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The 1st issue of John Peter Zenger's
New York Weekly Journal
was 11/5/1733
In New York City in the 1730s about 10% of the white population had the
right to vote. The government was controlled by merchants, crown
officers, lawyers & landowners. The aldermanic & city council election of
Sept 29, 1734 changed that with the election of many artisans & laborers.
That is, candidates supported by the British Governor were defeated by the
voters. The effort was enhanced by the publication by Zenger of two
anonymous songs. The songs were later brought to "trial," convicted and
sentenced to be burned by the common Hangman. The two "Virulent,
Scandalous and Seditious" songs were also cited in the seditious libel
case against Zenger in his arrest on 11/17/1734. On October 15, 1734
James Delaney, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New York, declared of
the offending songs, "Sometimes heavy, half-witted men get a knack of
Rhyming, but it is time to break them of it when they grown Abusive,
Insolent and Mischievous with it."
Irwin Silber notes that these same sentiments were hammered at him (and
the others) and he was often put in mind of the whole Zenger history
during certain Federal proceedings during the 1950s. Those proceedings
were largely about freedom of speech and other "un-American" activities.
Zenger was acquitted on 8/4/1735 and freedom of the press was established
in America. He died 7/28/1746 (b1697).
Come on brave boys, let us be brave
For liberty and law,
Boldy despise the haughty Knave,
That would keep us in awe.
Let's scorn the tools bought by a sop,
And every cringing fool,
The man who basely bends a fop,
A vile insipid tool.
[Thanx Irwin Silber & see Philip S. Foner,
American Labor Songs of the Nineteenth Century.]
© Abby Sale - all rights reserved
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