The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1864-02-03
Hale on Free Speech and Peoples Rights.

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Hale on Free Speech and Peoples Rights.
Whatever may be said Of Mr. HALE's little
weakness, in The matters pecunary, and
however one may disagree with bis political
principles, he has always throughout HE
whole life demanded some show of respec,
from his opponents by tie bold, oulspoken
manliness of spirit which he has ever ex-
hibited- Indeed we may safely say that
uutil the late unfortunate exposure of his
bad faith in selling his political influence
TO release from prison one whom he or his
friends had put in there, no one, of his bitter
ss: political enemies ever thought i'll OF him.
His conduct and his remarks yesterday in
the Senate fully Justify the good opinion
which has thus far prevailed. II is hap
py thing to believe that there exists one
man in that body, even II we do not ex-
pect, who dares 10 speak up for those rights
which have given us all we have and made
us all that we are. Indeed we have always
wondered how Mr.. HALE's impateuce of
oppression, and of shams, his apparent
love OF justice and liberty, could have so
long restrained themselves in the presence
OF so much of what he must have been con-
scions was great wickedness. We had
expected ere this, TO have heard him break
away from and condemn in thunder tones,
the falsehoods and hypoc risies and expose
the personal revenge, which takes the name
OF patriotic zeal OF SUMNER and WILSON.
Still, gratifying and reassuring TO small
nor any Democratic Senator who spoke
went far enough, nor said what the occasion
seemed to US 10 have demanded. Nobody
denied, W bat should have been denied, MIR.
WILSON'S assertion that convention OF The
people would be a revolt. Nobody defen-
ded, what ought to have been defended,
Mr.. DAVIS proposition that the people OF
the different States can righfully met in
convention, and outset those in authority
from their places, ard place new officers
there, or change the whole form of govern
ment if they choose to do so. This is the
principle which should have been main-
tanned on that floor by those who wish 10
preserve fragment of our Liberties. 1t is
governmental establishment are not fre-
quently aud defanily proclaimed, are per-
miited 10 be questioned and denied--nsy
worse, Senator is TO be punished for utter
ing them. Ifany punishment was TO be met
ed out. il was certainly more due to those
Senators who denied the sovereignty of the
people, than 10 him who denied the sovef-
eighty of the president and his constilu-
lional advisers
As TO the expediency of Mr.. DAVIS plan
of calling convention of the people of the
States, we are not saying a word-allhough
we could wish for nothing better. But we
do mainiair their most perfect right to do il
whenever they wish, either through the
forms OF the Constituiion-or outside of the
forms OF the Constitution, in the capacity OF
the sovereigns who made it. The people
OF each stale, sto motg, without any inter-
ference of the State Legislatures, or Federal
recommendation, or any other assistance,
can create a convention, whose mandates
il would be The duty OF A. Lincoln and his
satellites to obey, and il they did not, they
it would be who won.d be in state of re-
yoJt-not tbs people. Until we see this
doctrine acknowledged or admitted by Con-
gress, we cannot bui feel uneasy and anx.
ious, because il is the denial of this right
OF the people which is the ground work and
excuse of every tyranny. We feel assured
that if once these lawless men ieel that we
the people have relinquished, or will moi
assert the rights which once we held so
dear, they will no, fail to use them against
as. For this reason we once more regrel
that The !aIlacies and unwarrantable as
sumptiOus of power of Mr. WILsok have
not been exposed and denied. - Philadelphia
Age.