The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-05-25
Abuse of the Right of Free Speech.

The men who for thirty years have never
WINGED at mobbing abolitionists, and who have
never thought it sinful or even dangerous to
liberty to break up anti-slavery meetings by
violence, and who thought it pleasant pas
time to lead VIM. Lloyd Garrison through the
streets of Boston with rope around his neck
simply for the freedom with which he had spok-
en-, are all at once painfully exercised lest the
sacred right of free speech should be violated
by the Federal Government, in its efforts to
strange the evil spirit of rebellion. There are
those who seem to think free speech gives the
right to preach treason, to excite the mad pas
sons of men, and to disturb the public peace.
The raw Irishman thoughtita queer free coun-
try in which man was imprisoned for simp-
ly putting his hand into another mans pocket
In New York there is an educated Irishman-
one John McMasters-editor of the Freempn's
Journal catholic paper-who seems to be
of the same opinion, and insists that the priv
isge of free speech is violated in the case of
Vallandigham, because he has been brought
up with round turn for the utterance of
reasonable sentiments. At meeting in New
York the other night, this Irish copperhead-
who disgraces alike his nativity and his church
INDUCED in such inflamatory and treasana-
BILE language as the following; and what is
the most humiliating, he found those who were
natives of the soil, ready to applaud his insur-
rectionary suggestions:
The question is not about the independence
of the South. Southern ireemen will take care
of that. The question is about the liberty of the
people OF the North. The question is whether
the federal power, defeated and hurled back
by the freemen of the South, is not going TO
try whether they might not make an easier
conquest by putting their yoke on your necks.
(Voices-"Never."l | tell you it is not by
shouting "never;' it is not by cheering and
grooming; it is by the brawny muscle, and
above all, it is by the determined will of free
men born, who are ready to say that they will
die now if necessary-lapplausel THAT they
will die sooner than yield. But. freemen, how
are you TO save your liberties "a voice-"by
fighting" Yes, ii necessary, by fighting, but
not by disorderly fighting, not by street mobs,
not by riots, not by incendiarism, that you are
TO achieve your liberties. If you have punish
ed those who have first wronged you, there
will be others with different names TO take
their places; but your way is TO organize as
freemen--to organize in your wards III your
ward Is too large, organize in companies by
tens and hundreds Then organize regiments,
and send to your governor, and ask him for
commissions. This is the right that the federal
usurpation Of power has attempted TO infringe
in Ohio and Indiana, the right OF bearing arms
1t is the sacred and inalienabe right of the
freemen of America. 1t is written in the con-
stitution of the United States; it is written in
the constitution Of each State-that the people
shall have the right to keep and bear arms for
the defense of themselves, and not of the
Union-but of the State. Tremendous ap-
planse.) 1t is the right of the militanot Of the
regular arny-it is the right Of ourselves as
militiamen to keep and to bear arms. ('Hear,
hear. bravo.") II yon have not got them, get
them, and prepare yourselves orderly and
firmly to preserve, under your gallant and
worthy governor, the liberties of this State
and this Nation. (Great applause.l