The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-01-11
Rights Of Freedom.

RIGHTS OF kreGao1la.s sTs
The right OF the people 70 meet ana 70
consider all matters of interest to them, ana
freely and frankly to declare their opinions,
is inscparable from public liberty. IDS
right and the right OF petition are at the
very foundation OF the system OF pophiar
ssee6sm. Is il In the arbitrary and aespotac
ss.,s srnmenss that these rights are NOS re-
coe,,ized. and are obstructed and denied ned az
the viii al the imperial power. =. Where Reo-
n,e are the source Of power, and are sup
posed to control, they are super-emineeantiy
entitled to confer amongst themselves ana
to decide what is best for the pubic gooo'
~. TO examine into the public adn,inistra-
zion. and to censure public officials Tor ne
elect. or nalieasance, or usurpation' OF, oh
the other hand, to commend them for their
fidelity. nc ~: 44.a
NE cannot fail to, observe in this country
th,, ~ there h an inclination for party
nsuraat,on there appears to be coVertiy
advancing IN idea that public meetings are
sometimes Notwithstanding unhealthy
excitemei,..;. and, as Senator SHERMAN, OF
the Mayflower, says, inhaming public pre-
judices. When usurpation is aioot thefe
n,ust not be such ,preindices-that most
nreisdiced of lnen may have them, but the,
neople-what have they to do with them!]
MORTON went to Indiana to see II the peo-
ME there were restless and thought OF re-
sising; and President GRANT has, as he
himself avowed, a system OF espionage
throughout the land to ascertain whether
the neople are inclined to rebellion against
his uSurpations. y
How natural all this is! Heretofore peo7
n,e eo,,ia meet, and it was universally
deemed their right, and no Government
spies were set upon them. They them
selves were the source OF power, and the con-
SENATORS OF public liberty as well as Sc
curity. But now, when the Government Is
seeking to impair their rights and to per-
petnate the power OF a party, they MUST be
watched and bulldozed," and made more
circumsrect and cautious; and to impress
them with the propriety Of so demeanlns
themselves, men, and arms, and SunpoWdef
are placed where they may inipart the most
terror.
In view of these signs of the waning OF
the rower OF the people and OF the respect
in which they are regarded by the central
government OF the nation, as we'll as the en-
croachne,,ts OF that government, now is
the c.it:cal period when the people every
Where should speek out boldly and unre-
scrvcdly. The public opinion should be
p.oclai,ned tnnnpet-toned. The public
,dgnent should be felt by the public SER
wants. and they should be made plainly to
understand that the republic is still free
republic, in which power emanates from the
people, and that the source OF authority
must be respected by those who are ap-
pointed BY tie people to administer pubhc
affairs.
That the conspirators are infer-ins popu-
lar prejudice and tendencies to insubordi-
nation from public discussion in open as
sembIases shows that these meetings are.
rather feared than objected to from other
grounds. It is important to usurpers that
the people should be still and paralyZed
while the plotted treason to public liberty
progresses. Senator GORDON, OF Georgia,
Justly said that predictions or pledges that
there would be no resistance only embold-
ened the usurpers.
Therefore we trust that there will be no
more talk about submission. Freemen
should boldly declare their opinions like
true men and true patriots. Threats are the
language OF cowardice. But the volunteered
pledge that there will be no resistance is the
indication OF timidity, serviity, and alb
lection. ,s.-
Liberty must be waning when people are
apprehensiye that bold and indedependent
expression of opinion may be misinter-
preted and subject them to disiavor or dis.
advantage through the dispensation OF favor
or pressure from Washington. Again, the
impression that obtains with some southern
people that conflict must necessarily follow
from manly opposition to the Federal
usurpations is an error, and their assevera-
tion that they are tired Of war is gratuitous.
It is supererogatory to assume that war may
follow the exercise OF popular right, and
we know it to be idle to say that il war
comes the South will not take part; for
everybody knows that the South would
select its side and take it. But it is wholly
out Of order to speculate. ut all about war
growing out Of the exercise OF constitu-
tional and sovereign right OF the people to
meet and express their opinions.
No man has right to avoid public duty,
and no man has right to assume that the
trouble OF conflict and violence is TO follow
the proper discharge OF his duty.
People everywhere, rs long as liberty
lasts, should exercise and defend their
rights, let the consequences be what they
may. Collision should not follow. the as
sertion OF popular right and the mainte-
nance of the constitutional liberties Of the
people; but If it should, censure alone
must fall upon those who produce it. The
people who are afraid to assert their rights
are already conquered.
A manly and firm people can overrule the
men who may mediate their enslavement.
An oyer-cautious community that would
rather submit to any outrage than be iucom-
model by resistance will soon be subject
ed. It is exactly such a state Of society that
gives birth to usurpers and dictators.
1t is not the time yet for submission in
this land, and we confidently look for that
appearance OF grandeur and majesty OF the
popular will that shall preserve the republic
yet for a long time to the American people.