Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1863-05-21
Ere edom of the Press Its Limita-
tions.

iuS tuoif uSuts " pun All ouuJcCts Anu es-
pecially upon those subjects which vitality
concern their welfare. cannot he too sa-
crsdly esteemed by free people. 1t is the
flaming sword which turns every way to
ward off the enemies Of the nations life
tine only sword that is keen enough and
strong enough to resist the insidious at
tacks OF treason and the encroachments OF
power. Tyranny may be able to resist
the sword of iron. but it cannot long with
stand the influence Of free press speaking
the simple words Of truth aud Justice. No
people are in great danger of losing their
Liberties SO long as they are able to retain
uniettered the freedom Of speech. and no
people can long remain free where this has
been stricken down.
The calamities from which we now suf-
fer might perhaps have been in great
measure avoided if freedom OF discussion
had been permitted in those parts of the
country over which treason now holds
sway. Ii the minds OF the people Of ths
SoutherR States could have been properly
enlightened by free discussion upon the
duty OF loyalty aud upon the enormities
and evils and dangers of slavery
they could not have been led blind
fold into the abyss of anarchy and rebel
lion. III
When slavery aspired to the control of
the continent. and the overthrow of repub-
lican institutions. with tho wisdom OF the
serpent. it struck the first blow at freedom
of speech. That once destroyed the rest
Of the task seemed easy.
For one generation of men in the rebel
lious States it has no, been permitted to
dispute the divine right of slavery. No
press. no man, in public or in private life.
in all that region. under the penalty Of be-
ing banished from all The courteses and
charities of life. and delivered over TO the
tender mercies of an infuriated mob. has
dared to question the justice of holding a
whole race of human beings in cruel and
hopeless bondage. or the humanity Of
buying and selling wives AMI mothers
and little children. like cattle in
the market place. Even in the north we
know the effort that was made o muzzle
the pulpit and the press. and how pro-
slavery clamor stigmatised every utterance
in behalf OF freedom as disloyal and anti
christian
But though we cannot guard with too
much vigilance so invavuable a right as
freedom of speech, we should remen Der
that like every other right in civil society
it has lis limitations and conditions. Like
every other right it may be abused, and in
the language of the Constitution, "for the
abuse OF that right every person shall be
responsible" The limits and boundaries
within which this right is to lie exercised.
are as clearly marked out and defined as
those of any other right conferred by law.
There is no such thing in Anglo Saxon
liberty as uRlimi:ed freedom of speech
There is no liberty except that which is re
strained by law. A press rccking with H.
centiousness, or laboring in the interest Of
treason is not less dangerous than when
muzzled by tyranny. No man has righ;
to publish what is pernicicus to peace and
good order and government and religion"
without ineurring the penalty which the
law has fixed to the crime of libel.
The right of free speech is conferred for
tie good Of the citizen, and SANDER and
malice shall not abuse it to blacken and de-
stroy his character. 1t is conferred for
the good of the State and shall not be used
as the instrument Of treason TO accomplish
its destruction. While every Government
should regard an unfcttcrcd press at it's
highest honor and strongest security, it
should be careful that it does not become
the vehicle of treason and anarchy; in the
language OF the Constitution, it should
hold every person responsible for the a
buse OF the right Of free speech.
A free and calm temperate criticism OF
public measures is necessary to the ex-
istcncc Of free State. 1t is necessary
in times Of war, as in times of peace,
that the measures Of the government
should be honestly and fullydiscuss-
ed with calmness and deliberation by
the freemen whose interest they Effect
But no government can tolerate slanderous
attacks upon its measures and misrepre-
sentatiOn of its motives made to destroy
it's strength.
No governnen that is just to ITSELF and
aud to the vast interest con6ded to il, while
engaged in a struggle for life with armed
rebellion. can tolerate press that extends
sympathy to rebels. that opposes and dis
courages every earnest effort of the Gov
ernment, and laoors to create divisions
and discord among its supporters.
The armed force in front OF our armies
is not a more real and dangerous enemy
than the disloyal press which labors to
create disaffection at home. The blood Of
our brothers rest no moro upon the heads
of traitors in arms. iban Of their sympa.
thizers at home who labor to encourage
the rebellion and prolong the war.
Let NO man be mislod by the disloyal
clamor about the abrilgment of the free
dom of the press. The Freedom OF the press
has not beengreatly abused.
If the commander of our armies was to
permit the robels to be supplied by
traitos in our midst with the NUM-
ions oe war to sustain and strength
en- their troops, without attempting to
prevent it when it was in hispower to
do SO, he would not be more guilty
than when be permits Z disloyal press
in our midst. with its moral aid aud sym
pathy. to revive ths sinking courage Of the
rebel armies. and to give them material
support by preventing enlistmenss. and
creating disafection in our midst.
While we carefully guard freedom Of
speech let Us. remember that It is not now in
danoer so mnch as the povernment which