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Liberty of Speech, and of the press, January 1799 (litho)
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Liberty of Speech, and of the press, January 1799 (litho)
695978 Liberty of Speech, and of the press, January 1799 (litho) by American School, (18th century); 53.2x32.9 cm; Gilder Lehrman Collection, New York, USA; (add.info.: The Alien and Sedition acts were so broadly written that hundreds of foreign refugees fled to Europe fearing detention. It was the Sedition Act, which sought to suppress criticism of the government, that produced the greatest fear within the Republican opposition. Federalist prosecutors secured indictments against 25 people, mainly Republican editors and printers. Ten people were convicted, one a Republican Representative from Vermont. The most notorious use of the law took place in July 1798. Luther Baldwin, the pilot of a garbage scow, was arrested in a Newark, New Jersey tavern, on charges of criminal sedition. While cannons roared to celebrate a presidential visit to the city, Baldwin said " that he did not care if they fired through [the president s] arse." For his drunken remark, Baldwin was locked up for two months and fined. Republicans accused the Federalists of conspiring to subvert fundamental liberties. In Virginia, the state legislature adopted a resolution written by James Madison declaring that states had the right to determine the constitutionality of federal laws, and that the Alien and Sedition Acts were unconstitutional. Kentuckys state legislature went further, adopting a resolution written by Thomas Jefferson that held that the acts were " void and of no force." The Kentucky resolution raised an issue that would grow increasingly important in the years before the Civil War: Did states have the right to declare acts of Congress null and void? In this charge to the grand juries in Pennsylvanias fifth district, Alexander Addison (1759-1807), president of Pennsylvanias county courts, defends the Sedition Act, arguing that it was necessary to restrain demagoguery. ); eGilder Lehrman Institute of American History; American, out of copyright
Media ID 22618596
© Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History / Bridgeman Images
American History Broadside Freedom Of Speech Historical Document Pennsylvania Philadelphia Sheet Support
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EDITORS COMMENTS
The print titled "Liberty of Speech, and of the press, January 1799" captures a significant moment in American history. Depicting an artwork created by the American School in the 18th century, this lithograph measures 53.2x32.9 cm and is part of the Gilder Lehrman Collection in New York. The image serves as a reminder of the tumultuous times during which it was created. The Alien and Sedition Acts had been enacted, causing widespread fear among foreign refugees who fled to Europe to avoid detention. It was specifically the Sedition Act that struck terror into Republican opposition due to its aim to suppress criticism of the government. This lithograph sheds light on one such incident that exemplified the oppressive nature of these acts. Luther Baldwin, pilot of a garbage scow, made a drunken remark criticizing President John Adams while cannons were fired during his visit to Newark, New Jersey. For this seemingly harmless comment, Baldwin was imprisoned for two months and fined. These events sparked outrage among Republicans who accused Federalists of conspiring against fundamental liberties. Virginia's state legislature even declared that states had the right to determine federal law constitutionality through James Madison's resolution. In this charged atmosphere surrounding freedom of speech and press rights, Alexander Addison defended the Sedition Act in Pennsylvanian grand juries' eyes by arguing its necessity in restraining demagoguery. This print encapsulates an important chapter in American history when citizens fought for their constitutional rights amidst political turmoil and oppression from those wielding power at that time.
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