The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-06-10
Senator Trumbull on Free Speech.

Illinois, made the following speech at the Repub-
lican meeting held in the Courthouse square,
Chicago on Thursday evening:
Mr.. Trumbu said 1t was very embarrassing
to attempt to speak to an audience which insisted
upon hearing some one else, but solemn convic-
tons OF duty compelled him to speak, when under
ordinary circumstances he would have remained
silent
He did not come to ndame their passions al.
ready too much aroused. Their country was in
danger. and they must look the peru in the
face. No adjectiveS he could pile up, no vile
names be could apply to those who do not agree
with him, calling th-m Copperheads and traitors,
would assist in arresting the rebellion or in as
serting the supremacy of the Constitution and
the laws.
He did not desire to inspire them with hurrnhs,
but he wished to talk to their judgments and in-
spire them through appeals to their reason.
The times, he said, are grave A majority Of
the people of our state are taking ground against
the Northumberland why? | will tell you
why will point out to you some of our mis-
takes that they may be corrected in the future.
The reason is we have not adhered TO David
Crockett's motto, Be sure you are right and
then go ahead " "a voice" We are always
rght."O have lived long enough to know that
| am OF infalhble, perhaps you are; have some
respect for the opinion of others. One of our
mistakes is that we have allowed our opponents
TO make false issues. But this is not the worst.
The great charge, the charge that has damaged
the administration above all Others is that we
are in favor of arbitrary power, that we are OPP
posed to the freedom of speech, and opinion, to
the freedom of the press, in favor of curtailing
personal liberty, and in favor of despotism.
Now we should not allow these things. We have
been the advocate of free speech for the last for
ty years and should not allow the party which
during the whole time has advocated the gag to
usurp our place. We are fighting for the resto>
ation of the Union, and the preservation of the
Constitution and all the Liberties it guarantees to
every citizen. And it makes M feel bad when
hear some honest friend, brimming full of patriot
DO you propose to interfere with the ballot
box y? (Cries of" No! No !" "Never Never !"
from all parts of the meeting.) | am glad to
hear you say that, and glad you are SO unanimous.
Did it ever occur to you that the next election
may put an entirely different face upon affairs P'
The next election may bring great and depIorable
changes, when Vallandgham and men OF his class
may determine who are to be arrested. (Cries oil
i" No that can never be-" "Never, never" from
all parts of tn crowd Well, gentlemen, there
is no use in closing your eyes to the facts which
evils. around you on every side. | told you
came here to address myself to your reason and
not to your passions, and in view of that light
ask you who are being elected governors of loya
States, who compose a majority of the Legisla
ture OF the loyal State Of Illinois, and who was re-
Gently elected mayor of her principal and most
loyal city and in view of these facts what may
the future not have III storeP ?" (Cries of "Jenn.
SON." "Music." ave don't want to hear YOU
You sert a telegram to the President" y know
am dlstaseul, but am not truthful? | would
claim your reason Invested of passion. The same
challce you hold to the lips of your adversariD,
to. day, to- orrow may be returned to your lips
Would you like to drink of it? Close our eye,
as Y, there is no safety for us, no safety for
you and and every American citizen, now anc
IN the future, but in an unvarying adherence,
tn the constitutional landmarks of our fathers
! (Furiher cries of "Jennson," " Music" and much
dissatisfaction You are wrong--lt is your great
est and gravest miStakD-in allowing your adver
saries to place you in the position Of being o.
posed to the Constitution. (Cries for Jenni
SON" and Give US somebody else.0 see tina
| am diSastetul, but cannot help it, and will 10
d. tain you long. Who is there among you VIII
does not believe in adhering strictly to the Con
stitutlon IN these times, and extending to ever
Cliz-n OF The loyal States its gutranteesp VIII
among YOU is prepared to acknowledge our gov
ernment is a failure? Who among YOU is pre-
pared to say the Constitution is fine thirg 70
peace-good euough-but when war comes
mist be rolled up and laid away? Or in othe
words-tnr it means the same - who among yo
| 10, A.. a.
man, who may be another VaIlandigham, in pl4c
VI the Constitution as the supreme law Of tn
land (Crirs of 1--WE don't want any more
that" What's that band forf') Well, hear m
through tor will not be long, and the question
kaI, nG