lent fluctuations ever do good to him are the great rogues with ragged money who depends upon his daily labor for his to escape without rebuke? When a bankdaily bread? Certainly never. All these rupt embarks in ruinous speculations, things may gratify greediness for sudden discountenanced by sound reasoning. gain, or the rashness of sudden specula- justice and sound policy, and lays by all tion: but they can bring nothing but inju- his funds and attempts to make his crery and distress to the homes of patient ditors bear all the losses, the law of the industry and honest labor. Who are land should be invoked in all its majesty they that profit by the present state of things? They are not the many, but the few. They are the speculators, brokers, dealers in money, and lenders of money at exorbitant interest."

and power. What then shall be said of our bankrupt banks who have failed with millions in their vaults and refuse to pay a cent on the dollar of what they owe? Taunting their creditors, the holders of All the evils that now bestride the their worthless rags, with advertisements land like a huge Colossus, have been in the public papers boasting of their predicted again and again. The political large dividends, the vast amount of mopilots at the helm of state were warned ney they have made at your expence. of the threatening swell of the waters The President of the Charleston Bank beneath, and the hoarse whispers of the boasted at the public meeting, that his rag coming hurricane; but all was unheeded; mill had shaved the public to the tune of the signs and tokens thickened-prophet- between one and two hundred thousand ic anticipations of national ruin fell upon dollars, clear profit, in six months, and the ears of those who were druuk with yet will not pay five dollars of what it the mad schemes of extravagant specula- owes. Is all this to be borne in quiet tions, and the monitory cautions were by a people calling themselves free? expanded in vain. The vessel careered shall transactions that bear all the charon crowding all sail--topgallants were acteristics of manifest fraud, roguery, and unfurled to catch the current of a high- iniquity, an abuse of public confidence, er atmosphere, fore and aft, proud stream- carried to an unheard of extent-the ers fluttered in the breeze, when CRASH public good sacrificed to the cupidity,folly ―her masts are shivered-her seams are parting her timbers are trembling-and her late reckless crew clinging to the rigging for life. Who has wrought all this astounding ruin? Who expanded the paper bubble till it burst, scattering dismay through all the borders of the land, making us a nation of bankrupts? who are the authors of all this heart breaking misery? when the star-spangled banner shall be pointed at in a foreign clime as a bankrupt flag, who shall bear the amazing infamy of the deed?

But in the wholesale iniquity of suspending specie payments all parties are interested. It is an act of which the records of infamy furnish no parallel-the annals of corruption no equal. Talk of pick pockets, burglars, banditti, of other lands-what are they compared with the legalized robberies, the stupendous frauds, the wholesale swindling of the rag money corporations, who have failed, broke, to make money, and to cheat the laborer out of the reward of his toil. Do you punish little rogues in ragged garments, and

and wickedness of soullers corporations, suspending social order, paralyzing individual exertion, destroying industry and robbing the poor-shall all this be passed over in silence because a beggarly contemptible, servile press, dare not say a word? If your newspapers are afraid of a soulless bank, I trust the hard hands are not. If the creditors cannot, and dare not use their pens, you can use your tongues. Let public meetings be called, come up to the work shoulder to shoulder, man to man-let the question be settled at once and forever which shall rule, the power of the people, or the irredeemable money of the broken banks? Let us know whether a system of permanent robbery has been agreed uponwhether the English nobles are to continue to chuckle at having cheated Jonathan out of his gold and silver. Let us understand if the banks are to continue to sell their specie at 10, 12, 15 per cent, and cheat their creditors out of all they owe them?—I cannot-I will not believe that the people of this city are afraid of

