Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1861-08-29

Freedom of Speech and the Re-
belliOn.

York Ledger, Hon. Edward Everett sets
forth, in clear and strong terms, the
duty of suppressing all attempts, through
the press or by speech, to aid the cause
of the rebellion. He remarks upon the
extraordinary spectacle of liberation ex.
hibited by our government in this re.
spect Newspapers throughout the loya'
States are permitted to denounce the
endeavors of the government to protect
and defend its own existence. Mem.
bers of Congress were allowed openly
and defiantly to defend the action o.
those who were waging war upon the
Constitution and the Union. The gov
eminent, from its regard for freedom o.
speech, has tolerated the open advocacy
of measures which, if successful, would
inevitably involve its own destruction
Coming from so high an authority, these
views cannot fail to have weight with
the public at large.
The following extract from this article
IS unmistakeable:
At the present time, those citizens
in some of the border States, who SYM
pathizc with the confederates, think it
hard that they cannot be at peace and
at war, in the Union and out of it, at
the same time. They claim the protec-
ton of the Constitution as in time of
profound peace and universal obedience
to tue laws, while they render secret
and, when circumstances admit, open
aid to those arrayed in arms against
them.
They assault the forces moving to
the defence of the capitol; they convey
supplies and arms to the enemy; they
recruit his ranks openly and BY stealth;
and to effect these objects they some
times avail themselves of official posi-
ton and authority, derived from the
government, which they assail and
when that government in self-defence.
interfcres to arrest these reasonable
movements and Vaccinations, they ella
NOR that the liberties Of the citizen are
invaded.
There are presses, for most part in
the border States, though some of them
are found in cities more remote from
the scene of action, which are daily
pleading the cause Of the enemy, mis-
representing and viifying the govern
ment of the United States, exaggerating
every article of unfavorable intelligence,
and exerting themselves to the utmost
to dishearten the friends aud defenders
of the Constitution and the Union. But
such is the all bat superstitious dcvo-
ton of the people to the liberty of the
press, that these pernicious journals
have, with the exception of q sing lie in
stance in St. Louis, never been inter
fered with. 1t seems to have been
better by those in authority to
tolerate the mischief of these unpatri-
otto presses, than to elevate them to
greater importance by prosecution, or to
encroach in the slightest degree upon
that freedom of public discussion which,
in ordinary times, is justly regarded as
one of the creates; safeguards OF liberty
But it is preposterous to sacrifice the
end to the means We should in this
respect learn wisdom from the enemies
Of the Union While we regard as IN
becoming our Christian civilization that
resort to Lynch law, by which every ex-
preston OF opinion adverse to the pop
ulsr sentiment is suppressed in the Sc
ccding States, We ought to remember
that IN tolerating a traitorous press
among ourselves, We practise liberality
which awakcns no gratitude a. home,
and is never reciprocated by the oppos-
ins party. l: is in fact an absurdty in
terms, under the venerable name of the
liberty OF the press, to permit the sys-
tematic and lIceutious abuse of a gov
ernment which is taskci to the utmost
in defending the country from general
disintegration and political chaos.
We suppose the most enthusiastic
champion OF the liberty of the press
would hardly think it right to publish
q journal within the walls of Fort Me-
Henry. in which the officers of tina; gar
rison should be daily advised to desert
and the men be constantly exhorted to
mutiuy, and whose columns should be
filed with persistent abuse of the gov
crnmeat and al! engaged in its defeuce.
Why should journals Of tha, description
be allowed 10 diffuse their poison be-
meath its walls, amidst the exci;eable
of large city:
So TOO with reference to the freedom
of speech in debate, one Of the vital
Of republican liberty. The
late session of Congress las witnessed
a magnanimity on the part of the ma
jority i'll both houses of truly roman
tic cast The acts aud the motives of
the government in the suppression of the
instruction admitted 10y one If its
most distinguished chiefs to proceed
mainly from the disappointment OF lead
ing aspirants TO ofice) have been AS
sailed from day to day with virulence
and a persistence which would be harm
less in time Of peace, but which in time
of war can have no other effect upon the
popular mind than to perplex and dis
hearten those WHO are stalking life and
fortune in the cause of the country.
This generosity excites no gratitude on
the part of those towards whom it is
practised and SO far from being recip-
rocated, the member of the confederate
at Montgomery or Richmond
who should assail the conduct or policy
of that body as the government Of the
United States has been assailed by the
svmpathizers with secession at Washing
ton, would not reach his hotel in safety.
He would swing from the next lamp.
post.