Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-03-20
Free Speech-Free Press.


18th TO. neo!I Story "
Free Speech-Free Press.
The Republican party has been. the advo-
cate and defender of both. 1t was for these.
as much as any other cause that the party was
brought into existence-aye, perhaps more.
When we demand Free Spe ech to-day, we but
reiterste the demand of the anti-slavery ele
ment in the country since the organization of
the government. Had but these two great
rights been recognized and guaranteed under
Democratic rule, there would to-day be with
in our borders no civil war or strife. When
we asked that we be protected in our right to
free speech in all sections of the land, we
were ruthlessly thrust aside. The impetuous
Southerner visited our Northern cities, and
freely denounced the institutions ofthe North
and defended the barbarism of the South. 49,
But when the man of the North went South
and expressed freely his hostility to the bar
barous oligharchy, he was treated with every
indignity and despitefullY used. Robert
Toombs could denounce free societies in Fam
euil Hall without molestation, but Judge
Hoar could not appear in South Caralina as
the representative of sovereign State, en-
trusted with business of a commercial char
acter. VIM. Yancey could preach treason,
defend slavery and denounce the North, but
defenceless woman could not teach slave
children to read. Wigfall could defend
slavery and denounce free society in the
North, but Wendell Phillips could not expose
slavery in the South. Talk of Free Speech
for the past thirty years it has been obsolete
South of Mason and Dixon's line.
Talk of Free Press-the thing was not
known to exist in the South. For these
many years, no paper could be published in
the Slave States whose theories were inimica.
BILE to the perpetuation of slavery. TO speak
and write in behalf of this accursed institu-
ton, was to obtain guarantee of freedom
To speak or write against it, was the signal
for mob violence, tar and feathers, rail and
Punishment. The Northern States to-day
are giving practical exhibition of their de-
votion to Free Speech and Free Press. In
the past they have insisted upon these rights
being fully guaranteed; we insist upon them
now. Let not this war cease until the exer-
else of this God given and constitutional right
be fully indicated. Accept no peace that
does not guarantee to every American citizen
the right and priveledge of expressing his
views upon every question, when and where
he pleases, in his own way, provided, that in
so doing he weakens not the government, de
stroys not public confidence in the admins.
tration, and do not give aid and comfort to
IS enemies. Let all public measures be cam
ivassed in fair spirit, let differences of opin-
ion be expressed, but not permitted to ripen
into revolution and rebellion. When the op-
position clamor for Free Speech let them re-
member their antecedents. Let them not for
get the plains of Texas and Kansas, where
this sacred right was wantonly violated under
Democratic authority.
And when they insist upon restoration of
the Union as it was, we tell them as it was
under Jefferson, Madison and Monroe, but
not as it was under the rule of tar and feath-
ers, bowie knives and reyolvers. We want
restoration of the Union as it ought to be, Sc
curing to every man the right to speak and
think when and where he pleases-but loyal
to his government.
WBy the following it will be seen that
there IS no chance for promotions from the
volunteer service into the regular army ofthe
United States
WASHINGTON, D. Co. March 10, 1863.
JOHN MAH1N, Ed. MUscAr1NE JOURNAL -
Dear Sir.-Will you be kind enough to pub
lish the enclosed letter from the Assistant
Secretary of War, in your paper. It may
save me the labor of answering very many
letters on the same subject and perhaps pre-
vent great disappointment on the part ofthose
who seek to enter the regular army.
Yours very truly,
J. w. GRIMES.