Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-11-04
Freedom of Speech.

Mr.. ADAMS in his speech in Charles
ton, said it was one Of the things the
Northern people insisted on, that every
one should enjoy in the South freedom
of speech. .i9a. = -
The Constitution says that Congress
shall pass no law abridgingthe freedom
of speech" 1t is the spirit of this
prohibition, that Mr.. Adams, We pre-
sumo, thinks ought to be carried out in
public discussions in the South.
Mr.. Adams, however, must be per-
fectly aware, that there is such a thing
as hcentiousncss, as well. as frccdoSs Of
speech in public discussions We agree
perfectly with Mr. Adams, as to. tie
freedom of speech and so VIC thinls.do
the people Of the Southern States. Nh.
Wilson from his State was hearda all
overthe South yet werbelicve hecwas
never molested OF insulted. -
But the kind { speeches which Tire
Southern people object to-, are gross
abuses OF. the freedom of. speech. They
are such, thatno people-in 1.-The North
would tolerate any more than thepeo-
pie of the South They are speeches
Stimulating instruction, and countez
nanciing violence and murder, and Sug,
gcsting arson and rape. t-,~3
A scalawag OF negro gets up, and
commences by calling the whitepeople
rebels traitors Shareholders! tyraMtsl
and criminals; and then, by reciting
what he calls the wrongs of the negro;
ineites him to direc+ robbery and nur-
der. The property Of the country is
described as wrongfuly belonging. to
the slaveholding criminal and rebel,
and those who keep it from him, as rob
bers and thieves He is istold'sto assert
his manhood, and the country will be
his; to stand together, and With Gen.
eral Grant and the United States army,
he will be (as of right he ought tobeA
the loyal msster, and the white man
the rcbellmust leave the country TO
him, or be his underling or slave: -H'
is reminded Of, The inferiority ami 'sut?
felings he may have encountered III
slavery, and bid to seek Vengeance.
and if. necessary for maintaining his SUI
periority, to steep the 9 land in blood,ss
to make it desolatc by: fire. and to
stake white women for their wives"
&c. Now, we beg leave to ask, isthis
freedom Of speech" or is e it l{eentfoaasT, e y,
ness? .., ,-4.:.-.
The Northern peoplesshould = remena- e en-
Der, that the Southern people. are mot
accustomed as they are, to tolerate IN
suits with impunitys The political
bearing Of such incendialy harangnes
is not the matter which fires theif ffiif-.
dignation and resentment so much as
the personal insult and positive danger
.invo zed., Every white man.feels him
self personally insulted by such LAM
guage, many feel their lives, property
and honor placed in jeopardy, and some
take redress into their own hands. We
venture to say, that if the language Of
those, who have been assailed by white
mon for their speeches, were fairly put
inso print, it would be clearly seen, that
the freedom Of soccch was not violated.
but only its licentioatsmcss punished. He
who plays the part of an. insultingint
cendiary, must take the consequences
his language naturally produce. He is
an aggressor, more pestiferous. than 81
wild beast a wolf, or viper. He real.
ly is public enemy to the peace of tho
country and not good citizen, SEEK
ing by fair discussion the promotion of
the interests and liberties of the coun-
try. The whole South, by the will of
the North, is in revolutionary condi-
ton. There is no such thing as an eff
cient enforcement of justice. Conse-,
quently men are thrown back on their
own resources for self-protection, and
the protection Of the country-the re-
suit Of Radical reconstruction so-called:.
We agree with Mr. Adams as to free
dom of speech in the South; but it has
no application to the cases which, we
presume, elected his censure.-Charles-
ton Mercury.