The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-05-16

power Of the sovereign, like that of our Presi-
dent and of our State Governors, Is tbeoreti-
cally absolute. Experience has shown the
advantages of this English practice, and we
are confident that lis adoption in the United
States would remedy great and growing evil.
Tha Riots az sho Senth-Tke Right Of Free
afS Speech.
Following Gloss upon the heels Of the riot
at Richmond and the disturbances at New
Orleans, created by unruly blacks, comes
more serious affray at Mobile, Alabama, where
a number Of unreconstruc4ed white rebels
made murierous attack upon a meeting
assembled to listen to . political address from
Congressman Kelley, of Pennsylvania, who is
at present stamping the Sonih in the interest
of the radical party. From our special de-
spatches yesterday it appears that soon after
Judge Kelley had commenced his speech he
was interrupted by persons on the outskirts Of
the meeting, who shouted to aput him down."
To this threat the speaker replied that the
Fifteenth infantry we're at his back, and that if
they could not prevent his being put down
the United States army could. This was the
signal for . general outbreak, and immedi-
ately an attack was made upon the platform.
Pistols and guns were fred at those who occu-
pied it, three or four persons were killed and
fifteen or twenty wounded. and Congressman
Kelley and the HERALD correspondent mar
rowly escaped injury.
This muir ferrous riot il said to have been
preconcerted and stimulated by incendiary
articles in the rebel press for few days past
Whether this be the case or not-whetber the
attack upon the meeting shah be found to have
been premeditated or prompted by the angry
impulse Of the moment, 1t was equally unjusti-
fable and deserving severe punishment It is
the duty Of General Swayne, who Is In COM
mand in that district, to exert his power to the
utmost to discover and punish the prompters
and actors in the disgraceful scene. The mill
tary commanders at the South have been placed
there expressly to preserve the public peace
and to act as police for the protection Of the
lives and property OF the people and the
proper enforcement of the laws. This is the
object Of the reconstruction policy OF Con-
gresS The right Of free speech Is con-
stitntional right and must not be inter
tered with by mobs or military, or by
the national Legislature itself, except in time
of war. Congressman Kelley was just as much
at liberty to speak without interruption on all
tie political questions of the day, at Mobile, AZ
that literary Bohemian, Pollard, was to lecture
upon the exploded Southern chivalry at Rich
mond. If the unreconstructed rebels do not
desire to hear Kelley's political balderdash,
they can stay away from his meetings; and II
the freedmen and white radicals are unwilling
to listen to Pollard, they are not compelled 70
attend his lectu.e. Whe her 1t IL wise and
patriotic for the Northern radicals to overrun
the South and endeavor to excite the minds Of
the freedmen before they are yet accustomed
to their new position, in the hope Of advancing
their own political fortunes, il quite another
matter Their hints ct "mild confiscation !"
their unnecessary recounting Of ell the evils Of
slavery their arraignment of the white popu-
lation of the South for all the crimes in the
calendar, can have but one object and one
result-the political division Of black and
white, Of race against race. The riots and
fights that have marked the course of these
political pilgrims through the Southern States
are indications Of the serious trouble that may
be expected in the future, II the evil be not
speedily arrested. Recsnt disgracefhl develop
ments show that some of them had better be at
home In Massachusetts, CORE citing the morals
Of the Legislators Of that State and the alder
men Of Boston, than making stump speeches
70 Southern blacks.
But if these radical missionaries choose to
travel through the Southern States, delivering
political speeches, they must be projected in
the right of free speech, which is guaranteed
by the constitution of the United States and
it is the duty Of the military commanders of
the several districts to s.e that they have
sufficient protection from mob violence. At
the same time these military commanders
should be impartial in the discharge Of their
duties 1t is just as much their province to
protect the literary Bohemians of the chivalry
from the interference Of radicals and freedmen
as to defend the radicals and freedmen from
the assaults Of Southern DULLES and rufRans-
Haacsck's Talk with tho Kiswas.
There are three ways Of dealing with our
Indian tribes-aght them, pet them, or talk
them into submission. The first has for years
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