Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-06-09
Free Speech against Slavery as we'll as tor it.

]
olitionsm is the causatve antecedent Of the war;"
This tract has been reproduced under Democratic
auspices and seems TO be now the platform upon
which that party stand, whether they work for
peace and disunion with Fernando Wood, or for
political power and influence with lIoratio Sey.
mour. These same Democrats, having now also
taken Free Speech as prominent plank in their
platform, and having espoused its championship
with all the burning zeal OF new converts, perhaps
will lhten moment to an argument for free
speech against Slavery as well as in its favor.
We are told by these pro-slavery writer's that
our sharp invectives our terrible words Of condem-
nation Of Slavery and Shareholders, have "exas-
perated" the South, that our speech has not been
brohery, nor kind, nor in good taste, nor consid-
crate. 1t is said that we lived in peace until the
era Of anti.slayery agitation, and this golden age
might have continued I'LL now, with promise of
infinite wealth, and quiet, and contentment for
generations to come, the evil spirit Of hatred Of,
and opposition to, Slavery had not found It's way
into our political Eden, and destroyed the very
life of the Republic, the unity Of sentiment, with
out which the Republic Is but union of force.
This is no doubt, in certain sense, true, just
as il is true that wickeduess is always at peace
with all who do not denounce it. While Slavery
could have all things in the Republic 10 its liking,
it was, Of course, well satisfied, and would have
remained content with that satisfactory order Of
things to the end Of time, no doubt. 1t is true
enough that the Shareholders would have been in
fnitey better pleased II the Abolitonists" would
have let their institution entirely alone. They
nigh! then, as a qnf pro quo, have called US
less frequently "mudsills," "peddlers," "misera-
BILE Yankees" " filthy operatives" "grea'y me-
chanics" small-6sted farmers" moon-sruck
theorists" and occasionally have given US pleas
ant notice as clever fcowsj at last, however, CO.
ing for US what they did for the great Webster,
who in his old age almost denied the faith Of bis
youth to please them, and was at last kicked out
of convention without the poor gift Of compli-
mentary vote for President, having used US to
polish with gentle and courtly phrase their giant
iniquy, to fortify with our logic their citadel Of
oppression, they would at last as we should have
deserved, have spurned US from their feet with in
finite disgust and ineiFabIe loaihng.
Bu, the North had an undoubted right to de-
nounce slavery. They believed it wrong, and SO
believing they would have been false to their con-
sciences II they had not worked for its removal.
I lift was introducing moral element into the
reckoning OF politics, it made politics better and
safer and not worse and more dangerous. And will
the new advocates Of free speech and free press
tell US wherein these men who denounced slavery
transcribed their rights, went beyond their priv
ileges, as citizens Of the republic viii those
who advocate new compromises and guarantees to
fortify slavery by the bulwarks Of an amended
constitution, tell US wherein those who condemn
ed that instrument because it already gave too
much to slavery, were dangerous agtatorsp Will
those who hold Indignation meetings to protest
against any interference with Vallandigham in
his dsloyal utterances, and his persistent efforts
to weaken the arm Of the national power in this
hour Of national peril, tell us wherein the exer-
else Of his freedom OF speech is necessary 10 the
safety flour liberties, while the Incorporate speech
Of aboli.ionists has been fatal to our Uuon
Was not the right to speak, to print, to petition,
to hold meetings, to pass resolutions, as sacred 10
the one case as 10 the other and il Valandig-
ham Is 10 be praised as the noble champion of
free speech, while he was spouting his Internal
treason at every cross road, are Garrison and
Phillips to be condemned for speaking their
! mind ? We ustlthe democratic converts to the
: old doctrine Of liberty in speech and in action
subec! only to law, will take the pains to be con-
sistent, and while they praise free speaking on
D their side, will not denounce it in any body.
= II is true enough that unlimited freedom oil
i speech may in some instances prove mischievous.
!, We believe Vallandigham has done the Union
e cause much harm. But II we are to have freedom
] Of speech at all, we must take the evil with the
{ good. The ballot-box is not invariably right,
0 sometimes electing the worst men to office, but
we do not, on that account, give up And fol
the sake Of having liberty TO advocate truth with.
Q out let or hindnnce, we must be content 10 lie,
!, those who will advocate error. This is strictly
l. Democratic, strictly Republican, strictly in acoor
,, dance with our theory OF Government, which re.
/, ers all questions ultimately to the people, gives
!. them all reasons pro and con, and there leaves
= them TO decide. And now that those who have
II in times past, mobbed and sometimes murdered
= anti slavery lecturers destroyed an,i.slavery
It presses, put antisavery petitions under the table
o in Congress without allowing them to be read
e find il convenient in the progress of events to
d abandon their old positions, and become the ad
/. yocates Of the very rights which they have scarce
!. y lost an opportunity heretofore of assailng VT
n trust they will at least have the consistency Ia
IS stop their camcr against antsavery free speech
&c Aud we also trust tina, the long, aud tried and
IL true friends Of free speech, who have SO rerss
a tently and stou ,ly claimed the right for them
7. selves to unfetered freedom Of the tongue and
of the press will not now refuse to their adversarie
v the same rights they have so strenuously clamel
for themselves
=, HUNTER TO DAyIs.--We are glad to see tina
Gen. Hunter has announced to jeff Davis that th,
murder of negroes in the Federal service by III,