John Peter Zenger: His Press, His Trial and a Bibliography of Zenger Imprints

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Dodd, Mead, 1904 - 275 pages

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Page 68 - Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest : for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.
Page 193 - Statutes in that case made and provided, and against the peace of our Sovereign Lord the King, his crown, and dignity.
Page 119 - But to conclude: the question before the court, and you, gentlemen of the jury, is not of small nor private concern; it is not the cause of a poor printer, nor of New York alone, which you are now trying. No ! It may in its consequence affect every freeman that lives under a British government on the main of America! It is the best cause. It is the cause of liberty...
Page 86 - Then Gentlemen of the Jury, it is to you we must now appeal, for Witnesses to the Truth of the Facts we have offered, and are denied the Liberty to prove...
Page 118 - And you see I labour under the Weight of many Years, and am born down with great Infirmities of Body ; yet Old and Weak as I am, I should think it my Duty, if required, to go to the utmost Part of the Land, where my Service could be of any Use in assisting to quench the Flame of Prosecutions upon Informations, set on Foot by the Government, to deprive a People of the Right of Remonstrating (and complaining too) of the arbitrary Attempts of Men in Power.
Page 117 - Power may justly be compared to a great river : while kept within its due bounds, it is both beautiful and useful ; but when it overflows its banks it is then too impetuous to be stemmed, it bears down all before it, and brings destruction and desolation wherever it comes.
Page 103 - Lord remembereth how by unlawful maintenances, giving of liveries, signs, and tokens and retainders by indentures, promises, oaths, writings or otherwise, embraceries of his subjects, untrue demeanings of sheriffs in making of panels and other untrue returns, by taking of money by juries, by great riots and unlawful assemblies, the policy and good rule of this realm is almost subdued...
Page 77 - You cannot be admitted, Mr. Hamilton, to give the Truth of a Libel in Evidence. A Libel is not to be justified ; for it is nevertheless a Libel that it is true.
Page 121 - If people should not be called to account for possessing the people with an ill opinion of the government, no government can subsist. For it is very necessary for all governments that the people should have a good opinion of it...
Page 90 - Star-Chamber, many worthy and brave Men suffered for so doing ; and yet even in that Court, and in those bad Times, a great and good Man durst say, what I hope will not be taken amiss of me to say in this Place, to wit, the Practice of Informations for Libels is a Sword in the Hands of a wicked King, and an arrand Coward to cut down and destroy the innocent ; the one cannot, because of his high Station, and the other dares not, because of his Want of Courage, revenge himself in another Manner.

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