2177. DEMOCRATIC SOCIETIES, Freedom of Speech and.—
The attempt which has been made to restrain the liberty of our
citizens meeting together, interchanging sentiments
on what subjects they please, and stating
their sentiments in the public papers, has
come upon us a full century earlier than I
expected. To demand the censors of public
measures to be given up for punishment, is
to renew the demand of the wolves in the
fable that the sheep should give up their dogs
as hostages of the peace and confidence
established between them.—
To William Branch Giles.
Ford ed., vi, 515.
(M.
Dec. 1794)
