The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-07-01

right Of the opposition to express their
objections to the propriety Of the Kings
measures in any words or to n extent
they pleased? 1t would be difficult to
show that the opponents Of the Govern
ment in the days of the elder Adams, or
Jefferson, or Jackson exhibited for it
either affection" or respect" You are
conversant with the history of our past
parties and political struggles touching
legislation on alienage, sedition, the EN-.
barge, national banks, u wars with
En-. land and Mexico, and cannot be ig-
norant of the fact that for II party to
assert that a law or system of legislation
is unconstitutional, oppressive, and usur,
pative, is not a new thing in the United
States. That the people OF Texas con-
slider acts of Congress unconstitutional,
oppressive, or insulting to them, is of no
consequence to the matter in hand. The
President of the United States has ar.
nounced his opinion that these acts of
Congress are unconstitutional. The Su'
preme Court. as you are aware, not long
ago decided unanimously that a certain
military commission was unconstitution-
al. Our people everywhere, in every
State, without reference to the side they
took during the rebellion, differ as 20 the
constitutionality of these acts of Con-
gress, How the matter really is, neither
you nor | may dogmatically affirm.
If you deem them constitutional laws,
and beneficial to the country, you not
only have the right to publish your opin-
ions, but it might be your bounden duty
as a citizen to do so. Not less is it the
privilege and duty Of any and every citi-
zen, wherever residing, to publish his
opinion freely and ~fearlessly On this and
every question which he thinks concerns
his interest. This is merely in accord
ance with the principles of our free gov.
eminent; and neither you nor l would
wish to live under any other. II is time
now, at the end of almost two years from
the close of the war, we should begin to
recolleCt what name of people we are;
to tolerate again free, popular discussion
and extend some %forbearanCe ana con.
sideration to opposing views. The max.
inns that in all intellectual contests truth
is mighty and must prevail, and that er-
ror is harmless when reason is left free
to combat it, are not only sound but sal
utary. 1t is a poor compliment to the
merits of such a cause that its advocates
would silence opposition by force; and
generally those only who are in the
wrong will resort to this ungenerous
means. l am confident you will not COM
NIT your serious judgment to the propo-
sition that any amount of discussion, or
any sort of opinions, however unwise in
your Judgment, or any assertion Of feel.
ing, however resentful or bitter, not re.
suIting in a breach of law, a furnish
justification for your denial that profound
peace exists in Texas. You might as
well deny that profound peace exists in
New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland,
California, Ohio and Kentucky, where a
majority Of the people differ with a min
GRITTY on these questions; or that profound
peace exists in the House oil Representa-.
tives or the Senate at Washington, or in
the Supreme Court, where all these ques-
tons have been repeatedly discussed,
and parties respectfully and patiently
heard,