Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-04-19
Degenerate Free Speech in Congress.


The proceeding. 10 Congress during the past
week, bring up assin..tAO question Of free speech
the Democrats choosing to put their opposition
to the resolution. eTpellng Long and Harris up
on the ground th,t it would be abridging the
freedom OF discussion and debate, which ought to
be allowed considerable latitude in respect TO all
questions OF national concern and SO far as the
abstract right is concerned the Democrats I'M.
douotsdly had the best Of the argument. Con-
g'es' is supposed to DO dsliberativs body, and
does not assemble With any expectation that it
will be unanimous on all question:, pre- ented TO
IT, 1t is necessary to the proper consideration oil
any question before it, that all who are to vote
should have the privilege Of freely and fully
stating their views, and decsntly urging their oh.
Jectlons to any or every measure which com. up
for action Tits is as mu;h a right of th. mi.
norty " OF the majority. And we cannot see
why this latitude in debate must stop Is soon az
a member approaches the question Of rebellion.
Why, If Mr.. Long is Of the opinion that the war
has gone far enough. that ii is useless waste oil
treasure to continue it, shouldn't he be allowed to
say so lfhe can be answered by argument,
what need Of eIpelling him and il he cannot
be answered by argument, whs will be gained by
sIpellng him Mr. Cox, very forcibly, in dis.
cussing Mr. ColfsIi resolution, alluded to the
speech made by Conway Of Kansas last session
in the House. in which he freely declared that il
the war was not prosecuted with different spirit
aud purpose, it had better stop a, once, and let
the South be recognized. Mr.. Conwsys grief
was that the Administrator were not sufficiently
antr'avery in their views. Mr.. Long practically
says the sane thing Mr.. Conway said, the only
difference being tina, Mr.. Long object. to the war
because II 10 too radical, while Mr.. Conway OBJ
jected because il vas too conservative. Wby
should the House expel Long and no, Conway
We certainly ought to be as liberal and toleran,
toward the freedom Of speech in our adversare,
as ives the government OF England in the time
OF the revolution. Our readers will remember
that our forefsthers had friends then even in the
British parliament. Lord Cathsm was not afraid
to say in au English House Of Commons in l777
g." II were an American, as am at, Engl ishnan
while foreign troop va, landed in my country
| never could 10y down my srms,--nsver, never
never Fox said, There is not an American
but mu" reject and resist the principle and the
right" Yet an English legislative body tolera
ted thst, and We should be sorry to find an Amer.
can Congre. at this day more intoeran. than
the monarchy from whose rule our ancestors fed
to lhi, country.
The result Of this attempt to expsl Mr.. Long
shows tina, the principle Of Mr.. ColhI. resolu
ton has no foundation to rest upon. The re,o
luton did not command the entire vote OF bis own
party, but was defeated by majority OF three, in
House in which all measures practically support.
ing the Government command 4 msjority Of
from twenty to City. And We regret tina, Mr.
Colfsx should not have bssn allowed to withdraw
the resolution without vote, as the endorsement
which it a. last received, must be regarded as the
deliberate expression OF those who voted in favor
Of suppressing free speech, thus furn.hing a pre-
cedent for similar action whenever the majority
Of any Congre. are inclined to exercise the
power. Those who voted for the resolution. A,
least, ought hereafter to say nothing abou, Ather.
toms gag.-And the resolution Of censure, which
was sfterward, passed by a strict party vote,
should never have been adopted, and will come
back some day to plague ito inventors. Indeed,
the House were themselves 90 sick Of i. that they
refused to have it read TO Mr. Long, and sd.
jOurned, We hops ashamed enough Of their pro-
ceedings They had spsn, four days Of their
lime, which in the present critical state Of the
fn.nces Of the country oush. to have been dsvo.
ted to maturing some revenue IN .asurs, in a iu.
Tile attempt 10 do whs; never ought TO be done I;
and succeeded in nothing eIcsp, in strength
enIng the opposition, by giving them a party
wstchword which they will only be too glad to
use 10 the coming campaign. And after ,h. i'm.
potent exhibition Of patriotic sgs and indisna
ton, boiling over in forty or dhy speeches, may
We not hope they will seriously set abou, tn.
work Of doing something to save the country.
e.