The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1861-05-15
For the Grand Haven News.
What Freedom Of Speech" means
in Holland.

of political prescription unequaled in the
history of any of the revolted States
one which can only find parallel in the
same locality, the enterprising town of
Holland AT time when our country
is laboring in the throes Of a revolution
that threatens its very existence it may
be considered impudent in any citizen to
discuss questions having tendency to a
separation of the masses from the goal of
all our hopes and heart's-longings-the
preservation of the Union. So my case,
however, is one which involves the right
of citizen to I" life, liberty and the pur-
suit Of happiness" l feel as though lit
tie apologies need be made to the public
for thus importuning them with can DER
true tale" of lawless scoundreism which
any civilized community Except, indeed,
Holland,) would blush at being guilty Of
Not susceptible of the feeling of shame or
the generous impulses of manhood the
apparently dominant party of Holland
township, or Colony, are beyond the con-
troll of decency or the influence of words
or counsel. do not write now TO create
nor beg public sympathy, attract notice,
or gain dubious fame in connection with
the affair of which l write. Rather do
desire to put honest citizens, whose bust
ness may carry them through there, on
their guard, that they may be better pre-
pared, than | was, to resist their insolent
and cowardly abuse.
Returning from Kalamazoo, on Friday,
May Sd, l put up for the night at tav-
ern, my horse being so fatigued-having
travelled over fifty miles that day-as to
prevent mo from coming home. Before
supper, and while sitting in the bar-room
of the hotel, was approached by man
named Finch, who asked me "What |
thought Of the present warp In answer
| stated, in substance, that I" No matter
what its ultimate result may be, it would
operate disastrously upon the whole coun-
try; that the existence of war was, ut
any time, to be deplored, and doubly
more so now, when the war was made
by or upon our own countrymen and
brothers."
He retorted by saying, "That he was
glad of its existence, and thanked God
that the time had come when the sword
should settle our difficultiesw
/ told him that "The whole country
should weep rather than glorify its exist
ence; that widows and orphans would
live to curse in tears of sorrow those who
were the immediate cause Of it; that I'll.
in and desoation to thousands now hap
py would spring up in its course, and
that, as one of the sufferers, |, from my
soul, regretted the distracted state of our
country"
"Who," he asked, do you believe tC
be the cause of the war;"
"The Abolition Republicans, of the
North, and the fanatical Fire Eaters, Of
the South" replied.
AT this he became enraged; said / wa:
GA id Democrat; that he would like
to stretch my neck" and made Other
boastful threats, and used language only
becoming q Holland Abolitionist, which
are entirely unfit for reproduction or print
| replied that, although an old man.
l disregarded his threats, and unless 9th
ers aided him, feared no violence at hi:
his hands,"
The conversation here ended through
the interference of by-standers, who re
preached him for setting upon and abus
ing a stranger who was travelling through
their village on business. Supper over
/ went TO the stable 10 see to the care o
my horse, and on my return 10 the hote
was met by one Of the boarders who beg
ged Of me, for my LIES sake, TO retreat
through side door and suffer myself t.
be locked in his room. Seeing large
and Infatuated crowd waving to and frC
in wild excitement, headed by the thing
Finch, | ran with him TO his room, anC
suffered myself TO be locked in it, as the
| were traitor or felon. Failing Il
find me in the bar-room, they instituted
a general search throughout the house
threatening the destruction of everything
that came in their way, and coming t
the room in which was demanded tina