328 HISTORY OF OHIO. 



mules and cattle. In that case a public meeting got up to fonn 

 a society, an "Ohio agricultural society," to go and purchase 

 these brutes with the intention of turning them into the prai- 

 ries of Illinois, to feed, would be considered lawful and praise 

 worthy, and no mob would assail the meeting with stones and 

 brick bats. But suppose, secondly, that these slaves are hu- 

 man beings, and have immortal souls to save. Have philan- 

 thropists no right to assemble 'quietly and consult on the best 

 means of saving from perdition, these millions of human be- 

 ings? They certainly have such a right and may exercise it 

 when, where, and as they please, under our constitution, with- 

 out a single obstacle being thrown in their way, by any man 

 or combination of men, under the whole heavens. Where 

 would the world have been now, had not the liberty of speech 

 and of the press been freely and fearlessly used to enlighten 

 mankind? We answer that they would be groping still in 

 papal darkness, monkish ignorance and superstition. They 

 would be now bowing in reverence before idols, or on their 

 knees before the shin bone of some worthless saint! Yes, so 

 we should be at this day, but for free discussion, and the press 

 of John Guttenburgh, of Mentz. Away then, with doc- 

 trines and practices which tend to throw us back into the 

 gloom of the dark ages. Those who oppose all discussion of this 

 or any other matter, ought to know, that the liberty of speak- 

 ing and writing, and publishing our opinions freely, are using 

 means to pull away from beneath it, the main pillar on which 

 our whole fabric of civil and relio-ious liberty rests. Thus un- 

 dermined and deprived of its only supporting pillar, the whole 

 splendid dome will fall on us all who sit beneath its spacious 

 roof, and we shall be crushed by its weight. 



Another suggestion is presented to those who raise riots and 

 mobs, to prevent discussion. Such persons ought to know, 

 that when the Creator made man, he gave him two facul- 

 ties of the soul, among others: '-a natural love of justice," 

 and "a sympathy with the afflicted." Yes, He gave man an- 

 other faculty, that of a love of himself, and a disposition to de- 

 fend and protect himself. These are all faculties of every 



