Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-07-14
FREE DISCUSSION.

It was great mistake that we ever gave
up the right of free speech and free discuss
ion In the South-but it viii be still great
er mistake five do not now, at once resume
It The tyranny over opinion which the
shareholders so long exercised in the South
ern States, forced Northern men into
habit ofsaying that in the free States which
they were not permitted to say in the South
That is habit we must get rid of as quickly
as possible; and just now is favorable OPP
portunity to assert the right Of free discuss
ion in every Southern State.
If we want public sentiments in those
States TO be turned in the right direction,
our ablest speakers and writer's must address
the Southern people-not from a distance,
but face to face. The New York paper or
Boston speaker reaches at the best only
the few at the South who do not need light,
but are confirmed lovers of darkness. The
Southern masses need enlightenment, and
they viii not get it IN this generation if they
are left to themselves or worse yet to the
planters
There should be, within ninety days, an
able anti-slayery and loyal press in every
considerable Southern city and centre; and
there ought to be Immediately f,rmed an
association to send eloquent lecturers through
every part Of the South, to address masses
Of the people upon the questions which are
Of equal importance to them and to us, and
to demonstrate to them the wisdom of equal
rights, and the folly and mischief of diserim-
mating arbitrarily against any man on ac-
count of the color of his face. That Is the
speediest and the cheapest way to paeify the
Sauthern Tlea4ala, ta win them to right ways,
to set the wheels of the local governments
going in tie right direction
Let no one say tins is impossible that
such speakers would not be safe President
johnson Is lover of free speech; he has
known what it is to have this right denied,
and to see false doctrines choked down the
throats of people, and the exponents of
right crushed down. He win support free
discussion everywhere in the Union; and it
would be a singularthing indeed, if loyal
man could not speak as freely IN any South
ern State as Mr. Johh Mitchell in New
York If it is necessary to guard loyal
speaker with a military force In the South,
this ought to be done and will be done; for
the Southern people must learn-if they do
not know it by this time-that every man
has right to speak, and that the remedy
for those who do not like a speakers senti-
ments is not to listen to him. But we do
not fear that any able loyal speaker viii lack
an audience in any part of the south.
1t is asserted by those who oppose negro
Suffrage. that the Southern whites are op-
posed to it. Take away this argument, and
no one in the North will be so foolish as to
offer opposition TO the measure. We do
not know what is the real opinion Of the
majority of the Southern whites ON the sub
icct We doubt if any one does. We do
know many Southern men who are strongly
in favor of negro suffrage, and MANY Others
who desire to make all men voters p their
States who can read, be they white or black.
But we believe it possible, with proper and
judicious efforts, such as we have spoken of
above, to set the majority of the Southern
people right upon this important question
in very short time And in any effort
for this purpose, we have this in our favor,
that the loyal whites inevery Southern State
will favor general suffrage, perforce, to
save themselves from falling under the con-
troll of their old and bitter enemies, the rebel
leaders. 7. Ereaing Post.