Daily Democrat And News

Among the strongest and most persistent advocates of secession and rebellion that held high position before the rebellion broke out, we find Abraham Lincoln, the present President of the United States. This is a fact which cannot be successfully contradicted; yet, should any person under his administration stand up on the floor of Congress, or upon the stump, and use words bearing the same import, he would be denounced and hustled off to a bastile. Why is this? Because there was freedom of speech under democratic administration, while under a republican it is restricted.

Said Mr. Lincoln in Congress: "Any people, anywhere, being inclined and having the power, have the right to rise up and shake off the existing government—have the right to rise up and secede. The declaration admits of no equivocation; it was a declaration to South Carolina and Georgia, and all the Southern States that they possessed the right to strike a deadly blow at this government—to divide this Union in twain—to inaugurate war and the strength of arms found a government of its own. So he tells them that they have the right to put down all living within the borders of secession who do not agree with them. Does any one say that Mr. Lincoln had not the right to say what he did? We have not heard it disputed; but we hear democrats constantly denounced as traitors to their country because they dare question the acts of the administration of Mr. Lincoln; we hear of military officers declaring that no man—no paper within his district, shall question the policy of the presidential acts. Does this not furnish proof enough that the freedom of speech is gone? Who has the right under Lincoln's administration to advocate the same doctrine that he was protected in advocating before he was exalted! No one, except at the peril of life or liberty. Such an administration can but be corrupt.