[kevcj]

Originally Posted by lasto

what do u make to this - where has freedom of speech gone ?

Your talking about a country that threw people in jail for printing articles that where not favorable towards the king and queen, what do you expect?

When the uncle of Benjamin Franklin (James Franklin) printed that the freedom of speech was a right given by GOD and not the king, he was arrested and put on trial. When the jury agreed that the right to speak was given by GOD and not the king, the judge had the entire jury arrested.

James Franklin was also prohibited from printing certain articles unless it was approved by the Secretary of the Province.

http://www.archive.org/stream/benjam...niala_djvu.txt

The House of Representatives concurred, and the com-
mittee reported :

" That James Franklin,' the printer and publisher thereof
(the Courant), be strictly forbidden by this Court to print or
publish the New England Courant, or any other pamphlet or
paper of the like nature, except it be first supervised by the
Secretary of this Province; and the Justices of his Majesty's
Sessions of the Peace for the County of Suffolk, at their
next adjournment, be directed to take sufficient bonds of the
said Franklin for twelve months' time."

Benjamin Franklin was also arrested, but was released because he was printing what his master (his uncle) told him to print.

Not much has changed in the last 250 years.