, 1868-03-06
To the Editor Of the "St. CrOix Avis"

secution that Government has entered
against you? The more [ reflect upon
that action, the more l am convinced, that
as a fact ii is indeed highly I'M ~urious to
the rights of the press ; but as a precedent
it is one of the most dangerous, that ever
was tried 10 be established, One effect
of its measure Government surely did not
foresee it did not calculate upon the dead
set against it of the current OF public
opinion and it appears 10 me-, that Gov
eminent has been reduced 10 such a sit
uation, that its own judicial secretary has
considered himself called upon to step
forward, and declare in a rather eT cathedral
manner that it is has conviction that
Government has acted correctly IN InstI-
tuting the action against you and that
discussions whether the Government has
acted wisely or not, IN decreelng SAID ac-
ton. can lead to no result. But his 9pSe
dirit, owing to the part that he, 10 his OF
fetal capacity, has had in decreeing that
action, is not of a nature TO carry cOnvlc-
ton with it; and 1 take the liberty, to
differ from him in opinion, and in contra
diction contend, and maintain that every
discussion must have a result,-although
haply, not a tangible one,-otherwlse the
voice of truth, and reason must be silent
and the right of every subject in a free,
and constitutional land, must come to de-
pend upon the arbitrary, and capriclous
dogmatisms of the Administration /; but
such a tyranny over III minds, Govern
ment has not yet pretended to. Ia your
particular case a discussion might lead TO
the result of convincing Government, that
if it had used q little calm reflection, 1T
would have been persuaded, that the
most licentious pen of an editor or q
writer in a newspaper, is unable TO call
forth effects Of such a nature, as that
which Government seems 10 have appre-
hended from your innoxious articles, ia
bouring under which fear it has instituted
the action against you, with a view, pro-
badly, to intimidate the free expression of
public opinion),-but that caIamities like
the one feared, only arise from the real
conduct of Governments and that where
q people is hurried into excuses, the ofi-
ginal fault is in Government.
But, Sir, let us calmly review the posi-
ton of the case, and in doing so we will
only dwell upon the charge of treason ;
because in my opinion, it compartments
the whole question. The rest that you
have exposed "scorn against Denmark, its
Government, and tho Danes here from the
mothercountry," and that you have in
troduced %spiteful contrasts between the
natives, and the immigrated Danes etc !:
etc: is unworthy Of notice.
You are indicted for treason. But
upon what foundation? Government, or
rather its lawyer, tells us, that you have
intended by your articles in certain num-
bers of the Avis, TO call forth exaspera-
ton, and agitation in the lower, and more
ignorant part of the population, that the
action is entered against you for consider
atoms with respect TO the demands of the
public peace, order, and security-he then
adds, that you have succeeded. Govern
mcnt, or rather its lawyer, seems to have
lost sight of the necessity of proving the
truth of its or his first proposition, before
it or he presumed to draw so hasty, and
most wicked conclusion of your intention