Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-11-14
o. 7. MORTON,
Goveruor of ludiaf
The Isesuft OF the Recent Eiectious-
Freedom oGthe Ballet and Freedom
of speech.

The Ieesuit OF the Recent Elections
Freedom ofthe Ballot and Freedom
OF speech.
The Cincinnati Commercial. ia commenting
a lev DAYS ago upon the result OF the recent
elections. made the following declaration:
1T il to be hoped those who have Joined in
the hue and cry about the despotism OF the al
ministration will profit by experience Unre
strcted in the use of speech and the ballot. IL
will be difficult for them to declare In what par
ticular they have been deprived of any privilege
accorded To them At any time under the consttu
ton aud laws OF the general government
We will inquire Ut the Commercial where the
opponents OF the administration during the recert
canvass were unrestricted in the use OF speech
and the ballo,y' Even in New York city. with
Democratic majority of thirty seven thousand.
newspapers we're suppressed. either by words or
the strong arm Of power for the use of speech
All over the North papers opposed to the policy
Of the party in power have been suppressed either
by violence or military authority. The case,
are 80 numerous in this regard that it il useless
90 enumerate them; aad are aSonished
.t the eiilon terry of a Republican Journal
in taking the position that there has been unre-
stric,ed use of speech any time during the past
three years With exceptions rare that we
can scarcely name them. scarcely public man
or newspaper opposed to the policy OF the ad
mius,ration has discussed the condition OF public
affairs with that freedom which the Constitution
guarantees and the exigencies OF the country
seemed 10 have demanded Not an honest sup
porter OF the administration can consistently
claim that unrestricted liberation OF opinion has
been permitted to those who differed with It since
the commencement OF the war F
The declaration Of the Commercial has sig
nihcance. however. worthy. of consideration
IL "a al admission tbs, in professedly
free govsrnment the people -houd be ''uu-
restricted in the use OF speech" Liberty Of
opinion, while IL is the highest. should be the
mos, valued OF oil our liberties. An eminent
writer remarks freedom in the governed to
complain Of wrongs. and readiness in rulers to
redtess them. constitute the ideal OF free
st,te." And Il was said by Que oil the greatest
and most eloqeut of English iurists rnd statesmen
thai ''other Liberties are held under governments
but the liberty Of opinion keeps governments
themselves in due subsection to their duties.
This has produced the martyrdom of truth in
every age: and the world has only been purged
from ignorance with the innocent blood of those
who have enlightened it, Noble sentiments
are these and they should sink deep
iuto the heart of every true friend of
free government. Ii has been the leading
purpose and object of the Democratic party to
maintain liberty of opinion, not to fsctiousy OPP
pose the policy of the Administration. but
through free aud enlightened discussion as to the
true policy of the Government, keep not oalv
those to whom its conduct or management had
been committed. in ''due subsection To their du-
ties" but 10 preserve constitutional liberty and
establish, on more enduring basic. the Union
of the States" But these motives have been
mi.represented by the Administration party more
for the purpose of prejudicing the public mind to
continue their hold upou power than from any
belief that their political opponents had any less
interest in maintaining pure and stable
government than themselves. And il they
can derive any consolation from the means
they used u perpetuate their hold upon
power tlss rich harvest of patronage which
il hss afforded them during the wm icing ia
main end. il certainly will no; inspire much con
fience in the workings of an enlightened con
science or the stability Of tree institutions The
opponents OF the administration have the right
not only 70 complain of the persistent misrepre-
sensations of their principles snd motives through
all the agencies which the party in power had at
command. but also tia, they were denied the un
restricted use of free speech 10 vindicate them
selves from such false accusations Not only
were restraints placei upon the freedom OF tie
rress and Of speech. but the uhi,sry authorities
prohibited. to the extent OF their power. the CIR
culatiou es papers opposed 10 III. al ADMINISTRATION
among The soldiers Can there be free ballot
without free discussionl Can the bsllo, box re-
cord inteIligen, verde, o: tie people. when.
TO a certain extent. only one side OF the issues
before the country sas presented BY speech or
the preS-f
We aiso inquire OF the Commercial where
there ~as even freedom OF the ballot in the re
cent elecuonI la one respect is may be called
free ballot Ia strong Republican precincts the
most sros- fraudulent voting vas p-scticed Not
ohiv minors and non residents were allowed 70
vote almost iDjiscri niustely. but unscrupulou.
partisans voted. not a Their conscience. bu,
a. t.eif assurance permitted. tie necessity OF
the case required. Aud not only This. but
through mi midstion or sctual violence opponents
Of the party in power were kept from TIE polls
YET the Commercial. in view of these facts.
and virh the hardihood Of IN Cd sfeadss 10
crime. says that during no previous political can