The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1864-05-04
NUMBER %
Peacsmrn Speak.

the doctrine of persecution for opinioB's
sake. Its nov very generally conceded
that citizen has the right not only TO think
for himself bo, 10 speak for himself, upon
political suhjeclr.., This privilege becomes
valuless when the slightest restriction 10
put upon il. When hampered with IFS and
buisr when subject 20 provisos, when given
the fEes rein in one direction and curbed
another, 1t defeats i,s own object and be-
csmer rather ihe instrument of despo,ism
Than tho sale guard of liberty. Better the
constrained silence, of ,vassalage than an
utisranco that disguises or disiorts the sen.
timeui Of the heart. In proportion as the
political danger is imminent and great, the
righ, of o!i,csl discussion should be fully,
freely exercised otherwise the sontrol OF
our political desiinies, will be- .monopoIized
By that faction which pcssssles the ptysis
cal power to rssala!s the sphsrs of dis
pulal,cn.
The mos, jealous and devoted organ Of
The Chief Magistrate OF this Republic has
lately insisted, in emphatic terms, uPoa The
widest latitude in the. exercise of the right
of political discussion. Ii asserted that
what one honestly believes, she has NOT
only The right, but ii is his duiy TO say il.
Ii is the duty. of every. honest Legislator.
whsn great public concerns are Al stake, 70
declare his honest convictions. 1t is none
the less but all the more. his duty to do ihis,
if these convictions are opposed 10 the
dominsn, sentiment, 1t 10 tho weakest side
lha, has the strongest need of argumeui
for il is their only power" AS the legis-
lsior is tui the ageai of the people and their
representative, whatever right Of free speech
is bis, is lhsirs. They do, not surrender 10
him their voiiliou, but simply select him.
as the exponent of their will and the gusf-
dian OF their welfare, in leg islslivs bodies.
TIE people have therefore Tho saaction, If
That ware needed, of their chief spagistrsts,
as expressed by his principal organ, 10
speak their homes. convictions, 10 whaisvep
poinical lhory they, may incline. Hove
ever repuguanl liie sentImen's of one ius
d:yidual may be 10 snother's iuclinsiions
and sense OF duly or expsdiency, il il his
prerosaIIve 10 express lhen With impnpuI
and TO support them with such reasoning
as bis iniellecl may be capable Of Ale
though ho should favor the demolition of
The Republic and The erection OF an Emp
ic It's siesd. no is within his constitutional
right in advocating such q change always
understood that he advocates no recourse
10 unconstitutional measures TO realize his
.bo
sCrh weight with his fellow citizens as 10
create majority consii,utiona!ly sufficient
to consumsss that political misfortune, how.
ever great the moral crime, however preIn-
dicisi 10 the sens.sl welfare. theirs world
be 20 treason either in The purpose or ns
accomplishment, il the constitutional for
mulary were strictly followed "Euos ef
opinion may be safely tolerated, so long a.
reason Is leit 10 com6Ati."
We have referred to this extreme case,
which happily Is not eTea 4 contingency,
10 illustrate the unbounded license of po!iti-
cal oPlnien' that our form Of government
accords TO every citizen. We challscgs
refa;aliou. But if the citizen can coniem.
piale the overthrow, by legitimate means.
OF our republican :sstiiu,ions, he certainly
can contemplate any political changs
within lie limits of constitutional aeiioR-
that his conscience or his reason may sug-
gsst as promissory CT beneficial resslts-
Therefore il be honestly believe. that the
recosns;ion of ito sou,hetn Confsle;acy
as Al iade epcGdeui nation be pteferable TO &
war of subjugation, or even preferable ts
civil strife, or even ii he honestly believes
that, under any circumstances, q separation
OF the sections be preferable TO their uuion,
ii is he privilege tc SO express himself.
and. 10 support his theory with calm sGd
courSous 6isPasaiion.
The gidGy whTI of svents during the pssi
three years has. naturally disturbed the pop
ular appreciation -of me attributes of our
political system. The masses in the 5sgin-
ming were fascinated with the inspiring
idea that The Union O! the States appealed
10 their yalor aud patriotism. They leaped
a, tbs glitering hail, and yielded 10 the
current without giving a thought 10 whittier
it swept shem on. It was not 50 easy to
slsm the tide IS. 10 plrrsS into it. Tbs
dominant party artfully created the impress
sion that il was treascnabl. TO oppose the
war. Ce;,ain political cen,ingeneies were
marked as forbidden to popular cousiders,
ton. This Stacking Of thought was the
only way 10 securs the peoples submission
| 10 tho gradual transition from q pfofsssed
war for The Union 10 lie present phase Of
war for exieTmineiion, Abolition aud csa-
/ lraliza,iou. We hope that We have demon>
/ s,ra,ed that opposition to. the war is priv.
! lese none may gainsay Some ,imd naturee
are still posed with vague lear OF penalty
attaching 10 M expression OF peace senti-
rrenp. They are not worthy to De tfeemsa
ii they permit their lips 20 be sealed oy
ueacherors doubts OF their rights. Whils
| n. naonl. a.. x;iaot nj eeuYsa des De.ism