broken, insolvent, worthless banks. It is lence. Come up to the work-and come not for the want of courage, but for the all-bind yourselves together in a phalwant of union, that they have borne these anx of honest hearts and fearless hands, intolerable evils so long. Forbearance and let this poisonous flood of corruption ceases to be a virtue-patient endurance be stayed. Establish you a paper that longer under foul oppression, fraud and will defend the rights of the people, in injustice, would be criminal. Not only opposition to the base pander presses are you robbed by these public spoilers that only defend the frauds of the in broad open day, but you are insulted banks--that will not even publish adver- . they add gross and unpardonable inso- tisements that are paid for. Up freemen lence to irreparable injury. The ques--and let us be doing. The bank edition is, shall all this be borne in uncomfice has tumbled about our ears crushing plaining silence? Shall the descendants us to the earth-let us no longer lay gasof those brave men who pulled the beard ping beneath its rottenness and ruin, but of the British lion, who almost single throw off the crumbling fragments. Let handed breasted the shock of countless not Charleston chivalry, the glory and legions of British troops, cower and quail pride of our land, become a mockery, a at a few delicate fingered paupers, who hissing, and a by word. You know your are supported by your labor? why the rights, let them be maintained at all risks, very stones would cry out at your sup- and at every hazard. Look well to the piness-it would cause the spirits of the men you select for public office-let there mighty dead to stalk forth from their be no bankers-no bank borrowers or graves to mutter shame upon your de- lenders, among the number, however generacy were this the case. When the much they may be respected as men and government threatened to crush you with as citizens. Experience has taught us to an iron heal of unjust power, the walls of withdraw all confidence from men, who, this edifice rung a peal of patriotism and however honest and upright in their indefiance, that startled the land like free-dividual capacity, the moment they bedom's watchword!-Is that spirit dead- come organized under a corporation, seem have those battle-cries died away even too lose all soul like the institutions they their very echo? Nay--I will not believe control. it-the spark is kindling yet again-the Let us wall about our huge territory flame will spread from hearth to hearth, & with something better than a wall of brass from home to home. You will compel-but with knowledge, intellectual vigor, these soulless monsters to do what they moral power; with legions of freemen are bound to do, and what they almost too honest to be worth corrupting, too daily say they are abundantly able to do brave to pay the price it would cost to -pay their honest debts. This is no time conquer them. "Then let the vengeful for flinching and dodging-it is no time bow be drawn to the very double," let to play non-committal and lay under the the barbed shafts of corruption be sped fence-it is not a time to be intimidated with their utmost strength, like the spent by clamour, or paralized by plausible ex-javelin of the aged Priam they will fall cuses. It is a struggle of life and death, of liberty and slavery-of justice and fraud. Let it be a war to the knife, and the knife to the hilt. No violence to persons-no illegal destruction of property. But the strong arm of the law; the peaceful protest of every five dollar bill, then the magistrate's court, and then let execution be issued, and your money will be forth coming. Let the heartless corporations that have sown your hearthsides with adversity and woe, be taught a lesson that will humble their intolerable pride, and rebuke their unhallowed inso

harmless to the earth.-The voice of the
patriots who are gone cries from the
ground-the blessings of 15 millions, are
committed to your trust, to guard and de-
fend at the peril of
The fires
lives.
your
upon the altars which they reared, see
that they are not quenched by the black
waters of political strife, but burn on in-
creasing in effulgence and beauty until the
last ages of the national mind.

"Strike, till the last rag bank expires,
Strike for your altars and your fires,
Strike for the green graves of your sires,
God--and your native land.

AN ORATION

UPON THE

FREEDOM OF THE PRESS,

Delivered at Danbury, Conn. on the liberation from Imprisonment of P. T Barnum, Esq., Editor of the Herald of Freedom, for an alleged libel.

BY THEOPHILUS FISK.

