"If by the liberty of the press were understood merely the liberty
of discussing the propriety of public measures and political
opinions, let us have as much of it as you please: But if it means
the liberty of affronting, calumniating and defaming one another,
I, for my part, own myself willing to part with my share of it,
whenever our legislators shall please so to alter the law and
shall chearfully consent to exchange my liberty of abusing others
for the privilege of not being abused myself." | by: | |
Source: | An Account of the Supremest Court of Judicature in Pennsylvania, viz. The Court of the Press, 12 September 1789, Reference: Franklin Collected Works, Lemay, ed., 1152. |
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