Freedom of ExpressionWinner of the 2019 Franklyn S. Haiman Award for Distinguished Scholarship in Freedom of Expression. This outstanding anthology of essential historical writings and speeches on freedom of speech and freedom of the press provides the reader with a solid grounding in the classical arguments about freedom of expression. This comprehensive collection of 188 carefully-curated primary sources will enhance our understanding of the topic and provide the knowledge to productively engage in the ongoing conversation. Professor Stephen A. Smith, a nationally-recognized First Amendment scholar, presents guided introductions to each selection to assist the reader in understanding the context of the times, the background and motives of the author, and the importance of each selection. This book is an invaluable reference collection for exploring and facilitating significant discussions on the topic, in the classroom or the public sphere, and as a primary source for research, studying, and teaching freedom of expression. |
Contents
Code of Hammurabi c 1754 B C E | 1 |
Law of the Twelve Tables 451450 B C E | 2 |
Demosthenes Freedom of Speech in Times of Danger 351341 B C E | 11 |
Cicero Against Marcus Antonius 44 BCE | 14 |
Tacitus On the Condemnation of Cremutius Cordus 117 | 15 |
Flavius Recceswinth Foum Judicum 654 | 16 |
Edward I Scandalum Magnatum 1275 | 17 |
Thomas More Speakers Petition for Free Speech in Parliament 1523 | 20 |
William Rawle A View of the Constitution 1825 | 327 |
James Kent Defamation in American Law 1826 | 328 |
Frances Wright Of Free Enquiry 1829 | 333 |
Thomas Cooper The Right of Free Discussion 1829 | 336 |
Thomas Cooper Liberty of the Press 1830 | 343 |
Joseph Story Commentaries on the Constitution 1833 | 349 |
Heinrich Heine Liberty of Thought Press and Academic Freedom 1834 | 354 |
Francis Wayland The Nature of Intellectual Liberty 1835 | 356 |
Irish Parliament An Act of Slander 1537 | 22 |
Philip and Mary Act Against Seditious Words and Rumors 1554 | 23 |
Philip and Mary Royal Charter of the Company of Stationers 1557 | 24 |
Elizabeth I Ordinance on Books and Printing 1566 | 25 |
Peter Wentworth Freedom of Speech in Parliament 1576 | 26 |
British Parliament Act against Seditious Words and Rumors 1581 | 33 |
James I Proclamation on Lavish and Licentious Speech 1620 | 34 |
Edward Coke Commons Protestation to James I 1621 | 35 |
Francis Bacon Of Seditions and Troubles 1625 | 36 |
Charles I Decree of StarChamber Concerning Printing 1637 | 38 |
English Parliament An Ordinance for the Regulating of Printing 1643 | 39 |
For the Liberty of Unlicensed Printing 1644 | 40 |
English Parliament Suppression and Abolishing of StagePlays 1648 | 52 |
The Humble Petition for Revoking the Press Licensing Ordinances 1649 | 53 |
Benedict de Spinoza Every Man May Say What He Thinks 1670 | 55 |
Charles Blount Vindication of Learning and Liberty of the Press 1679 | 61 |
John Locke Arguments against the Press Licensing Act 1694 | 65 |
Edward Clarke Reasons against Renewing the Press Licensing Act 1695 | 68 |
Matthew Tindal Restraint on the Press is Dangerous to Liberties 1698 | 71 |
Daniel Defoe An Essay on the Regulation of the Press 1704 | 75 |
John Toland Reasons Against Restraining the Press 1704 | 79 |
Joseph Addison On Anonymity in Defamatory Publications 1712 | 83 |
Thomas Gordon Free Speech is Inseparable from Public Liberty 1721 | 86 |
Anthony Collins Apology for Free Debate and Liberty of Writing 1724 | 89 |
Benjamin Hoadly Liberty of the Press 1729 | 91 |
Benjamin Franklin Printers and Press Freedoms 17311732 | 92 |
Andrew Hamilton Defense of Zenger for Seditious Libel 1735 | 96 |
Benjamin Franklin Free Speech and a Free Society 17371740 | 100 |
Qianlong Emperor Qing Legal Code 1740 | 101 |
David Hume Of the Liberty of the Press 1741 | 104 |
Independant Briton Peoples Expectations as to Liberty of Press 1742 | 107 |
Montesquieu The Spirit of Laws 1748 | 108 |
Elie Luzac Essay on Freedom of Expression 1749 | 110 |
William Blackstone Commentaries on the Laws of England 1753 | 114 |
Thomas Hayter An Essay on the Liberty of the Press 1754 | 117 |
Peter Forsskål Thoughts on Civil Liberty 1759 | 121 |
Voltaire Liberty of the Press 1764 | 122 |
William Bollan Freedom of Speech and Writing on Public Affairs 1766 | 124 |
Adolph Friedrik Regarding the Freedom of Writing and Press 1766 | 126 |
Claude Adrien Helvetius A Treatise on Man 1769 | 130 |
Abby Raynal Freedom of Thought 1770 | 135 |
