Freedom of Speech and of the Press. FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND OF THE PRESS. I Sec. 8. Every citizen may freely speak, write and pub2 lish his sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the 3 abuse of that right; and no law shall be passed to restrain or 4 abridge the liberty of speech or of the press. In all criminal 5 prosecutions or indictments for libels, the truth may be given 6 in evidence to the jury; and if it shall appear to the jury that 7 the matter charged as libelous is true, and was published with 8 good motives and for justifiable ends, the party shall be 9 acquitted; and the jury shall have the right to determine the 10 law and the fact. Sec. Art. ALABAMA. 5. I. That any citizen may speak, write and publish his sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that liberty. 13. I. That in prosecutions for the publication of papers investigating the official conduct of officers or men in public capacity, or when the matter published is proper for public information, the truth thereof may be given in evidence; and that in all indictments for libel, the jury shall have the right to determine the law and the facts, under the direction of the court, as in other cases. Every citizen may freely speak, write and publish his sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that right; and no law shall be passed to restrain or abridge the liberty of speech or of the press. In all criminal prosecutions for libels, the truth may be given in evidence to the jury; and if it shall Sec. Art Freedom of Speech and of the Press. appear to the jury that the matter charged as libelous is true, and was published with good motives, and for justifiable ends, the party shall be acquitted; and the jury shall have the right to determine the law and the fact. Indictments found, or information laid, for publications in newspapers, shall be tried in the county where such newspapers have their publication office, or in the county where the party alleged to be libeled resided at the time of the alleged publication, unless the place of trial shall be changed for good cause. Sec. Art. Freedom of Speech and of the Press. of such right; and in all civil or on any ubject, being responsible for the abuse of this liberty; no laws shall be passed regulating or restraining the freedom of the press; and in prosecutions for any publication respecting the official conduct of men in public capacity, or the qualifications of those who are candidates for the suffrages of the people, or where the matter published is proper for public information, the truth thereof may be given in evidence, and in all indictments for libel, the jury, after having received the direction of the court, shall have a right to determine, at their discretion, the law and the fact. MARYLAND. That freedom of speech and debate, or proceedings in the Legislature, ought not to be impeached in any court of judicature. 40. That the liberty of the press ought to be inviolably preserved; that every male citizen of the State ought to be allowed to speak, write and publish his sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that privilege. 16. MASSACHUSETTS. The liberty of the press is essential to the security of freedom in a State; it ought not, therefore, to be restrained in this Commonwealth. 35. IV. MICHIGAN. The Legislature shall not establish a State paper. Every newspaper in the State which shall publish all the general laws of any session, within forty days of their passage, shall be entitled Sec. Art. Freedom of Speech and of the Press. to receive a sum not exceeding fifteen dollars therefor. 42. IV. No law shall ever be passed to restrain or abridge the liberty of speech or of the press; but every person may freely speak, write and publish his sentiments on all subjects, being responsible of the abuse of such right. 25. VI. In all prosecutions for libels, the truth may be given in evidence to the jury, and if it shall appear to the jury that the matter charged as libelous is true, and was published with good motives and for justifiable ends, the party shall be acquitted. The jury shall have the right to determine the law and the fact. Every person may freely speak, write and publish his sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that right. No law shall be passed to restrain or abridge the liberty of speech or of the press. In all prosecutions or indictments for libel, the truth may be given in evidence to the jury; and if it shall appear to the jury that the matter charged as libelous is true, and was published with good motives and for justifiable ends, the party shall be acquitted; and the jury shall Sec. Art. Freedom of Speech and of the Press. have the right to determine the The printing press shall be free to every person who may undertake to examine the proceedings of the Legislature or any branch of government, and no law shall ever be made to restrain the right thereof. The free communication of thoughts and opinions is one of the invaluable rights of man, and every citizen may freely speak, write and print on any subject, being responsible for the abuse of that liberty. No conviction shall be had in any prosecution for the publication of papers relating to the official conduct of officers or men in public capacity, or to any other matter proper for public investigation or information, where the fact that such publication was not maliciously or negligently made shall be established to the satisfaction of the jury; and in all indictments for libels the jury shall have the right to determine the law and the facts, under the direction of the court, as in other |