The New York herald., 1865-05-27
Freedom OF Speech and OF the Press in
tho South.


about by the rebellion has not only emanci-
pated the negro, but it has given liberty Of
speech and freedom to the press in oil that
section. For the period of thirty years and
more the man south of Mason and Dixon's line
who ventured to speak, print or circulate any
thing in favor Of abolition did it at the peril Of
his life. Nay, hint thrown out against a
stranger that he was an abolitionist was sufi.
cient to bring down upon him the savage
penalties Of Judge Lynch. From Delaware to
the Gulf of Mexico freedom Of speech and Of the
press was by Southern opinion and mob law
hanging, scourging, jails, tar and feathers
restricted on the slavery question to the de-
fence of the institution. These rules and regu-
lations were at last carried to such extremities
that Northern men liable to suspicion, in travel
ling South, had to 60 provided with certia-
cate from some well known Southern man or
supporter of Southern rights" that he was
"sound on the goose" in order to travel with
out further molestation than the inspection of
his pass, bg the inevitable squad Of loafers at
the Southern cross-road Post Office or grocery.
This, in full blast, was the condition Of
things throughout the slave States at the break
ing out of the rebellion. The deluge which has
since rolled over those States has swept all
those old things away, and buried them among
the fossils Of the antediluvian epoch. From
Maryland to the Gulf of Mexico the negro is
free, speech Is free, and the press Is free.
William Lloyd Garrison and Henry Ward
Beecher have been received as lions in Charles
ton, where even six months ago their pre-
sence would have been the signal for hang
ing match, without judge or jury. Southern
newspapers with Northern principles are
sprInging up along every trail Of the
victorious armies of the Union. Cheva-
lier Forney, for instance, with all his other
irons In the FIRE, Is about to establish
new political journal, of the gospel according to
Forney, In Richmond-that city Of ruins, ashes,
sepulchres, human bones, doleful chivalry,
bustling Yankees and swarming free negroes.
On the other hand, Richmond already rejoices
ia a new journal, called the Times, the stripe
and calibre of which may be judged from the
fact that it finds the Hon. Ben Wood model Of
penetration and political wisdom, according to
the antediluvian Southern platform of State
rights.
The press is at last free In the South, and
men and women Of oil colors may now, down
South, speak, write or print freely upon all
subjects within the limits Of decorum. Wendell
Phillips need no longer con6ne his labors in
behalf Of negro suffrage 10 the North. He may
60 down to Richmond, Charleston or Mobile,
and speak by the day, or establish q paper In
support Of his principles The women's rights
women, Bloomers, spiritualiss and communists
of all sorts, may likewise try their reforms in
the new and ample fields OF the "sunny South"
The war has certainly left It's numerous widowed,
fatherless and impoverished women throughout
the South in a condition which appeals strongly
to their strong-minded, philanthropic sisters of
the North. They are free to 60 down in behalf
of womcn's rights, even TO the extent Of the
right Of suffrage. Why mott Are we not In
the gulf stream Of resistless political revolu-
ton which Is destined 70 sweep around the
worldi II win not be . matter 70 wonder at,
after the wonderful events OF the past four years,
II within the present White House term Of
@Andy johnson" we shall find universal
buuEuBc ~ IuI picVuiunB iNOisu ouo oOuM -
TO include all women over eighteen, and all
males over twenty.one years Of age, Of all
colors-whites, Indians and negroes mulattoes,
Meetizoes and Zamboes, Chinese and Malaya
The Southern fallacy Of sovereign State rights
having been superseded by the great Northern
idea Of "human rights" where is this powerful
idea 10 stop, and who Is to stop III That is the
question.
Meantime we simply throw out the hint that
tho South is now open 10 human rights and
that all the various schools Of our Northern re-
formers are free to 60 down and astonish tho
natives with their grand discoveries in the
science Of human right, including the negro's
rights, The Indians rights and women's rights
TO the right Of suffrage. Chief Justice Chase
leads the way in behalf Of the negroes; let Miss
Anne Dickinson follow - ,hs pioneer IN Dixie
in behalf Of the women.
Fuss AND Muss ABour THE COLLECTOR os IRIS
D. N-,,..4~. n~ocor haa A In said re-