The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1863-06-19

tendencies of many of its measures if they be
not allowed to speak ON the subject? How can
they show the mischievous effects Of bad laws
and bad proclamations, if they be not allowed
: to discuss and condemn them! If ever there was
time in our history when free speech was ne
cessary, it is the present. for never had the A
merican people such grave and nomentous ques-
E tions TO discuss Before our country can be ex-
{ tricated from its present sad condition and be
secured in the enjoyment of permanent peace,
it will be necessary, have no doubt, for the
, people of the several States to act on the SUBJ
iect through the ballot box, and who will con
tend that they should be required to deal with
such vital considerations without discussion
urrestrained discussion--in tie press and on the
rostrum Many of tie poor men OF the coun-
try regard that clause OF the Conscrption act
which presents a ready escape for rich from the
carnage of the field, whilst it dooms them, be-
cause of their poverty, as exceedingly unequal
and unjust, and think it should be repealed or
changed. Will ii be maintained that these men
have no right TO express that opinion, and to
ask their fellow citizens, when they come to the
polls, to displace those who adopted the often
sive measures7 l trust not.
This right of free speech is the very essence
of our system of government, and hence the clear
and emphatic protection thrown aboutit by the
Constitution. Its freedom must be maintained
and vindicated in this crisis, or the country be
abandoned to desperation. The Democratic
party are for free speech and free press; for
law, for order, for free elections, and for the
Union as it was, and, with the blessing of God,
they will maintain these to the last.
1t was not shown that Mr.. Vallandigham had
advocated treason or disunion much less that
he had committed the overt act of treason. He
had not boasted his labors of twenty years to
break up the Union. He had not denounced
the Constitution as IA covenant with hell and
league with the devil" 1t was not even charged
that he had, at any time maintained that our
''wayward sisters of the South should be allow
ed to depart in peace;" and yet the men who
said these things are enjoying liberty of speech
in the midst of their friends whilst Mr.. Vallan-
digham is banished from his home and his many
ardent admirers. No sentiment of dsloyalty to
) the Government or infdelity to the Union has
been traced TO him. His difference with the Ad-
2 ninistration was as to the best means of sus-
3 tanning the Government and saving the Union
This is precisely the difference between the Ad-
r ministration and the Democratic party every
D where, as it also is between MIR. Lincoln and
e many Of them who assisted to make him Presi-
l dent. yield to none in devotion to the Union,
| and yet could not reconcile support of the Ad-
ministration with that devotion, because believ-
ed that many of its leading measures were cal
cuated to destroy rather than to re-establish the
Union; and am surely not Of those who rate
f the Government and the Administration as the
same, and hold that because one is unfriendly to
the Administration, he is necessarily unfaithful
to the Government. 1t would be about as SEN
0 sible to claim that railroads and the agents who
e manage them are one and the same, and that he
f who would condemn and displace an incompe-
tent engineer, because he was about to run the
4 train off the track and kill the passengers was
therefore traitor to all railroad enterprise. So,
: resistance to an Administration, its usurpations
j. and its aggressions, may be true fidelity to the
, Government.
!, The history of the world is so full of lessons
i ON the subject, that would suppose that MIR.
h Lincoln would be readily convinced that every
' effort to suppress speech would be fuel to the
!. hames and that his true policy is to invite free
discussion and defy criticism. Should he do this,
: / have no doubt that in short time the country
!. would abound with more liberal sentiment
J. toward his Administration and its measures
4 But the people will never submit to restrictions
h ON the freedom of speech and the press; if they
v cannot convince MIR. Lincoln and his friends OF
this determination in any other way, they Will
SC do so with the ballot.
:, Now, gentlemen, have already said much
. moro than had intended, for the condition OF
4 my throat, renders it unsafe for me to make
: long speech in the night air. Indeed, was
strongly inclined, when | came here, to say no
:, more than the late letter of Governor Seymour,
= which am confident you have all read, express
:. ses in better terms than can command my own
views and sentiments touching the arrest and
a banishment of Mr.. Vallandigham.
Gov. Bgler spoke with much earnestness, and
=, his bold and vigorous enunciations elected the
q hearty plaudits of the assemblage.
= No HoT Way HouSe.--The Pacafc Echo rub
: lshed at Napa California, says:-"Ihe politI-
Id cal halfway house has gone in, died out, met
g. with its crave. and now lies buried with the
= past. One must now be Democrat or Aboli-
s. ZIONIST; either for white man or for negro all o.
IS yer: either for intellect, mind, education; or
Ut for wool. a black skin, and ignorance. There
IS is no use denying the fact for it is as plain as
Sc noon-day SUM- The Abolitionists, under the
n, names of Republican and Union, have got pos
- session of your National and State Admlnlstra-
Sc tions; and what are they doing? Creating
n laws constantly for the advancement OF the me-
ee gro, and the hanging Of millstones about the
II necks of white men,"
mt --------- =
n. eIThe Columbus (Ohioj Crisis speaking of
mt the action of the Government in the case OF Mr.
IL Vallandigham, says: J.
lis Would to God that the authorities were fully
he sensible of the great bunder they have made,
n of the slumbering volcano underneath. Who
ss counsels who advises them? Surely not men OF
I'd sense-of patriotism, nor lovers of order and
MS safety. We pray for peace, for law, and for
of order, but we fear that our prayers are but