The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1861-08-30
lynch Law in the Free States


THAT the North is already initiating the
South in its scenes of violence and perse>
secution for opinion sake, IS too evident
from the reports in the daily papers, and
there is every probability that it may not
be long before even Boston and Philadel-
phia may rival New Orleans and Memphis
in their dastardly habit of suppressing
free speech and mobbing free presses. To
the fanatics and bigots who believe in this
method Of =" saving the Union" the fol-
lowing article from the New York Com
n,ercial advertiser, a leading and infuen-
tial Republican paper, is recommended for
perusal:
"Our columns yesterday recorded a
gross outrage perpetrated at Haverhlil,
Massachusetts. upon the person of Mr..
Ambrose l.. Kimball, an editor Of secess-
ion sympathies. At the bidding of an ex
cited crowd he was forcibly taken from his
house, covered with coat of tar and feath-
ers, and ridden on a rail through the town.
| The local authorities made an attempt to
protect him, but failed, possibly because
they were not in earnest.
We blush to think that such piece of
barbarity could be perpetrated in Massa-
chusetts, the State which justly boasts so
highly of her religious and educational
institutions, of her literary and scientific
attainments. Hayerhil has placed itself
en- par with the most ignorant commu
nifty in Mississippi. Shame on it!
With secessionism in the abstract, or
rebellion in the concrete, we claim to have
as little sympathy as any person living
| But however false or absurd the doctrine,
however wicked the deeds of our Southern
insurgents, the fact remains that any man
has right to defend secession principles
if he chooses, either through the press or
by word of mouth. He has also right to
criticise the conduct of sthe North" or
the general government, if he sees fit
That day, indeed, will be most calami,
tous one, when our people will not permit
the utterance of an opinion in opposition
to the will of the tyrant majority. If there
is to be a suppression of free discussion al
all, let it be done by some spiritual or sec
ular autocrat-some Emperor, King, OF
Pontitf; not by the people themselves
We cannot afford to bring ourselves to a
level in this respect with the rebels, and
crush out freedom of the press, as has been
done in South Carolina. We cannot dc
evil even that good may come.
It is true, loyal citizens feel indignant
that newspapers should openly manifest
sympathies with rebels and traitors, m any
of whom seem to be devoid Of the first
principles of humanity. But the Haver-
hill crowd have pursued fatal course to
get rid of the nuisance. "The law is
OPEN" and why not resort to it, as has
been done in this city! Cannot Massa,
chusetts grand jury interdict newspaper
proprietor, if guilty Of giving aid and
comfort to the enemy, as well as one in
New York II there has been nothing
actionabe in his articles, cannot loYa
paper undo the mischief, if conducted
with average ability? 1t strikes us thai
ali intelligent editor could desire no better
vantage ground than be enjoys as an up
holder of the Union, the Constitution, and
the laws. If he cannot spike every gun
in the hands of his opponents, he ought to
give way to those who can yield the per
to better advantage. If he can, there i;
no mob violence needed to secure the pub
lie condemnation of those who advocate
the claims of Jefferson Davis. Let L:
never forget the wise maxim of Thomas
Jefferson, Error may be safely tolerated
so long as truth is left free to combat it.
The people OF Concord, Bangor, Haverhill
and lastly of Westchester county, Penn
svlvania, would seem alike destitute Of
faith in the power of truth, and of the first
principles of federation. May these be the
last outrages committed at the North
which it will be Our duty to chronicle