Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1867-05-31
FREE SPEECH IN THE souTH


The recent tour of Senator Wilson marks
a new era in Southern civilization, an era Of
free speech He has been closely followed
by Judge Kelly, who, though not faring as
well as his predecessor, nevertheless goes as
lcterminedly forward in the work he has
laid out for himself. Such men may be
called fomenters Of discord, disturbers of the
peace, and reyiled in thousand ways by the
Copperhead press Of the country, but the
work to which they have addressed them
selves is necessary one, the introduction
into the South of freedom of speech and
discussion. Wilson and Kelly, as pioneers
in this work, deserve great credit for the
manner in which they have thus far acquit-
ted themselves, 1t is at no small risk, as
eyinced in Judge Kelly's case, that they 60
before promiscuous assemblies, of men who
have been lately in rebellion, and advocate
the cause against which they fought and
this in section of country where for years
past, but one side of the political questions
Of the day has been allowed a hearing. But
a free country cannot exist without free
speech, and the rebellion will not be effect
ually crushed, nor win it be prudent to
withdraw the military forces from the South
ern States, until every citizen can speak his
political sentiments in public, whenever he
may choose, without fear Of molestation.
That imprudent speeeheswill be made, is to
be expected, but no one is obliged to listen
to them; the remedy, in free country, Is
TO 90 away out of hearing, but not to under
take to prevent any one by force from free
expression of political opinions This, it is
true, may be new experience for the chiv-
airy, out it is a necessary one, and until they
learn the lesson thoroughly, they need not
expect to be allowed to undertake to govern
themselves. It may be contrary to the views
and wishes Of the late rebels South and
their allies North, but the day when North
ern newspapers and political speakers can
be shut out has passed away The print
ing press and the ballot box have an impor
tant mission to perform in eradicating the
vicious habits of Southern society, contract
ed through the corrupting influence Of
slavery, and it will be performed despite the
convulsive efforts of conquered rebels to re-
sist 1t. The newspaper win be placed up
on every threshold, and the ballot in the
hands Of every freeman; they to whom free
dom has been given, viii also be given the
power to protect and preserve that freedom.
For the slave pen and auction block must
be substituted the school house and the
church. Henceforth the negro goes forth
to his labor to the cheerful sound of free
doms songs, and not to the clanking of
chains and the snap of the slave driver S
whip Intelligence must henceforth take
the place of brute force. The inducement
OF a liberal remuneration must henceforth
be the incentive to labor, and not the whip
ping post and stocks When these things
are accomplished the South will become
rich and prosperous, and they who strive to
retard the work only put farther off the day
oftheir own prosperity. In this work Will
son and Kelly are the pioneers, but they
will be followed by as many more as the ne
cessities Of the case may require. 1t is the
most important part Of the work of recon
construction and will not be given over
until fully accomplished The enlightened
sentiment of the country declares that
eternal vigilance is the price of Liberty"
and free speech and free press are the un-
sleeping sentinels upon her watch-towers.