The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-06-12
LOCAL AFFAIRS.


MEETING IN BEHALF OF FREE SPEECH
AND FREE PREss.-One of the largest and most
enthusiastic open.air meetings that was ever
held in this city, was held last night in front Of
the Court House. The meeting was held in
pursuance of call issued by the Democratic
Club, and the object was the advocating of the
right of free speech, and the maintenance of
free press. -a, ~ ..-y .g...
Mr.. G. B. Stanley was called to the chair,
and Mr.. j. P. Pond was appointed to act as
secretary. ILL.,. .hIa offs
On motion of Mr.. Fleet F. Strother, the
chairman nominated the following gentlemen
to act as committee on resolutions: a ej
l. V. D. Heard, Judge Sherburne, B. Rodeck,
Fleet F. StrOther, G. Culver, j. A. Cathcart,
and r. A. Smith. ,egflr nc
After some time spent in deliberation the
committee returned and reported the fol-
lowing resolutions: ---...W .rorIy
WHEREAS, The discussion and argument of
poiitlcal questions by public speakers and
through the press is essential to the formation
OF an Intelligent and unbiased judgment by the
WHEREAS, The Constitution of the United
States and OF every State in the Union has sol
EMMY guaranteed that the freedom of speech
ana the press should be maintained inviolate
from legislative or executive interference;
Therefore, Resolced, That the Imprisonment
IN political 6astlles, and Punishment of loyal
citizens of the North to rebel States for canvass
ing the policy of the Administration and its
conduct OF the war is an exercise of despOtic
and unconstitutional power hitherto unknown
in our government, and without a parallel in
the annals of free people.
Resolced, FURTHER That the suppression of a
leading Democratic journals in the Northwest
oil Of nit off
strates a well grounded fear on the part of those
in power of an intelligent verdict upon their
long series of unconstitutional and incompe-
tent acts, and we denOunce it as viOlative of
every principle on which our institutions are
based, and of the express language Of the Con-
stitution which President Lincoln on the 4th
day of March, 1862, took his solemn oath to sup
gence of the people.
Resolred further, That the President by repu-
dating his inaugural address-tne patriotic
declarations of the Crittenden resolution
by the suspension of the writ ofhobeas corpus.
and the arbitrary arrests which fOllowed-the
press; and for the dismissal of officers Of the
army for voting the Democratic ticket and
other unprecedented acts to control elections,
has made it vain to hope from him, redress
of the grievances of the past or for security
against the dangers which threaten us in the
future, and that we therefore earnestly appeal
to the conservative persons of all parties to dis
cuss and prepare the way for righting these
tllagrant Outrages at the-ballot box.
Rosolred, That while we thus criticise and
cOndem the action Of the administration, we
are ready to sustain the government with men
and means for the suppression of the rebellion
and the restoration of the union.
Col. D. A. Robertson was the first speaker.
He addressed the meeting in his usual argu-
mpOtHfiVn and alnOnpOt StVIp He made the
principal speech of the evening, occupying
more than an hour. His remarks were fire.
quently interrupted by the most enthusiastic
applause. We are unable to give more than a
mere idea of the character of his remarks,
which were evidently uttered upon the impulse
of the occasion. He presented with emphatic
force the rights and duties OF the citizen-the-
rights of the press and of free speech. He.
showed conclusively, even to the satisfaction of
any candid and intelligent Republican present,
that the freedom ofspeech and of the press, in
the loyal States, could not be dangerous to the
cause of the Union-that this right is guaran-
teed by the National and State Constitutions
that its successful abrogation by a mob or a.
party would be anarchy-that its suppression
by the government is despOtism. He defended
the right of Wendell Phillips Greeley, and
Beecher, as well as Vallandigham, the editors
OF the Times, or any other citizens to- utter their
sentiments. That to deny this right is to assume
tuaI tue PeOpe VI Iuo lOystl CCaCcS are lncapaOle
OF self-government; that they are without pat
riOtsm and intelligence. and in danger of being
led astray by fanatics and demagOgueS-i dam,
ger of being made dislOyal by the free utter
ance of fanatical and disloyal sentiments, and
that they are fit only to become the subjects of
a despOtism. He also maintained that submits
sion to this assumption would be demonstra-
ton that our people are incapable of selfgov-
ernment-that submission to the late arbitrary
arrests would constitute precedent which
would destroy our free institutions and soon
make them slaves. That the political officials
who are now plundering the Government by
their populations upon the national treasury,
would, if encouraged by the submission of
the people, resort to any usurpation to retain
power in their own hands. That it is the duty
of every loyal citizen to support the govern
ment in putting down the rebellion, and, at
the same tlme to assert, as a patriotic duty the
right to condemn the follies, crimes and errors
OF the administration and its officials
We have neither time or space to notice the
the gallant Colonel, which it was evident made
aprofound impression upon all present
The resolutions were then adopted.
Mr.. r. StrOther took strong grounds against
the act of Burnside in suppressing the Chicago
Times and against the various unconstitutional
acts of the Administration.
Mr.. Sprigg Hall said he was not there to-
night to make any boast of loyalty. He thank
ed God he belonged to party which was al
ways loyal party that had added the
8 Lone Star" of Texas and the golden land of
California to the bright galaxy of stars that
fOated over republic that extended from the
Atlantic to the Pacific. He denounced the
conduct of the administration towards Vallan-
digham-it was an infamous act-an unconsti-
tutional act-just such an act as caused the
Head of Charles the First to roll upon the
block. The policy that we must pursue
to have our wrongs redressed Is to ,
make a strong and earnest demand on
the President of the United States for the en-
forcement OF the Constitution, and show him
that we have united people to back us in that
demand. He said the people should send no
one to Congress who would not insist on the
termination of this war, and tell the President
that if he did not stop the unconstitutional
course he was PURSUING, he should have no
more money and no more men. sIl0
Mr.. I. " D. Heard said there were certain
inalienable rights which the people of this !
country would never submit to be deprived of.
and among them were free speech and a free
press. Abraham Lincoln would, if he dared
carry out Gen Burnside's order in the sunnres'
sion of the Chicago Times. The reason he .
did not do so was because he feared The neonle of
the great Northwest. He did not desire to barry 9
out his unconstitutional acts in the great State
of New York, because eHoratio Seymour wos
Governor Of that State, and he would not rer' ig
init the Constitution to be violated. This war
1.st until tho insopa ;d,.. $3.50 "esA