Introduction
In July 1798, the Government of American President John Adams laid a Bill before Congress designed to criminalise criticism in the press. Censorship of this kind was all too familiar in England, then as now, but the debate in the US House of Representatives deserves careful reading, if only for the magnificent principle here laid down by Edward Livingston, Congressman for New York’s 2nd District.
MR LIVINGSTON said, after receiving the chastisement of the gentleman from Connecticut on one cheek, he, like a good Christian, had turned the other to the gentleman from South Carolina, and received the stripes of both.* He expressed his acknowledgments to these gentlemen, however, if not for their chastisement, for the insight which they have given the House into this bill.* They have said its design is not only to restrict the liberty of the press, which is secured by the Constitution,* but the liberty of speech on this floor. The gentleman from South Carolina did not say explicitly that he wished this; but he said he was regardless* of what was said in the public papers, either of private or personal slander, or of a slander on the Government, until he heard a certain speech delivered in this House;* and, though he said he did not intend to restrict the liberty of speech in this House, he must have had something of the kind in view.
Mr Harper said it was not his intention to restrict the freedom of speech on that floor, but the consequences of it out of doors.
Word Games
Suggest answers to this question. See
if you can limit one answer to exactly
seven words.
Variations:
1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words.
2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words.
3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
Express the ideas below in a single
sentence, using different words as much as possible.
Do not be satisfied with the first answer you
think of; think of several, and choose the best.
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