September 7, 1776

The draft declaration of rights for Pennsylvania was first printed in the Pennsylvania Evening Post on August 20. A few weeks later, this essay by “D—” responded to one of the tenets of that document and other emerging declarations of rights: free speech. The twelfth article in the draft declaration of rights stated that “the people have a right to freedom of speech, and of writing and publishing their sentiments, therefore the freedom of the press ought not to be restrained.” The essayist said that it gave them “great pleasure” to see this statement on the freedom of speech, “having in every free country been considered the best bulwark to preserve the spirit of liberty from degenerating into supineness and slavery.” But they had some concerns. The essayist focused on “those who indulge the idea, that the conduct of men in public stations are exempt from impartial scrutiny.” To prevent “tyranny and usurpation,” the people had to hold their leaders accountable. The essayist warned: “we are now entering on a scene of public calamity to which our feelings and possessions have before been rather strangers to, and great care ought to be taken to admit none to govern us, either in a civil or military capacity, but those whose ways are marked out by justice and peace.” 

The Pennsylvania Evening Post
Printed by Benjamin Towne

For the PENNSYLVANIA EVENING POST.

FREEDOM of speech and writing on matters of public concern, having in every free country been considered the best bulwark to preserve the spirit of liberty from degenerating into supineness and slavery, it gave me great pleasure to observe, that the Convention of Pennsylvania, in their declaration of the rights of the inhabitants, have made it an object of their deliberation, viz. “That the people have a right to freedom of speech and of writing and publishing their sentiments, therefore the freedom of the press ought not to be restrained.”

On this principle I presume to offer a general hint to the consideration of the public, and hope I do not therein exceed the line of prudence, or injure the personal character of any one.

To those who indulge the idea, that the conduct of men in public stations are exempt from impartial scrutiny, entertain notions incompatible with the good of society, for it is not merely the men but the measures which form the good or ill of society; it is the right of examination, and to remedy the defects, that constitute the safety of the people; and when that right is infringed, the constitution falls a sacrifice to tyranny and usurpation—to appoint men of wisdom and virtue to places of public notoriety, is the characteristic of a judicious nation.—Justice and temperance should be the standard for the appointment, and the measures will ever be gloriously supported; for the end cannot be crowned with a happy success, where the means to obtain it, are founded in public or private wrongs.

The Statesman, the Officers, Quarter Master, Commissary, and all those in subordination to them should be honest, disinterested and free, otherways the people, from whom they derive all their power, and are accountable to, will feel the effects of their intemperate measures—instead of distributive justice, we shall be subdued by passion and resentment, and the property of the subject, instead of being protected, will be robbed by avaricious and wicked men.

We are now entering on a scene of public calamity to which our feelings and possessions have before been rather strangers to, and great care ought to be taken to admit none to govern us, either in a civil or military capacity, but those whose ways are marked out by justice and peace.

The Americans in general are considered as a noble and generous people, and their contest with Great-Britain founded on the rights of mankind, and, in the historic page, will fill posterity with amazement and veneration.

It will be well to examine into the propriety of the hint I have here offered, and if any advantages may be reaped from it, we shall shew our wisdom and our spirit of liberty by determining to pursue them.

D—.