Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1863-07-09

ume, aud which did not fear to add any
more folly to the fool. The State, +"
said he. "shAll be my governor, but not
my critics" What he thought then. at
the dawn Of English popular freedom. the
courts Of England aiterward applied to
both religion and politics On the oath
Of July, 1907, Thomos Williams was
tried before Lord Kenyon for printing
Tom Paine's attack on christianity
The great Lord Erskine defended him
While he reprobatcd the object Of the In
lidel in his "Age Of Reason" he vindica.
ted with an angelic cloquence which has
made his speech the verdict Of millions.
the most unbouudei freedom Of discus.
sion, even to the challenging Of error in
the Constitution itself, especially in It's
administration. Hear bis noble seuti-
ment:
although every community must es
tabli.h supreme authofilies, founded upon
fixed principles, aud must give high pow
ers TO magistrates to administer the laws
for the preservation Of the government
itself, and for the security Of those who
are to be protected by it, yet, as infalli.
bili'y and perfection belong neither to
human establishments nor to human in
diyiduals, it ought to be the policy Of all
free establishments, as it is most recu-
liarly the principle Of our own Constitu-
ton, to permit the most unbounded free
dom Of discussion, even by detecting er-
rors in the Constitution or administration
Of the very government itself, so as that
decorum is observed which every State
must exact from its subjects, and which
imposes no restraint upon any intellectual
composition, fairly, honestly and decent
ly addressed to the consciences and un-
derstandin3s Of men. Upon this princ-
pie | have unquestionable right-a right
which the best subjects have exercised
to examine the principles and structure Of
the Constitution, and by fair, manly
reasoning, to question the practice Of its
administrators. / have right to con
slider and point out errors in the one or
in the other; and not merely to reason
upon their existence, but to consider the
means Of their reformation. By such
free, well-intentioned, mode,t and digni-
fed communication Of sentiments and
opinions, all nations have been gradual-
ly improved, anl milder laws and purer
religions have been established"
Under such large minded philosophy,
we could tolerate Wendell Phillips, so
long as there is left reason to combat his
heresies of hate. But if we are only to
have freedom Of speech from the Phillip
ses and other rantcrs against our system
Of government, while those are throttei
who to preserve that system, would cor
rect its administration, then indeed Is
Liberty manacled and Reason in irons.
These old discussions | had thought
would never have been revived, except to
honor the heroi,m Of the early martyrs,
who like A'gernon Sydney died for free.
dom Of thought, or to admire their grace
ful style of expression through when the
soul of heroiSm shone. We had already
gemmed upon the forehead Of our time,
resplendent corronal Of free thought and
free printing and free speech. They were
tho crown jewels Of popular sovereignty.
They have not been shut up in casket> like
the jewels Of princes, but set in our fun
damentai law-not for a life only-but
for a nations life, to shine with their
"silent capabilities of light" for an i'm
mortality
With what a glorious fervor, Daniel
Webster indicated the right, YOU have
recognized by adopting. His sentiment
as one Of youi resolutions to-day, his COM
prehensive mind saw in free debate, the
scholars stimulus the philosophers stone,
the statesman's policy, the cilizens' pro-
lection, and the religionist's faith ! He
saw in it, the rod OF error, the plummet
Of truth and the car Of alyancement.-
Especially did he find in its guarantee, a
nations capacity and repose, a peoples
liberty and happiness. He saw that
reason would lose her great Office; the pen
its pungcncy and power; and eloquence
its fervor and force, if you hamper or cir
cumScribe freedom Of thought and speech.
What Webster saw and expressed with
the glow of great heat, Thomas JET
tcrson has handed down in his inaugural
message, wherein he has impearlel torey-
er the principles of Democratic liberty; .
Jealous care of the right Of election; tn,
supremacy of the civil over the military
authority; the diffusion OF information
and the arraignmeut of all abuses at tn
bar of public reason; freedom of the
press and freedom of person under thc
protection of the ha6eas corpus and tria
by iuries iupGrlially selected. These
principles form the bright constellation
v hich has gone before US and guided our
steps through an age Of revolution and
reformation. The wisdom Of our sages,
4 the blood OF our heroes have been devo.
ted to their attainment. They should be
the creed of our political faith, the text OF
civil instruction, the touchstone by whicl
to try the services of those we trust, ana
shouid are gonaer from them IN moments 0,
error and aiarm, let as haSteR 10 retrace OuJ
steps and 10 regain tie road acAich leads ID
peace, liberty and safety.
| would to God that | could read to
Mr.. Lincoln. with such commentary as
history furnishes, these principles of his
philos0phic and democratic predecessor,
that he might retrace his steps with re-
gard to these extraordinary arrests.
would implore him, with that respect due
to his high office, and forgetting all con-
siderations hut the honor and safety OF
the people OF Ohio, whose representative
in part | have been so long, to pause be-
fore he precipitstes any part of our peo-
pie into the despair which is fast gather
ing upon their hearts. l would beseech
4 ! .