The mountain Democrat., 1864-05-14
The Freedom OF Speech.

Is It not strange that, in this enlighten-
ed age, and in Government where the
rulers are chosen by the people, the press
should be engaged in discussing the right
of the people to enjoy the privilege oi
canvassing public men and measures, and
freely avowing their approval or disap-
proval Of the manner in which their public
affairs are administered? The intelligent
European, who has ever freely criticised
the acts of the Sovereign whose born
subject he is, may we'll draw damaging
parallels between liberty in free America
and in his native country. In the British
Parliament, the measures of Government
are criticised and, if not approved, de-
nounced and opposed with vehemence,
and the humblest elector in the United
Kingdom may freely express his disap.
probation OF the Ministry or its measures
without fear Of molestatiou or being
branded as a traitor. Even "poor, down
trodden Ireland" whose wrongs have
been the theme Of the poet and orator in
every land for years. to-day enjoys more
of the solid, everyday blessings of free
dom than the Jacobins of Abolitionism
arc disposed to allow to the frceborn
citizens Of America 1t is useless to urge
the guarantees Of the Constitution that
freedom of speech and liberty of the press
shall not be abridged, for those who arc
charged with the administration Of the
Government, have long since ceased to be
guided BY that sacred instrument, al
though they have sworn ito maitain, pro.
tect, and defend it," and owe their posi-
tions FUSED alone for mischie0to its provis.
ions. Alas "mcn have lost their rea-
son, and judgment has fled to british
beasts" Who would have thought, in
the halcyon days Of the Republic. when
our National Congress was adorned by
the intellect and patriotism of those no.
BILE champions of Liberty that preceded
the pigmies that now disgrace its halls,
these inestimablc rights would ever be
called in question ?
These reflections are called up by the
remarks Of the Sacramento Union on the
freedom Of debate in Congress; that cor
rupt and servile journal fairly earning the
commendation of the most exacting des.
potism by its extreme views against the
allowing Of freedom in debate. Had the
Union merely advocated its seIvile anti
American creed in the abstract, we should
have let it pass, for it must do something
to earn its wages but following its assas.
sin instincts, it could not refrain from
slandering the idol of the Ohio Democra-
cy, the exile Vallandigham. That Val.
landigham ever gave aid and comfort to
the Southern Confederacy, or advised
and encouraged desertions from the Fed
eral army, is SANDER worthy of the fol-
lower Of the traitor, thief and assassin,
whose crimes have entitled him to become
the patron saint of AbolitioniSm. Vallan.
digham's course has ever been patriotic;
his political steps have "kept time to the
music Of the Union )" and his department
has ever been that of a gentleman and
Christian. His banishment, without
crime, and in violation Of every principle
Of Justice and law, is but another wanton
act Of dcspotism to blackcn the page Of
history and cast foul blot upon the es-
cutchcon Of American freedom and Amer.
ican justice. We can only account for the
constant recurrence of the Jacobin press
to the case of Vallandigham on the by.
pothesis that their action towards him is
"a damned spot" on their record that
continually haunts their frightened souls
and twill not out at their bidding" Like
the assassin, they are pursued by their
infamy which will crush their guilty,
cowardly souls long after their victim
has ceased to feel the weight of their in.
famous wrong. Vallandigham is cnshrin,
ed in the heart of American patriotism,
and his defamers may heap SANDER upon
slander against him until the vile monu-
ment Of their infamy ovcrtops Pelion up
on Ossa, without furnishing his spotless
record Of devotion to Constitutional
American Liberty.