New-York daily tribune., 1863-05-27
TIE GOVERNMENT AND THE
GROWLERs.

TIE Seymour sopbistries and the Vallandig-
ham yarnish deceive only those who wish to be
deceived. The lacquer of patriotism is too SUI
perfcial to be regarded by Government
wrestling for its very existence. Military JUS
tice is always quick and sharp and disregard
full Of forms, from the very nature Of the dis
case and of the remedy which it requires.
When it is blowing great guns, sailor may
honestly differ from the master upon the ques-
ton of furliDg topsas; but an angry statement
Of his dissent may lead 10 something worse for
the recalcitrant mariner than merely going hot.
III government signifies, TO certain ex-
tent, restraint Ii must be understood that
even under democratic forms. the people still
owe fealty 10 the Government OF their own
construction, and that treason Is Just as Pcss'-
bio in a Republic az in Monarchy. Gov.
Seymour himself would be very easily put out
Of temper by one who should ray of his admin
istrntion OF affairs tina. il was clumsy and cor
rupt: and if any one should venture 70 go
further, and to say that il was criminal, our
Governor would probably use all the power
which he possesses to Puhish such audaci'y.
Courts.Martal are not unknown even in times
Of peace; and many subordinate Of our
State Milits has been tired AID convicted
aud punished for words Unexpectedly
spoken OF his commanding officer II
YOU take the ground that in Republic il is
impossible 70 commit any political ohcnse
worthy Of punishment, aud That 10 speech i'
SO dangerous tbui It should BE- resiraincd-
then We have only to say that We wish, for the
sake of consistency, that the Democratic Party.
Of which Iloratio Seymour and Ben Wood
are the resplendent luminarics, had taken the
same ground in the earlier stage. Of its exit
ence Its love Of free speech has heretofore
been that OF a bully who Grams his defiant cures
down your throat, and threatens TO crack your
crown ifyou are ret,iye under his lingual license
and defiant yOubiy. Never before or since
have We had party so disgustlngly and dirt
lily arrogant. 1t has lived By badgering and
.errorsm--by the logic of the cudgcl and the
soft persuasion Of the pistol-by the rowdyisnl
of Rynders and the potroonory Of Preston
f Brooks-by the audaci!y of smashing ballot.
boxcs-by the utter denial of our right TO dis.
cuss certain political questions at abby con.
tiDual efforts 10 coeIce oplulon-by pobbing
the meetings OF its opponents, and BY total
disregard Of the right Of petition. A pretty
party this is to talk Of Freedom Of Speech
A pretty party this TO mouth of the sacred
rights guaranteed by tho Constitution
A pretty party this TO grow restiye under
wholesome restraint, and TO roar about
liberty The mean, the ineliably mean crea.
lures for years, in Kansas, in South Carolina,
in Washington, in New.YOrk, in Boston, in
every great city and in every little village,
have been striving to muzzle all dissenting
men-to harass aud persecute and destroy
every object Of their hatred-and now they
turn about. like some old procuress, converted
IN her old ago to yirtus, and bawl for the
largest liberty of discussion Liberty of dis
cussion may be very fine thing, Mr. Ben
Wood but if you think you love it, you labor
under a hdeous hailucinatiOn. Freedom OF
discussion may be d delightful principle, but
when did you become enanOred of it,
Mr.. Horatio Seymour A pretty pair
OF consistent creatures you arc A precious
pair OF noodles you must be, if you do not
know that you arc stealing all the fine thunder
Of the Abotionlsts-and very awkwardy you
handle the piered bolts You for freedom OF
discussion! Why had you only had your way
you would long ago have hung Mr. Garrison,
behcaded Mr.. Sumner, drawn and quartered
Henry Wilson, and set your bulldogs of the
gropgery aud the brUthel and the gambling hell
upon the Office OF this paper! You know you
would. Ben You know you would, lIoratIo I!
Don't deny blushingiy the soft Impeachment !.
You know in your hearts, clear down
to the black bottom of them, that
You would have done it Nice men you are
to talk of Freedom Of Speech You would
keep Satan rebuking Sin quite in countenance I,
1t is no business Of ours to defend particu.
lar acts of the Administration, but when 1t is
assailed by Southern Assasslns and Northern
Copperheads, it has u right, by the law OF self
preservation, to defend itself. What we have
u right to urge is, that those who now under
take to defend Liberty Of Speech, have heretofore
been badly distinguished by their hostility to
that Liberty aud W all 0thor liberties wAatso.