Friends and Fellow Citizens:-In It has been said that the general lot of rising to address you on this interesting man is servitude, blindness and bondage. occasion, I cannot but feel deeply sensible This, so far as it regards the history of of the honour that has been conferred the past, is alas! but too true. There upon myself by your Committee, in per- are no traces of the footsteps of freedom mitting me to communicate their senti- upon the broad domains of Asia-the ments to this numerous assemblage. I great Father of nations! Africa's burnought not at this time to use the language ing sands bear no marks of emancipation. of apology or excuse-indeed it is sel- The history of Europe, until within a dom that I do so, however imperfect may comparatively short period, has only be the result of my labours; but I am been marked with tears, and bondage, compelled in this instance to deviate and death. But at the present time, a from a custom usually observed, and to new era is beginning to dawn. Kingthrow myself upon your kind indulgence. doms are awaking-and the dignity of Owing to the numerous duties and avo- man is starting from depression. Incations of the past week, it was not stitutions that had become venerable by until the noon of the day previous to that age, are falling into decay. Prejudices, of leaving home, that I was able to de- held sacred through the long period of vote a thought to the incalculably im- the past, are becoming a proverb and a portant subject that has called us to- by-word. The gathered heap of polgether. I rejoice however, that the lution of ages of crime, scorn, and wrong kindness which has called me hither, is a -is scattered like the chaff in the summantle broad enough to cover the im- mer threshing floor. Amidst the clouds perfections that may be discovered. of thickening gloom, the nations see By the kind providence of the Al- Freedom's arch upreared on high. The mighty we live at an eventful period. incense is kindling at Liberty's fount of Our lot has been cast in a land where fire. Woke by her ancient triumph liberty has reared an everlasting home-shout, her children sing her proudest we inhale it with our first breath; our songs. Bosoms that were cold, have lives are full of its inspiration. We can been touched by a Promethean spark of worship at her shrine in the broad blaze patriotism, and they utter words that open day-we -we are not compelled to tyranny quakes to hear. The murmurspeak her thrilling accents only when ing streams in Europe will yet have in night and silence are abroad. It has remembrance courage that knew nought descended from those who have poured of fear-the hills will yet bear record to out their lives a willing sacrifice, as adeeds of noble daring. The thinking legacy-the most precious inheritance mind will discover in all these momenever bequeathed to man. tous changes, the finger of that Power,

of

5.

which is impelling onward the wheels of a gracious providence, to a happy is

sue.

upon her beautiful vallies the raven wing of a parched desolation?

America-proud, happy, thrice happy, land! In whose halls shame has never trod

"Thou mountain land thou land of rock,
I'm proud to call ye free."

If we turn to the history of our own country, the changes during the last fifty years, are no less surprising than those already noticed. Our progress in all that ennobles human kind is without, Thy banner still floats upon the breeze a parallel in the annals of creation!-Proud symbol of salvation! its stars Survey the wide spread earth-examine shall be undimned through ages yet units holiest records,-and where will you told--beneath its streaming folds our find a land of such proud recollections, father's conquered; may it float forever. and such glorious anticipations? Where I am reminded by the resolutions of Freedom's right arm, in the might of your Committee, that we are congregaher omnipotence, upholds the chart of a ted to notice in a particular manner, not world's emancipation; where the soi! only the glory of our land, but the cause bears no plant that is blighted by slavery's or causes that have conspired to place her breath. The progress of light, liberty, upon such a proud pinnacle among the and truth, in this country during the last nations of the earth. This may be told half century is most cheering. Fifty in one word-it was Freedom-above years ago, our towns were small-a mere all, and more than all, it was FREEDOM cluster of meanly built cottages. Now OF THE PRESS! I enter upon this duty they vie with the mammoth cities of Europe. Fifty years ago, there was scarce a rood of land upon this continent that did not acknowledge a foreign tax gatherer now there is scarce a rood that does. Then the voice of infant freedom was heard in the cradle of New-England, It is the disgrace of mankind that the in weakness and trembling-now the circumstances that have called us togethtyrants of earth hear it in tones of thunder. er, are by no means new. The ungodly speaking words of doom. The eyes of persecutions and proscriptions of former the world are upon us-there is scarce a years, are familiar to you all. The names heart, that does not throb with fear, or of Holt of New London-Babcock of

with pleasure and pride-the theme is one on which I love to dwell! But there is to be shade, as well as light, in the picture to be drawn-I am not only to speak of the Freedom of the Press, but also of its infringement.

