Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-05-29

may have in Vermont Just as bitter enemi
of their country, just Us hearty sympathizers
and co-operators with the rebels, as Nailan-
digham is, but the harm they do is compara-
lively trivial and they may be left to talk as
they please-at least till their influence in
the community becomes far more potent Tor
evil than it now is
1t is noticeable that the Western Journals
very generally approve of the arrest OF Val
landigham The Cincinnati Gazette says;
1--WE believe in the greatest latitude ofdiseus-
sion, which has for its purpose the preservation
of the Government and the putting down OF re-
bellon, but we deny that there is liberty oil
speech or of the press any more than liberty oil
action, which is used with the intent to destroy
the Government and establish tie rebellion On
the ruins Of the nation"
The Chicago Tribune says that "while the
war lasts there will be class Of enemies oil
the government to contend with, upon whom
there can be no better or more salutary
check. than the warning and example OF
this pestilent traitor held with grip I'M
yielding as the granite walls that constitute
a prison"
The Boston Journal remarks upon this
spirit Of the Western press, that 1t Is very
likely that the practical evils and dangers Of
copperhcad teachings, are better understood
I at the West than here. 1t quotes the st.
Louis Democrat as saying, that the Danish
mont Of Vallandigham will meet the hearty
approved of loyal people generally.
It is well. as it seems to US, in considering
and deciding upon this question Of APPROX
ing or Disappearing the course pursued BY
the government in this case, TO remember,
that in o Republic Ike cur own, the power
Of public opinion must ultimately decide all
questions of national Importance.
It proves stronger than armies or national
resources. because it controls these. Great
changes in our public affairs are brought
about BY individual opinions, which spread
among the people, and at length gain such
power as to control the masses. 1t is true
that this power must generally Il left to tic
Judgment Of the people to direct but NJ
one can deny that it is often wrongly direct
ed. We hold it to he no assertion Of pow
er which docs not properly belong to gov
eminent, to use means to control and guide {
power which can and will do 50 much for Oh
against it, when its own safety demands tina
such control shall be exercised. \ rigid cen
sorship of the press or Of public speech VI
do not advocate but that 4 power, grea
Just in proportion to our freedom, shoul
under all circumstances be left withou
check or direction We do not believe. If tn
right to talk is granted in is widest latitude
If there shall be no limit placed to what Ia
men may say, no limit to what they may d
to influence that power ofpublie opinion ~
I on which our government rests t
+ its support, then is there one means oi re
r defence which the government may not US
even IN the most trying emergency. II
license which some of the loyal press adv
cate does not as it seems to Us, recognize q
: cept in one point of view, the power Of pal
lie opinion, or the fact that it may be col
trolled in times Ike the present by had mel
and great injury to the government be a
complished before there shall have been tim
c as when we are at peace, for that process
which erroneous opinions are corrected,
= have taken place.
As the loyal men of the West are Vel
earnest in their loyalty, they succeed in the
B. contest with the rebellion, both theoretical
{ as above quoted, and practically
!. their success in arms abundantly teetife