IV 
108TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 369
Expressing the sense of the Congress that a commemorative postage stamp 
should be issued in honor of Matthew Lyon. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 25, 2004
Mr. SANDERS submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Government Reform 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of the Congress that a commemorative 
postage stamp should be issued in honor of Matthew Lyon.
Whereas Matthew Lyon, who came to colonial America as an 
indentured servant, fought with Ethan Allen’s Green 
Mountain Boys militia; 
Whereas Matthew Lyon was an entrepreneur who wrote polit-
ical commentary and owned Vermont newspapers; 
Whereas in 1797, Matthew Lyon was elected to represent 
Vermont in the 5th Congress; 
Whereas in 1798, Congress passed the Sedition Act, which 
provided for imprisonment of 6 months to 5 years and 
fines of up to $5,000 in cases where ‘‘persons shall un-
lawfully combine or conspire together, with intent to op-
pose any measure or measures of the government of the
•HCON 369 IH 
United States, which are or shall be directed by proper 
authority, or to impede the operation of any law of the 
United States,’’ or imprisonment of up to 2 years and 
fines of up to $2,000 for ‘‘writing, printing, uttering or 
publishing any false, scandalous and malicious writing or 
writings against the government of the United States, or 
either house of the Congress of the United States, or the 
President of the United States, with intent to defame the 
said government’’; 
Whereas Representative Matthew Lyon opposed and voted 
against the Sedition Act because he feared it would cur-
tail Americans’ freedom of speech; 
Whereas Representative Matthew Lyon was charged with 3 
counts of violating the Sedition Act for writing a letter 
to the editor criticizing President John Adams, and for 
publishing a letter of another author which was critical 
of the President’s hostile stance towards France; 
Whereas Representative Matthew Lyon was the first person 
to stand trial under the Sedition Act; 
Whereas Representative Matthew Lyon was convicted and 
sentenced to 4 months in jail and required to pay the 
cost of his prosecution and a fine of $1,000; 
Whereas in 1798, Representative Matthew Lyon was re-
elected to the 6th Congress from his jail cell, where he 
continued to author articles critical of the government; 
Whereas Representative Matthew Lyon returned to serve out 
his term in Congress after his release from prison; 
Whereas the Sedition Act expired by its own terms, and 
President Thomas Jefferson pardoned those still serving 
in prison under the Act and remitted their fines;
•HCON 369 IH 
Whereas in 1840, Congress passed a law which reimbursed 
Matthew Lyon’s heirs and representatives for the fines he 
was forced to pay under the Sedition Act; 
Whereas Americans now deplore the Sedition Act as an un-
fortunate example of the Federal Government attempting 
to suppress First Amendment rights for political pur-
poses; and 
Whereas Matthew Lyon courageously stood against the Sedi-
tion Act, and his objection to it represented a defense of 
American values and the First Amendment that is de-
serving of recognition: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that—
(1) a commemorative postage stamp should be 
issued by the United States Postal Service in honor 
of Matthew Lyon; and 
(2) the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee 
should recommend to the Postmaster General that 
such a stamp be issued.
Æ