Focus on the Founding: Freedom of Speech and the Press

What follows is one of a series of articles on the intent of the Founding Fathers with respect to our rights, focusing primarily, but not exclusively, on those enumerated in the Bill of Rights.

First, from one of the most important Founders, Thomas Jefferson:

"On every question of construction, let us carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was 

adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates, and instead of trying what meaning may be 

squeezed out of the text, or invented against it, conform to the probable one in which it was passed." 

Thomas Jefferson, letter to William Johnson, June 12, 1823

Now, no one can argue that freedom of speech and freedom of the press are vastly important parts of our free Republic. Without freedom of speech, ideas are easy to suppress. Without freedom of the press knowledge is easy to control.

George Washington said, "If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter."

Benjamin Franklin wrote a poem entitled "On Freedom of the Press." He also noted that "Without Freedom of thought, there can be no such Thing as Wisdom; and no such Thing as Public Liberty, without Freedom of Speech."

Samuel Adams argued, "That the said Constitution shall never be construed to authorize Congress to 

infringe the just liberty of the press or the rights of conscience; or to prevent the people 

of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms..." 

Thomas Jefferson wrote "No government ought to be without censors & where the press is free, no one ever will," in a letter to George Washington

So, the Founding Fathers certainly held freedom of speech and the press to be vitally important.

Yet, the founders also showed an understanding of the danger unfettered free speech can be.