Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1886-02-11
TIE FIRST LIBEL SUIT.
The Early Struggles for tho Lib
erty OF tho Prose.

In all that has and will be brought
on, in connection with the celebration
ot the introduction Of printing into tho
Middle Colonies nothing is more inter-
cs,ing than the light thrown upon tho
achievement of the liberty of the press
which was accomplished after so many
struggles in Pennsylvania. 1t WIS
here that the first and greatest fight
occurred, AMI here that the first victory
was won. While the infant press in
the rest Of the world was under censor
ship aud but the hired mouthpiccc Of op-
preston, in Pennsylvania first of all il
became the popular voice and express.
preston of tine peoples will. 1t is
asserted Of bradford that he was the
fret man anywhere 10 maintain the
irccdom Of the press against arbitrary
power. In l6S) in Pennsylvania some
questions arose between The people anl
Car;ain John Blackwell. the then Gov
crnor. bradford printed the charter,
but, anticipating trouble, did not put
his namo TO it. llr WAS called to ac.
count by the Governor, who plainly
told bradford that hc SHOULD print
nothing hut what the Governor should
allow. He claimed to have orders for
tllc suppression oi printing here and to
look after Gradiorl's press.
After this bradford, satisfied tina, he
had better leave Pennsylvania, pre-
pared 10 do 50. Meantime, however.
discussion broke out among the profcs-
ring and ruling Quakers in power and
the Quakcrs who were out of power
and for pamphlet directed against the
former bradford was arrested and his
press anl typo seized. Bradford con-
Quoted his own ease, obj'cting to two
OF the jurymcn because they hal cx-
pressed opinions not Only rs 10 thc fact
Of lis having published the paper, but
as to it, b,ing of scdiiious character
When ihG Prosecuting Attorney said 10
him: "Diist thou at any time hear
them say that thou printed the paper,
for ,hs, /, only what they are TO !ind?"
Bradford replied: That Is not only
wlla, they are TO find. They arc to find
also whether this be sedi,ious paper
or not"
Thus on the soil Of Pennsylvania the
father o.. the press ia America asserted
in 1892 u principle in the law of libel
hardly then conceived anywhere, which
English judges, after the struggle Of
the great Wing Chief Justice and Chan.
ccllpr Lord Camden ana os tho brilliant
dcclaimcr, Mr. Er5kinc, were unable 10
reach, though at a later day 1t was cs-
tablishcI in England by the enactment
OF Mr.. rox's libel bill in Parliament
itself a most curious circumstance
caused this bill 10 be decided in favor
Of Bradford. which of itself was the
first victory in The world for tho free
dom Of the press. The prosecution
had to prove that Bradford print
cd the pamphlet, but when he did
II ne took good care that no one
saw linn. Having no other evidence
the Prosecuting Attorney brought out
the form. already seized by
him, from which the pamphlet
had been printed. This was
seized upon with cXulta,ion
by the prosecuting party. Even on
that evidence in all probability Brad.
ford would have been thrown into
prison and temporarily, at least, sup
pressed. But while the form was being
examined by the jurymen, who could
moi read the type backward without
looking at tho type closely, the chase
along the panel was accidentally moved
and all of y sudden, the quoins getting
loose, the mass Of type fell to the floor
in p; The evidence had disappeared
by magic and Bradford was acquitted.
The accession Of James ii. prevented
Bradford from going to England, buta
decree in Pennsylvania, that lie should
print nothing about religion that had
not been passed upon by q council,
drove him to New York, where at first,
as paid Crown Printer on salary, he
printed only such things as proclama-
tons, royal notices, etc., as directed.
After good deal OF q row about this
time, "for the satisfaction OF the peo-
plc," Governor Fletcher consented to
have the votes Of the Council and As
sembly printed, though not the papers
and messages passing between his Ex-
cellency and that body. That this was
concession may be inferred from the
fact that in Virginia the prohibition,
directed personally against BRADFORD
who was trying to establish branch
there. ordered "that no one should use
the printing press ON any occasion
whatever.
Associated with William Bradford In
the carly efforts in behalf OF the liberty
Of the press in Pennsylvania and 10 this
country Is tho name Of Andrew Hainii-
ton. Had 1t not been for his efforts IN
behalf Of free speech aud writing tho
name Of Andrew Hamilton would hsvo
remained unnoticed; but in Tbs hs
takes precedence over tho faInous NJ.
Erskine as being an onuuciat9r of the
now universally accepted doctsiue q
the law Of libel Ho was tho ea<liais
end mos. prominent lawyer q tee hsf