Jean Louis De Lolme Liberty of the Press 1771 | 136 |
Junius Freedom of the Press 1772 | 139 |
James Burgh Liberty of Speech and Writing on Political Subjects 1775 | 141 |
Francis Maseres Seditious Libels and the Power of Juries 1776 | 144 |
First American State Constitutions 17761784 | 148 |
Richard Price Of Liberty of Discussion 1785 | 149 |
Carl Friedrich Bahrdt On Freedom of the Press and its Limits 1787 | 152 |
Thomas Jefferson The Only Safeguard of the Public Liberty 1787 | 156 |
James Madison Framing the First Amendment 17871791 | 157 |
Alexander Hamilton Federalist No 84 1788 | 169 |
French National Assembly Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen 1789 | 171 |
William Cushing and John Adams Truth as a Defense 1789 | 172 |
Thomas Erskine Defense of the Liberty of the Press 1792 | 175 |
Friends of Liberty of the Press Resolutions 1792 | 177 |
William Godwin Effects of Political Superintendence of Opinion 1793 | 178 |
Johann Gottlieb Fichte Reclamation of Freedom of Thought 1793 | 181 |
Robert Hall On the Right of Public Discussion 1793 | 186 |
Immanuel Kant Theory and Practice 1793 | 190 |
Vicesimus Knox The Spirit of Despotism 1795 | 191 |
John Thelwall Moral Political Importance of Liberty of Speech 1795 | 195 |
Numa A Culture of Democratic Dissent 1796 | 197 |
U S Congress Sedition Act 1798 | 200 |
Alexander Addison Charge to the Grand Jury 1798 | 201 |
George Hay An Essay on the Liberty of the Press 1799 | 211 |
Madison Report on the Virginia Resolution 1800 | 219 |
Elizabeth Priestley Propriety Expediency of Unlimited Enquiry 1800 | 225 |
Thomas Cooper Propriety Expediency of Unlimited Enquiry II 1800 | 230 |
Charles Pinckney Legislative Privilege and Freedom of the Press 1800 | 241 |
Tunis Wortman Political Enquiry and the Liberty of the Press 1800 | 245 |
James Sullivan On Constitutional Freedom of the Press 1801 | 255 |
John Thomson Concerning Liberty and Licentiousness of the Press 1801 | 259 |
St George Tucker Freedom of Speech and of the Press 1803 | 265 |
William Cobbett Libel Law 1808 | 274 |
William Ellery Channing Duties of the Citizen in Times of Danger 1812 | 277 |
Daniel Webster To Maintain the Right of Discussion during War 1814 | 281 |
Benjamin Constant On Freedom of Thought and Press 1815 | 283 |
PierrePaul RoyerCollard Freedom of the Press a Necessity 1815 | 293 |
Henry Brougham Law of Public Libel 1816 | 295 |
Klemens von Metternich Confederal Press Decrees of Carlsbad 1819 | 297 |
Jeremy Bentham Liberty of the Press and Public Discussion 1820 | 299 |
G W F Hegel Public Opinion and Freedom of Communication 1821 | 303 |
Samuel Bailey On the Free Publication of Opinions 1821 | 305 |
Leicester Stanhope The Licentiousness of a Press under a Censor 1823 | 309 |
James Mill Liberty of the Press 1821 | 311 |
Rammohun Roy Petition Against the Press Regulations 1824 | 321 |
Alexis de Tocqueville Liberty of Press in America 1835 | 360 |
Andrew Jackson Banning Incendiary Publications from the Mail 1835 | 366 |
John C Calhoun Postal Censorship and Freedom of the Press 1836 | 367 |
Hiland Hall On Postal Censorship of Incendiary Publications 1836 | 372 |
William Plumer Critique of Calhouns Report 1836 | 379 |
Elijah Lovejoy My Right to Plead the Cause of Truth 18351837 | 382 |
Wendell Phillips The Murder of Lovejoy 1837 | 386 |
Francis Lieber Freedom of Communication 1838 | 389 |
John Quincy Adams Abridging the Right to Petition Congress 1839 | 391 |
Walter Colton Freedom of the Press 1840 | 394 |
Karl Marx Against Press Censorship 1842 | 395 |
William Lloyd Garrison Free Speech and Free Inquiry 1847 | 397 |
Frédéric Bastiat Freedom of Discussion Teaching and Press 1848 | 400 |
Frederick Grimke Institution of the Press 1848 | 401 |
Orestes Brownson The Licentiousness of the Press 1849 | 406 |
Herbert Spencer The Right of Free Speech 1851 | 410 |
Francis Lieber Publicity and SelfGovernment 1853 | 413 |
Elbert H English The Power of Contempt 1855 | 415 |
George Holyoake Taxes upon Knowledge 1855 | 418 |
John Stuart Mill Of the Liberty of Thought and Discussion 1859 | 423 |
Frederick Douglass A Plea for Freedom of Speech in Boston 1860 | 442 |
Carl Schurz Free Speech 1860 | 444 |
William Ellery Channing Tribute to American Abolitionists 1861 | 449 |
James Rollins Freedom of Speech 1864 | 453 |
Mikhail Bakunin Revolutionary Catechism 1866 | 457 |
Thomas M Cooley Liberty of Speech and of the Press 1868 | 458 |
James Paterson The Liberty of the Press and Speech 1880 | 466 |