hope, at the mention of our name. The Hartford-Osborne of Litchfield-Nipatriot, across the blue waters, utters it chols, of Bridgeport—and the history of as a rallying war cry,--there is scarce their wrongs, is known probably to the an altar from whence ascends the incense most youthful member of this assembly. of pious adoration, that bears not witness It was fondly hoped that the persecutions how we are feared or loved. Where is of the press had ceased forever-that the the heart that does not swell with ex- chronicler of our times, would not again ultation at the reflection that he is an have to record another act of such foul American citizen? That he is a member barbarity. It was to have been hoped of a community of Thirteen Millions of that the spirit of an age of darkness, the uncontrolled freemen! The boundless ghost of heathen ignorance, would have firmament bends not over a lovelier spot, been allowed to have slumbered in the than the land which gave us birth! Who charnel house of corruption. But we does not love to gaze upon her bulwarks have been doomed to be disappointed. of patriotism-and listen to the legends In our own neighborhood,at this enlightenof her glory? Who so base as to rob ed age-a fellow citizen has been rudely, her of her unfading laurels ? Who unjustly, and unjustifiably, torn from his would crush her expanding blossoms of fireside, and incarcerated in the gloomy hope, and trample upon her sublime crea- walls of a common jail, for having dared tions? Who would breath pestilential to untrammel his press-for having dared vapors upon her holy records, and spread to unmask and expose spiritual craft and

hypocrisy. I have heard of punishment | strange vine-we are not the men our for lying, but I have yet to learn that it fathers were, when the foundation of that is a crime to speak the truth. If it be Temple was laid which is the wonder just and right--if it be law and equity to and admiration of the world! If we fine and imprison an American citizen, tamely submit to this we have indeed for publishing incontrovertible facts-lost the manly tone of virtuous freedom why then we must admit that our friend of those who have gone before us--and has suffered according to his deserts. are begining to share the camel's nature But we had supposed that the relic of crouching into the slavish sentiments barbarism which says, "the greater the of passive obedience and non-resistance, the truth the greater the Libel," was not to the vilest despotism that ever degraded the governing principle in an American the creation of God. Whence arises this Court. brutal apathy-this stoical indifference, We are assembled to inquire by what that we lie like cattle, grovelling in authority, or semblance of authority, has thoughtless improvident, unprovided this outrage been committed? We are ignorance? Whence comes this withertold it is authorized by common law-I ing spell that benumbs the human pulse trust in God that such laws will not be -men in ages past poured out their COMMON much longer. Was it for this, lives at freedom's call, and we dare only our ancestors left the green bowers of to gaze upon truth and liberty when home, and crossed the pathless ocean, night covers the earth. Our hearts have and boldly met "famine and frost and become so narrow that they cannot consavage wrath," to set up a home for free-tain truth and freedom.

doms race-where the unbound mind The Spartan Band of the Revolution, should remain unfettered--disenthralled! that stood for liberty on earth, and glory Was it for this, that the cry of the child-in heaven, have said in our constitution less and widowed ones has gone up from "Congress shall make no law respecting the stained sod of the red battle field?

an establishment of religion, nor proWe pretend to be free-and yet are hibiting the free exercise thereof, nor governed by the laws of feudal barbarism abridging the freedom of speech or of the -by common law-traditions and relics, press"-This has been published to the that have nought but their antiquity to world. It is read in foreign lands, by recommend them. We once waged war him who groans beneath the accumulated with England to be rid of her iniquitous weight of unnumbered years of bondage laws-to escape being crushed and bruis- and oppression. He seeks this city of reed forever beneath the iron heel of foul fuge where he is promised protection-he oppression. We declared ourselves free is promised liberty of thought, of speech, and independent, and yet set down fet- of opinion. Let him dare to differ from tered heart and limb, with the chains of the dominant sects, and he is hunted monkish ignorance, and heathen blind- down like a wild beast. Ruin stares him ness, in the shape undefined and unde- in the face at every corner. Let him finable common law. Shall we submit to dare publish to the world what he bethis state of things? are you willing that lieves to be Gods truth and he is loaded your countrymen should be tried by with fetters and cast into prison! and traditions and condemned by spleen and yet you dare call this an asylum for the caprice and what else is common law? oppressed!! What a bitter mockery is Shall we allow persons who disgrace the this!! you lure a man to leave all that bench of our Courts, to dictate to a Jury makes life desirable, and then for exerciswhat may be invented by malice, intending those rights guaranteed by your con. ed to gratify a thirst for revenge, and to stitution, you kindle around him the concall it law--and compel them to render suming fire of persecution, which like a verdict to suit the malignant feelings of that upon the altar, seems destined to a wicked heart? Shall this be tolerated? burn forever, Your Constitution is either If we allow this without a murmur, we right or wrong-if wrong, let it be have become the degenerate plants of a amended-corrected. If right, let it be