Year: 1863

object Of war, which is peace. Tins right has
been always used in time of war, well in Eng
land as in America To vindicate that right be
fore you would be superfuous. As we'll reargue
the principle of gravitation. the circulation OF the
blood. or the existence of light. The time was
when John Milton wrote his scholarly defense OF
unlicensed printing, and proved the thesis of
Euripides, fixed in immortal Greek at the head
os his chapter. that


''Ths is true liberty, when freeborn men,


Having TO advise the public. may speak free"


What he thought then, at the dawn of English
popular freedom, the courts of England afterward
applied to both religion and politics. On the
oath of July. 1897, Thomas Williams was tried
before Lord KENYON for printing Paines attack
on Christianity. The great Lord Erskine de-
fended him. While he reDrobated the object of
the lnfdel in his age of Reason he vindicat
ed with angelic eloquence, which has made his
spescn the verdict of millions, the most unbound
ed freedom of discussion even TO the challenging
OF error in the Constitution itself, especially in
its administration.


Under such large minded philosophy, we
could tolerate Wendell Phillips. so long as
there is left Reason to combat his heresies of
hate But. if we are obiy to have freedom of
speech from the PhilIipses and other ranters
against our system of government, while those
are throttled who. TO preserve that system. would
correct its administration then indeed is Liberty
manacled, and Reason in irons.


These old discussions | had thought would
never have been revived except TO honor the he
roism of the early martyrs who. like Algernon
Sydney, died for freedom of thought. or TO admire
their graceful style of expression through which
the soul of heroism shown. We had already
gemmed upon the forehead of our time the re
splendent cOrronal of free thought and free print
ing and free speech They were the crown Jew
els of popular sovereignty. They have not been
shut up in casket>. like the jewels Of princes but
set in our fundamental law-not for a life only
but for nations life, to shine with their silent
capabilities of light for an Immortality


With what a glorious fervor Dlnel Webster
vindicaied this right, you have recognized by
adopting his sentiment as one of your resolutions
TO day. His comprehensive mind saw in free de
bate, the scholars stimulus, the philosopher 5
stone. the statesmans policy, the citizens protcc-
ton and the religionists faithl He saw in it the
rod for error the plummet of truth, and the car
of advancement. Especially did he find in its
guarantee, nations capacity and repOse, pe0-
Piles liberty and happiness. He saw that reason
would lose her great Office the rem its pungency
and power, and eoquence its fervor aud force, if
you hamper and circumscrbe freedom ofthOught
and speech.


What Webster saw and expressed with the
glow of great heart. Thomas Jefferson has
handed down in his inaugural message, wherein
ne has Impe tried forever the principles OF Demo-
cratic liberty: jealous care of the right of elec
ton; the supremacy OF the civil over the military
authority; the diffusion of information. and the
arraignment OF all abuses at the bar Of public
reason; freedom of the press and freedom of
person under the protection of habeas corpus and
trial by iuries impartally selected These prin-
ciples form the bright constellation which has
gone before US and guided our steps through an
age of revolution and reformation. The wisdom
Al. -
devoted 10 their attainment They should be the
creed of our political iaith, the text Of civil in
struction, and the touc:.stone by which to try the
services of those we trust; and. should we wander
from them in moments of error ard alarm. let us
hasten to retrace our steps and to regain the road
which leads to peace. liberty and safety.


Mr.. Cox, after discussing other questions, con
cluded his speech. which was nearly two hours in
its delivery, by urging Democrats TO walk warily
in these times of trial; to walk slow, with short
steps and firm steps. aud ever in the path of duty
to the Government.