Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-06-27
LibcrII w. License.

The Copperhead journals, ana their
next of kin, the Radical Democrats, have
much to say about liberty of the press,
freedom of speech, etc. The manner i'll
which they invariably speak of these sub
iccts, proves that they do not understand
the meaning of the word "liberty"-that
they interpret it to mean "license and
hence claim the right to do or say any
thing they please. With them, "liberty"
means the right for one with impunity to
say, write, and publish whatever his pas
sions or Judgment may dictate, without
reference to the convenience, safety, quiet
or feelings of those around him. such
"liberty," or rather "license," was never
allowed in this or any other country, even
in times of the most profound peace, and
certainly cannot be permitted to exist i'll
seasons of war, excitement, and public
peril.
One may have the liberty to entertain
any notion or belief in relation 10 religion
or politics, but he may not have the license
to give currency to such notions when
their expression is calculated to disturb
the public peace, to endanger public safe
ty, encourage public enemies, or to out
rage public sense ofpropriety or justice.
In days gone by, any one was at liberty
to entertain the opinion that the institu-
ton of slavery was wrong, and should be
abolished, but no one had the license to
publicly advance those opinions in slave
holding communities, for by so doing the
safety and good order of the public would
be endangered.
Smith may think that Jones is thief
and liar, and he is at liberty to entertain
such thoughts; but should Smith so on
the public streets and proclaim his opin-
ions, some "minion of the law would
arbitrarily" arrest him, as such conduct
would be calculated to provoke breach
of the peace and endanger the safety of
portions of the community, and Smith has
no license to indulge in it.
Opinions in all times Of excitement are
much more likely to be the result Of pas
sion and prejudice than facts and calm
reason. A person may be at liberty to
entertain opinions formed from such or
other causes, but when their expression is
calculated to encourage public enemies, TO
weaken public credit, to outrage public
sentiment, to hazard public safety, to dis
turb public peace, no one has i" license
TO make such obnoxious and dangerous
opinions public.
This distinction between "liberty and
"license" is recognized in all countries,
and it is only by preventing liberty from
degenerating into RIGHTEOUSNESS that we
can preserve the true essence of liberty.
No one is at liberty to pursue any course
calculated to shock the feelings or trespass
upon the proper enjoyment of Others.
This principle has always been recognized
by our laws and enforced by our courts
even in the smallest matters. How much
more rigorous should it be enforced, then,
when liberty, degenerated into licentious-
ness, presumes to strike at the foundation
of our Government, and seeks to over
throw our institutions and give up the
country to the hands of the spoiler
To more plainly illustrate, if necessary:
Men are at perfect liberty to think that
Beriah Brown, of the San Francisco Press,
and all who think with him are liars, rob-
bers and scoundrels generally. Now sup
pose any man should assume the license
to loudly express that opinion on the
streets of San Francisco. The police
would Immediately and properly control
such liberty of speech by arresting him
engaged in it, because its manifestation
would be calculated to disturb public
peace and safety. 1t is but right and
proper to treat in such a manner all those
who assume license to denouncc for all
that is vile those at the head of our Gov
ernment, and those who are assisting them
in their efforts to crush out unholy rebel
ion.-Bee.