print large part CT
his reply, commencing the manly sentiments
which it contains to all classes Of readers, and
especially to our Democratic friends, Of whose
party Mr. Thatcher is q member:
When / assumed my present position as
Mayor Of the city, I took the following Official
oath: I do solemnly swear that will srJ-
port the Constitution Of the Uni.ed States,
and tho Constitution Of the State Of New York.
and that will faithfully discharge the duties
OF the office Of Mayor Of the City Of Albany,
u lHG uESL VI lily aUlHL}4
The Constitution OF tho United States pro-
hibits Congress from passing any law "abridc-
ing the freedom Of sr sech or OF the press, or
the right OF the people peaceab]y to assemble
and petition the government for redress Ct
grievances" The Constitution Of the State
OF New York declares that every citizen may
speak, write and publish his sentiments on all
subjects, being responsible for the abuse Of
that right" Under these two Constitutions
the People of New York State have reserved
and secured the most perfect individual liberty
to speak, write and publish their sentiments
on all subjects. They have jealousIy guarded
against interference on the part Of Congress,
the Legislature or any subordinate authority
whatever. So long as the citizen confines
himself within tho sphere Of legitimate free
discussion. sO long as he violates no law, he is
amenable to no power but his God for any
sentiment be may entertain or express Th:
right in question is one Of the essential attri-
b0tes Of citizenship, and entities him to I'M
munity in Its enjoyment and protection to its
exercise Did the people except slavery from
the tail subjects'' on which free discussion
should be allowed when they ratified our State
Constitutiou? By no means. Slavery existed
and anti-slayery agitation existed at the time,
to include that as subject Of free discussion
is as obvious, therefore, from the circumstan-
ees Of the times as from the explicitness and
comprchensiyenas5 Of the language in which
their Will Is EXPRESSED. Should I iuterpoEe
and suppress the proposed Convention, where
will be my Justification
Would violate my official oath? When
and by whom was constituted a censor over
other mems opinionss By what authority nm
I authorized to prescribe the sentiments which
they may utter; or to say when they nav
speak and when they sha}l be silent? MyoKn
opinions and sympathies are Numerically op-
posed to the +" well known scntimentsn Of the
persons who compose these Conventions.
Those who know me will not accuse me Of the
least procliyity in that direction. But while I
saY this. ! must slso say that shall most
strenuously resist any and all attempts to put
them down by Illegal violence. OF all despo-
tisms the despotism Of the mob is the most to
be deprecated. Mob rule carries with It ali
the evils Of anarchy, and will sooner or later
terminate In the establishment Of martial law.
q dictatorship, or q monarchy. Experience
proves that nations will prefer any form Of
government to anarchy. Our institutions are
now passing through an ordeal of extraordi-
nary peril. The great question to be decided
BY our people Is whether our Constitution
mud laws are to bo obeyed or to be set ut
naught ITO be, OF not to be, that is the qnes-
ton" Will our citizens, who Justly complain
Of the reign Of mob Inv in other parts Of the
country, themselves set the example Of placing
the laws at def1ance2 God spare the sight,
The Emperor ofFrance, under the pressure Of
an advancing civilization, has just conceded to
that great nation freedom Of speech and Of the
press. Is that movement hatbinger of good
to the down. n-trodden millions of Europe? Shall |
We Eetrograde while Europe pfogresseaf IL: .
Consider this subject, also, in the light Of |
prudence aud Of policy. Is it wise, in the