Key cases - free speech: The Bradford Trial – Pennsylvania, 1690; The Zenger Trial - New York, 1735
| Pennsylvania Gazette (1729) - courtesy Wikimedia Commons “It is agreed upon by all men that this is a reign of liberty. While men keep within the bounds of truth I hope they may with safety both speak and write their sentiments of the conduct of men in power … Were this to be denied, then the next step may make them slaves; for what notions can be entertained of slavery beyond that of suffering the greatest injuries and oppressions without the liberty of complaining, or if they do, to be destroyed, body and estate, for so doing?” –Andrew Hamilton at the Zenger trial |
EMPIRE OF LAWS - The Legal History of the 50 American States > 2. MID-ATLANTIC LEGAL HISTORY > 2.1. The Mid-Atlantic States: The Colonial Era (1624-1776) >