CHAP. XIV.] AND RELIGION. 405 



clearly proved by evidence, the juryman, who 

 finds a man guilty, is a base, perjured villain ; 

 and ought to be punished as such. 



421. The State of Connecticut, in her new 

 Constitution, before mentioned, has put this 

 matter of libel on the true , footing ; namely; 

 " In all prosecutions and indictments for libel 

 " the TRUTH may be given in evidence, and the 

 " Jury shall have the right to determine the law 

 " and the facts" Thus, then, common sense 

 has, at last, got thfc better ; and TRUTH can, 

 in this State, at least, in no case, be a legal 

 crime. But, indeed, the press has NOW no 

 restraint in America, other than that imposed 

 by TRUTH. Men publish what they please, 

 so long as they do not publish falsehoods; and, 

 even in such cases, they are generally punished 

 by the public contempt. The press is, there 

 fore, taken altogether, what the magistrate always 

 ought to be: "a terror to evil doers, and a re* 

 " ward to those who do well." But, it is not 

 the name of REPUBLIC that secures these, 

 or any other of the blessings of freedom. As 

 gross acts of tyranny may be committed, and 

 as base corruption practised, under that name 

 as under the name of absolute monarchy. And, 

 it becomes the people of America to guard 

 their minds against ever being, in any case, 

 amused with names. It is the fair representation 



