Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-09-18
From the Lancaster Intellig encer.
Freedom of Speech, &c.

Notwithstanding the fact that the Con-
stitution of the United States is regarded
as an obsolete idea by some Of the whippeu
snappers of the Republican party, as well
as their Abolition leaders in this vicinity,
ciples and landmarks established by that
ancient document for the observance o.
the people and their government. Among
the perogaJives explicitly guaranteed land
which are held sacred even in monarchiaI
England) are the freedom of speech and
of the pr ess--a right which, for the first
time in sixty years, is now sought to be,
and is, trampled under foot by Abolition
mobs. The Constitution provides as fol-
lows:
ARTICLE l,--Congrcss shall make no law res
pccting an establishment of religion or prohibit
ing the free exercise thereof OR ABRIDG-
ING IHE FREEDOM OF SPEECH, OR
OE THE PRESS; or the right of the people
poaceaby to assemble and to petition the Gov
ernmcnt for redress of greyanccs.--CO COnstitu-
ion cf Uatcd States.
Judge A. G.. Miller, of the United
States District Court of Wisconsin, a pos
ition which he has ably filed for many
years, in late charge to the Milwaukee
Grand Jury, clearly defined the law and
the invar!ab.e usage of the Courts of this
country in regard to this subject. IL may
not be out Of place for US to state that
judge Miller is native of Cumberland
County in this State was raised and edu-
Gated in Carlisle, from whence he emiSra'
ted to Wisconsin some thirty i've years
ago. and has for a long time sustained the
reputation of learned, able and honest
Jurist. In his charge, he says:-
Eternal vigilance is the price OF liberty,
and the free communication of thoughts
and opinions is one of the invaluable
rights of man, subject to responsibility for
its abuse These principles are engrafted
iuto our nature as free American citizens.
mean the liberty of the press and free
discussion among men, upon all SUBJECTS
relative TO their duties and their rights as
free citizens; but no licentuousness OF
the press and iactious and scurrllous abuse
and Interpretations OF men IN places
in public trust. which is the bane oil Tree
Governments. In this time OF excite
ment, und disposition to cast OIL restraints
of law, some men, under the disguise OF
extreme love of country, may be disposed
to indulge their envy, hatred, malice and
twill toward Others probably much more
worthy and patriotic than themselves.-
Mn nav assume a standard Of patriotism
and LOYALTY for themselves, but they can
not be permitted to pronounce other si,i0,. men
traitors who do not, in their opinior,
come up to that standard. The Constitu'
lion and laws OF the United States define
The crime of treason and by which e'-
erv man is to be tried. There is no pro-
priiety in this free North, where every ony
man is loyal to the Government, ana
where we hold no persons in bondage. OF
ipaururn,ing a system Of secret police! In
times of excitement, as men are more apt
to be jealous than wise, we should keep
before us the example of France, when
the reign of terror became SO lntoleraole
that ali classes of men were glad to seek
refuge under military despot. In this
country it is proper and perhaps neeessa' S cess;
nv that there should be variety OF sentl,
ment upon every subject of governmental
nolioy. Here, where the voice OF the peo'