The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1861-07-17
Freedom of speech in Congress.


We have seen the suggestion made IN several
Of the papers, which arrogate to themselves the
possession Of about all the patriotism OF the
country, that Congress should, at the coming
session, allow no discussion Of the questions
connected with the war, but should put the
brand of censure, if not Of expulsion, upon every
member who ventures to express opinions dil-
ierent from those entertained by the majority.
We have seen the declaration that whoever yen-
lures to raise his voice for peaceful eompro-
mise, to save the Union. should have his blood
let out upon the floor OF the House. This is
apparently considered an excellent sentiment
by many Of the pseudo champions Of free speech,
who roll it as a sweet morsel under their
tongues. What model ideas do these gentle
men entertain about republican liberty! What
an admirable body that Congress would be SO
muzzed and tied down! The French Senate
Of Louis Napoleon, whose members can not
propose laws, but only ratify those suggested
| by the Emperor, is evidently taken as the beau
ideal of a Legislative body by those who express
these sentiments. 1t IS sor, of fifth wheel to
the coach OF State whose running can be we'll
dispensed with, but which is tolerated out oi
regard for a form that has ceased to have any
substance.
How eloquently, after these principles are
put IN practice we can decant upon the glori'
Gus liberties we enjoy, such as freedom Of
speech and free representation in the councils
of Government! But seriously, at the fearful
risk of being called a traitor by those who con-
slider themselves authorized to illuminate polit-
ical communications against those who do
not indorse all their wretched conceits and
crotchets. we think that man may differ with
the Government in relation to its measures-
may consider them very wrong and perncious
and love his country quite as devotedly as
those who assume to be the only patriots and to
have the only panacea for saving it from de-
struction. Even il they are wrong, it is not the
way to combat them by prescription and vio-
lence. ...s. nHE
Mr.. Jefferson said that error might be safely
allowed when truth was free to combat it.
Those who would check freedom of speech in
dicate very strongly want ofcon6dence in the
justice Of the opinions they entertain. Are we
to have no Constitutional opposition to the par
ty in power? Is no sentiment to be allowed
different from those of the Administration by
men who, when they were out Of power, gave
Administrations, in peace and war, no quarter,
and who denounc I'd them with all the language
Of abuse they had at their command? Mr..
Lincoln, Mr.. Corwin, and others, were not re-
strained in Congress, in 1867, when they de-
nounced the war with Mexico as an unhoy and
unrighteous one. The doctriues Of our new
tangled school Of Federalists, whose patriotism
consists in destroying liberty, would have placed
them in very embarrassing position, viz; that
OF traitors to their country for their opinion
We never liked the opposition Of those gentle
struck US that it should be so violently sup
pressed
We don't believe in melting out favor to one
class ofpolitcians that we don't show to 9th
ers in the same circumstances The country is
now in the most terrible crisis it has ever been,
We want all the concentrated wisdom the
nation to guide the Ship Of Estate Alright in her
peril. Instead Of suppressiug freedom OF dis
cusson, we ought to court it. A n propositions
looking to settlement Of our troubles should
be fairly considered, without prejudice or favor.
The idea Of not permitting any dissent from an
established line of policy, or any suggestion
looking to its modification, is one that puts an
end to all free government-Enq.