Wendell Phillips Agitation the Only Peaceful Method of Progress 1881 | 469 |
Ammiel Jenkins Willard Liberty of Speech 1882 | 471 |
Anthony Comstock Constitutionality of the Comstock Act 1883 | 473 |
Leslie Stephen The Suppression of Poisonous Opinions 1883 | 476 |
A V Dicey The Right to Freedom of Discussion 1885 | 481 |
Henry C Adams Shall We Muzzle the Anarchists? 1886 | 483 |
On the Nature of Human Liberty 1888 | 489 |
Samuel Merrill Political Libels 1888 | 490 |
Horace Seaver Freedom of Speech Press and Opinion 1888 | 492 |
William Mackintire Salter Freedom of Thought and Speech 1891 | 494 |
Hannis Taylor Postal Regulations and Freedom of Press 1892 | 497 |
Henry Billings Brown The Liberty of the Press 1900 | 501 |
Christopher G Tiedeman Criticism of Officers and Candidates 1900 | 509 |
William Jennings Bryan Freedom of Speech 1901 | 511 |
Ernest Crosby How the United States Curtails Freedom of Thought 1904 | 512 |
Ernst Freund Freedom of Speech and Seditious Libel 1904 | 517 |
Charles William Eliot Academic Freedom for Teachers 1907 | 519 |
Emma Goldman As to Free Speech and Press 1908 | 523 |
Louis Post Free Speech and Good Order 1908 | 524 |
Theodore Schroeder Meaning of Unabridged Freedom of Speech 1909 | 527 |
Samuel Gompers Injunctions and Freedom of Speech 1910 | 530 |
T Hobhouse Personal Liberty 1911 | 536 |
Lincoln Steffens We Dont Want Any Censorship at All 1911 | 537 |
Harris Weinstock Shall Free Speech Be Restricted? 1912 | 542 |
J B Bury The Justification of Liberty of Thought 1913 | 549 |
Inez Milholland Boissevain Comstockery and Film Censorship 1914 | 554 |
Henry Schofield Freedom of the Press in the United States 1914 | 555 |
Gilbert Roe Freedom of Assembly 1914 | 570 |
Annie MacLean Free Speech for Women Workers 1914 | 576 |
Roscoe Pound Personality and Social Interest in Belief and Opinion 1915 | 578 |
Charlotte Perkins Gilman Freedom of Speech a Public Safeguard 1915 | 580 |
Comm on Industrial Relations Industrial Unrest and Free Speech 1915 | 581 |
Joseph McKenna Moving Pictures Are Not Protected Expression 1915 | 582 |
Vladimir Lenin On Freedom of the Capitalist Press to Oppress 1917 | 584 |
Bertrand Russell Political Ideals 1917 | 588 |
George Charles Butte Academic Freedom and Political Activity 1917 | 590 |
United States Congress Espionage Act 1917 | 592 |
Robert La Follette Free Speech in Wartime 1917 | 593 |
Literary Digest Bureaucratic Censorship of Newspapers 1917 | 597 |
Nelson and Gibbons Unconstitutionality of the Espionage Act 1918 | 599 |
Theodore Roosevelt Sedition a Free Press and Personal Rule 1918 | 605 |
United States Congress Sedition Act 1918 | 607 |
Zechariah Chafee Jr Free Speech and the Espionage Act 1918 | 612 |
Walter Lippmann What Modern Liberty Means 1919 | 615 |
Whose Concern? 1919 | 618 |
Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr A Clear and Present Danger 1919 | 620 |
George Bernard Shaw Censorship of Stage Plays 1919 | 621 |
Harry Weinberger Discussion of Public Issues Absolutely Protected 1919 | 626 |
Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr The Marketplace of Ideas 1919 | 634 |
Zechariah Chafee Jr Freedom of Speech 1920 | 635 |
John Dewey Freedom of Thought and Work 1920 | 651 |
Ernst Freund Freedom of Speech and Press 1921 | 652 |
Mohandas Gandhi We Encourage the Greatest Freedom of Opinion 1921 | 656 |
John W Burgess Recent Changes in Constitutional Theory 1923 | 657 |
Harold Laski A Grammar of Politics 1925 | 660 |
Louis D Brandeis More Speech Not Enforced Silence 1927 | 663 |
665 | |
Common terms and phrases
abuse action allowed Amendment American appear argument attempt authority become believe called cause character charge citizens civil common concern conduct Congress consequences considered Constitution court crime criminal dangerous defendant discussion doctrine duty effect England equally error established evidence evil exercise existing expression fact false force free speech freedom of speech give given hand House human ideas important individual institutions intent interest judge judgment jury justice knowledge less libel liberty license limits matter means measures mind moral nature necessary never newspaper object opinion party pass peace person political practice present principles printing privilege prohibited prosecutions protection published punishment question reason regard respect restraint sedition sentiments social society speak supposed suppress things thought true truth United University utterance whole writing