The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-05-28
Free SDeecfa.'s

ILLINOIS, 10 get up al eNIelSaNe mulSllaIlOn
meeting over the arrest, trial, conviction
and Punishment of the infamous Vallandig-
ham. The organ of Vallandigham Democra-
cy in this State declares that this is the tissue
of the hour that overrides and ''absorbs all
minor issues" The civil war that is raging
the Union, the Constitution, the protection
of the Government against the wild efforts of
traitors and rebels to destroy it, is a minor
issue that is absorbed and overridden by the
momentous question whether such an arrant
demagogue not to say traitor shall be restrain
ed in his efforts to aid the enemies of the re-
public in their vandal attempts at its destruc-
tioR.
We learn from the same organ that a mass
meeting was held in Dodge County, for the
purpose of denouncing the Government for
the arrest of V~allandigham, at which the no.
torious Sat Clark was chief speaker. We
are told there were 1000 persons present, and
| that whenever the name of the convicted
traitor, Vallandigham was mentioned, i'll the
reading of the Resolutions ''the people gave
him three rousing cheers" Among the reso-
~lutions were the following:
ReSelUed, That the arrest, trial and sentence
Of the Hon. c. L. V~allandigham Of Ohio, was
without law or precedent, was a shameful vi
olation of the constitution, a disgrace to the
country, and a gross act of injustice to the
individual, and Gf acquiesced in by the citi-
-- DlsoN = IL 1A-,,oA 80 1911,
tional liberty in that state.
Rc$0jUed, That the vile periured villains
who composed the court martial for the trial
of the Hon. G. L. ~Vallandigham, are fit only
for the position they occupy-the mere erea-
lures and hirelings of a dishonest, corrupt
administration.
These specimens are sufficient to show the
character of the meeting. The Resolutions
were adopted unanimously"
The Democratic Central Committee of
Chicago" held a meeting on Monday and re-
solved to ask the Democratic Central State
Committee to call a convention of the DEM
ocracy of the State ''to meet at some early
day to vindicate the right of Free Speech, and
consult as to the measures necessary for their
common safety"
The following appears as a premable to
the Resolutions
WbereaS, the President, Abraham Lincoln,
by his approval thereof the finding of the
| Court MartiaD has clearly indicated, that it
is the intention of this administration to sub
vert the liberties of the people and erect a
military despotism upon the ruins Of the Re-
public. Therefore, &c.
Now, the fact is, that the Democrats of
Dodge County, the editor of the Milwaukee
Ne~s, nor the Chicago Central Democratic
Committee, believe a word of what they de-
clare in those preambles and resolutions
They know better. They know that no baser
or more lying charge was ever made than
that Abraham Lincoln, President of the Uni
ted States has the most distant idea of
subverting the liberties of the people, Or of
erecting a despotism on the ruins of the Re-
public. They know that no order Of any
military commander, or proclamation of the
President will interfere with Gree speech, -
of any loyal or half loyal man, but they are
demagogues and partisan leaders and they
believe with the prejudiced, ignorant and
uniformed, they can make a little political
capital out of this just and necessary dealing
with a well known and blatant d~emagogue
and active sympathizer with rebellion and
treason.
Gree Speech like all other blessings may
be abused until it becomes a curse instead Of
a blessing, and it may then have to be re-
strained. The difficulty with many demo-
Gratis is that in talking of Gree Speech" ha-
beascorpus, &c. they ignore the fact entirely, that
we are at war with a wicked INSCRIPTIONS
~enemy-that the Government itself is in a
very death struggle for existence, and the
vicious harangues of INSCRIPTIONS dema-
gogues, that at any other time would be al
lowed to pass by '1ike the idle wind" now
give aid andlcomfort to the armed enemies of the
country who are bent upon its destruction,
and who catch eagerly at every word and
deed against the administration as SO much
in their favor. 1t arrays the ignorant and
ullilA1Ol IllCl dSdllIoL III NONCIlI 1tllI3 dllu
makes them the W illing tools of better inform
ed though INSCRIPTIONS p~artisans who would
sooner see the country and government in ru-
ms, than their political opponents peacefully
and happily in power.
We beg the people of the north, whatever
may betheir politics, not to be drawn into actu-
al treason to their beloved and honored gov
eminent, by this senseless, baseless, enreason-
able cry about the suppression of Free Speech
and erection Of a despotisn on the ruins of the
Republic. These same INSCRIPTIONS politi-
clans as a means Of holding on to long abus-
ed power appealed to the prejudices and fears
and Ignorance of the people of the south with
what fatal result we all see. The great mass
es Of the southern people could never have
been coaxed nor driven, into this wicked re-
bellion, butfor these Observation-Disclosures
They were told over and over again, that the
abolitionists of the north were going to let
loose their slaves, destroy all their rights and
privileges underline coustitution-that all who
did not vote the democratic ticket were aboli-
tionlsts. They were sedulously taught that
if a Republican President was elected. thew
would be robbed of every right they ever had.
The same appeals were made to the people of
the south that are now made to the democrats
OF the north. They were told they must
resist the government to preserve their liber-
ty to hold slaves, and to save themselves from
the hated rule of a~bolitionists. In an evil
hour, the people of the south gave heed to-
these wicked teachings. They are ~reaping
the bitter fruits Of their folly. Is it possible
that anyportion ofthe people ofthe Free North
can be so imposed upon by these lying dema-
gogues, who are shedding crockodiIe tears