Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1861-03-22

We take tho following beautiful and elo.
iqluent extract on the freedom Of the press,
from the recent speech Of the distinguished
Senator in Congress. 1t is as trae as It Il
elosncnt and beautiful, and it may not be
inappropriate for those who give grotnd tc
the Northern people to make their assertions
that there is nothing like liberty ard free
dom of the press in the South, by attempt
ing to silence what does not accord with
their views, to read and reflect upon the ar.
ticle:
Mr.. President, do gentlemen propose to
us seriously that we shall stop tie right Of
free discussion; that we shall limit tile free
press; that we shall restrain the expression
of free opinion everywhere on all subjects
aud at all times? Why, sir, in our land il
there be any base enough. unrefecting e.
nough, to blasphemc the. Maker that crea-
ted him, or the Saviour that died for him
we have no power to stop him. If there be
the most bitter, unjust, and vehement de.
nunciation upon all the principles of moral.
ty and goodness. on which human society
is based, and Oh which it may most secure
~ Etand, we have, for great and overruling
reasons connected with liberty itself, nc
power to restrain it Private character
public service, individual relations
er THESE, nor age, nor sex, can be in the
nature of our Government exempt from thai
liability to attack
Sir, the liberty Of The press is the highes
safeguard to all free governments. Ours
could not exist without it. It is with us
nay with all men, like great exulting ane
Astounding river. It is fed BY the dews o
heaven, which distil their sweetest drops t.
form it. 1t gushes from the rill, as it breaks
from the deep cayerns Of the earth, 1t il
fed by thousand affluents, that dash from
the mountain to separate again into thou
sand bounteous and irrigatiog rills around
On its bread bosom it bears thousant
tarks. There Genius spreads its puTplins
sail There Poetry dips its silver oar
There Art, Invention, Discovery, Science
Morality, Religion may safely and seculel.
| float. 1t wanders through every land. l
is genial, cordial source ofthought and in
spiration. where ever it touches, whateve
| it surrounds, Sir, upon its bordcrs, Their.
grows every flower Of grace and every frui
Of truth | am not here to deny that tina
river sometimes over steps its bounds.
am not here to deny that that stream some
times becomes dangerous torrent and de-
stroys towns and cities upon its bank; but
am here to say that, without It, civilization
humanity, government, all that makes SO
ciety itself, would disappear, and the worlc
return to it's ancient barbarism. Sir, if tina
were to be possible. or SO thought for a mo
ment, the fne conoeptios. Of the great poe
would be realized. IF that we're to be POS
sible. though but for moment, civilization
itself would roll the wheels CT its car back
ward for two thousand years. Sir, if tina
were so, it would be true that,
GAS cne by one in dread Medea's train,
Star after star fades off the ETHEREAL plain,
Titus at her felt approach and secret might,
Art after art goes ott and all is night,
Philosophy, that leaned on Heaven before,
Sinks to her second cause, and is no more.
Religion, blushing, wells her sacred fires,
And unawares morality expires