Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-06-16
Senator Trumbull on Free Sp eech.

llcan meeung nelu IN tue Nout'Ilou's squaiei
Chicago, on Thursday evening:
Mr.. Trumbull said 1t was very embarrassing
to attempt to speak to an audience which insisted
upon hearing some one else, but solemn convie-
tons of duty compelled him to speak, when under
Ordinary circumstances be would have remained
silent.
He did not come to naame their passions al,
ready too much aroused. Their country was in
danger, and they must look the peril in the
face. No adjectives be could pile up, no vile
names he could apply to those who do not agree
with him, calling them Copperheads and traitors,
would assis. in arrestng the rebellion or in as
serting the supremacy OF the Constitution and
the laws.
He did not desire to inspire them With hmrahS
but be wished 10 talk to their Judgments and in
spire them through appeals to their reason.
The times, he said, are grave A majority Of
the people Of our state are taking ground against
the Observation-Disclosures Why | will tell you
why will point out to you some OF our mis-
takes that they may be corrected in the future.
! The reason Is we have not adhered TO DAVID
Crocketts motto, :" Be sure you are right and
then go ahead ! F" "a voice" We are always
right.D have lived long enough to know that
am lot inhlllble, perhaps you are have some
respect for the opinion Of others. One OF our
mistakes Il that we have allowed our opponents
10 make false issues. But this is not the worst
The great charge, the charge that has damaged
the administration above all others, IS that We
are in favor Of arbitrary power, that we are OPP
posed to the freedom Of speech, and opinion, to
the freedom Of the press in favor Of curtalllng
personal liberty, and in favor Of despotsm.
Now we should not allow these things. We have
been the advocate Of free speech for the last for
ty years, and should not allow the party which
during the whole time has advocated the gag to
usurp our place. We are fighting for the reso,
ration Of the Union, and the preservation OF the
Constitution, and all the liberties it guarantees TO
every citizen. And it makes me feel bad when
hear some honest friend, brimmiag full OF patriot
sm, say lie does not care for the Constitution, and
does not want 10 have It forced into his way or
thrust n his facs until the war is over. The reb-
els cannot thrust it in his face, for they have no
rights under 1t save the right to be tried and hung
for treason. CONTINUED applause.) In certain
districts the military law is supreme. Gen. Grant
ia in command Of an army in the State OF Mis-
sissippi, which is in revolt. Will any one deny
bis right to make arrests, bis right to suppress
newspapers, and to level trees, like those around
you to night, in order 10 get range for his guns
No. And yet these are oil arbitrary powers
But these exercises Of it are not the troublesome
cases. The great difficulty is in these districts
where rightful civil Government is in operation
where the judicial tribunals are open and the law
respected-,he laws which afford remedy fol
every wrong. As a rule, we must remember thai
the civil law 10 superior 10 the military law, and
the cases are rare, very rare when the rue can bt
reversed. II here resolves itself into the plat
naked question Of whether the President and BIZ
generals, by the simple clicking Of telegraph
: instrument, can cause the impri onment OF A, b
or c. II one general can do it, another can Dc
it, and where j, the end who will fix the limit
(Great sensation and murmurs)
DO you propose to interfere with the ballot
box ? (Cries Of" No! No !" "Neyeri Never =
from oil parts Of the meeling.) am glad tc
hear you say that, and glad you are SO unanimous
Did it ever occur TO you that the next election
may put an entirely different face upon affairs p
{ The next election may bring great and deplorablt
changes, when Vallandgham and men Of bis elias,
may determine who are TO be arrested. (Cries o
"No that can never be-" "Never, never" from
all parts Of ths crowd. Well, gentlemen, there
is no use in closing your eyes 10 the facts which
exist around you on every side. ! told you
came here to address myself to your reason aud
not to your passions, and in view Of that light
ask ycu who are being elected governors of loya
States, who compose q majority Of the Legsla
ture Of the loyal State Of Illinois, and who was re-
Gently elected mayor Of her principal and mos
loyal city and in view Of these facts what may
the future not have in storeP" (Cries of "Jenni
son." "Music." ave don't want to hear you.
" You sert telegram to the President y ! know
am distasteiul, but am not truthful? | woulC
I claim your reason Invested Of passion. The sam,
: challce you hold to the lips Of your adversarie
Q to-day, tomorrow may be returned to your lips
Would you like to drink Of it? Close our eye
as we may, there is no safety for u.s. no safety 70
you and and every American citizen, now an,
in the future, but in an unvaryng adherence
Q TO the constitutional landmarks Of our father:
Further cries Of "Jennson,' Music" and muc
n dissatishction.) You are wrong-itis your great
9 est and gravest mistake-in allowing your adyel
Il ssries to place you in the position Of being o.
i posed to the Constitution. (Cries for L" Jenn
81 son." and Give us somebody slse.") | see tha
10 am disastefu, but cannot help it, and will nc
t. de.ain you long. Who is there among you VIII
10 does not believe in adhering strictly TO the Cor
% sttution in these times, and extending TO ever
} citizen Of the loyal States its gusrsnteesP VIII
among you 10 prepared to acknowledge our 20,
g. eminent hs failure? Who among you is pre-
'. pared to say the Constitution Is fine thing fo
d peace-good enough-but when war comes
10 must be rolled up and laid svsyP Or in o,he
" words-ior il means the same-who among yo
is ready to substitute the will and opinion OF on
b man, who may be another Valandigham, in plac
!. Of the Constitution as the supreme law Of III
10 andp (Cries Of ave don't want any more {
that" What's tina. band rD Well, hear m
through, for will not be long, and the question
before you are Of so much importance and gravit
that you should listen patiently, and no, only tina
decide dispsssona,ey. The Constitution is broaC
1t grants all powers necessary, even for the SUI
1t preston Of treason in the North Applause
"a Yes, gentlemen it Is just as legal and binding Vi
on the general in the field and the civil officers
y the nation, Is it 10 upon the BUNDLES, citizen
81 the land.
T. Has il come to this, that you will deny the fire
Is citizen Of Chicago the right ola citizen to dseu,
" the acts Of the Presdentp (Crie, Of awe won
/; allow it, and " None but copperhsads do i
and we will stop them Is there man in tn
y audience who has not expressed to-day his dissat
isfaetion Of some act Of the President (? (Crie
r. Of" Yes, ies,' We have none Of US expires,
n ed any di'satsfsc,iou,) All, do all Of you, ,her
|, think the Presidents revocation Of Gen. Burr
4. sides order. SURPRISING the Chicago Times wa
a rightF (Criss Of mo - "Nol" at wa
wrong !" /" lie sugh, to have enforced the OF
a der ~ Then you will deserve to be taken