Year: 1861

Notwithstanding the fact that the Con-
stitution of the United States is regarded
rs an obsolete idea by some OF the whipper
snappers of the Republican party, as well
as their Abolition leaders in this vicinity,
it is well occasionally to refer to the prin>
ciples and landmarks established by that
ancient document for the observance OF
the people and their government. Among
the perogatiyes explicitly guaranteed land
which are held sacred even in monarchial
England) are the fre edom of speech and
of the press-a right which, for the first
time in sixty years, is now sought to be,
and is, trampled under foot by Abolition
mobs. The Constitution provides as fol-
lows:


ARTICLE 1,--Congrcss shall make no law res
pecting an establishment of religion or prohibit
ing the free exercise thereof; OR ABRiDG-
ING The FREEDOM OF SPEECH, OR
OF THE RESS: or the right Of the people
peaceably to assemble and to petition the Gov
ernmcnt for redress of grievances.--Con Constt"-
ion Of United States


judge A. G. Miller, of the United
States District Court of Wisconsin, pos>
ition which he has ably filled for many
wears, in late charge to the Milwaukee
Grand Jury, clearly defined the law and
the inyar:able usage Of the Courts OF this
country in regard to this subject. u may
not he out of place for us to state that
Judge Miller is Il native OF Cum .iand
County in this State, was raised and edu-
Gated in Carlisle, from whence he emlgra'
ted TO Wisconsin some thirty.hve years
ago. and has for long time sustained the
reputation of learned able and honest
Jurist. In his charge, he says


Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty,
and the free communication of thoughts
and opinions is one OF the invaluable
rights of man, subject to responsibility for
its abuse These principles are engrafted
iuto our nature as free American citizens.
! mean the liberty of the press and free
discussion among men, upon all subjects
relative to their duties and their rights as
free citizens but no RIGHTEOUSNESS of
the press and iactious and scurrilous abuse
and Misrepresentation of men in places
in public trust, which is the bane of tree
governments. In this time OF excite
ment, and disposition to cast of restraints
OF law, some men, under the disguise OF
extreme love of country may be disposed
to indulge their envy, hatred, malice and
il.will toward others probably much more
worthy and patriotic than themselves
Men may assume q standard Of patriotism
and loyalty for themselves, but they can
not be permitted to pronounce. other men
traitors who do not, in their opinion,
come up to that standard. The Constitu>
ton and laws OF the United States define
the crime of treason and by which eS-
cry man is to be tried. There is no pro-
priety in this free North, where every
man is loyal TO the Government, and
where we hold no persons in bondage, OF
inau gurating a system of secret police! In
times Of excitement, as men are more apt
to be Jealous than wise, we should keep
before us the example of France, when
the reign of tsrror became 30 lntolsrable
that all Glasses OF men were glad to seek
refuge under military despot. In this
country it is proper and perhaps necessa'
ry that there should be variety OF senti-
ment upon every subject Of governmental
policy. Here, where the voice OF the peo'