free-dumb

Those who are familiar with the reverberations of the report of artillery at West Point, can readily believe that a similar echo among the mountains in this vicinity, from like cause, might be deemed by the credulous a voice from the dwelling of the Old Man, shouting in earnest tone the political battle-cry of the New-Hampshire electors, “Fremont and free-dumb.”

1856 July 28, J. H. W., “Letters from Cool Places”, in New-York Daily Times, volume V, number 1540, New York, N.Y., published 26 August 1856, page 2, column 2

No one expects from such a man as Greeley any thing but hostility to the Constitution of our country.—And his paper is all that is left of the formidable “Herald, Tribune and Times,” which were deluging the country last fall with Fremont and free-dumb.

1857 May 14, “The Decline of Treason”, in F. L. Hagadorn, editor, Syracuse Daily Courier, volume I, number 188, Syracuse, N.Y., page [2], column 4

Tondapameibomenos, Prosephe, and Podasokus (three Thessalians, who would be these aliens if they weren’t these natives:—calumnious conspirators, dreadful democrats, members of several secret societies, who demand the right of free speaking in a state of free-dumb..

1864 February 24, “Prince of Wales Theatre, Clayton Quare,^([sic]) Liverpool”, in The Daily Post, volume IX, number 2,714, Liverpool, Merseyside, page 1, column 2

Dear Town Talk—I sent you a toast for the next Press dinner: The free-dumb of the Press—liberty to be silent.

1868 July 12, Brutus [pseudonym], “[Local Intelligence.] Town Talk.”, in New Orleans Times, New Orleans, La., page 10, column 1

Thus Free-dumb now so seldom wakes, / The only throb she gives, / Is when some Sharp indignant squeaks, / To show that still he lives!

1908 March 8, “[Satiric Splashes.] The S⁠-⁠harp that Once.”, in John Norton, editor, Truth, number 423, Brisbane, Qld., page 10, column 8