Excerpts From Jefferson's Second Inaugural Address

Messages and Papers of the Presidents | March 4,1805 | Thomas Jefferson

[boothead]

EXCERPTS FROM THOMAS JEFFERSON'S SECOND INAUGUARAL ADDRESS

March 4, 1805

During this course of administration, and in order to disturb it, the artillery of the press has been leveled aginst us, charged with whatsoever its licentiousness could devise or dare. These abuses of an institution so important to freedom and science are deeply to be regretted, inasmuch as they tend to lessen its usefulness and to sap its safety. They might, indeed, have been corrected by the wholesome punishments reserved to and provided by the laws of the several States against falehood and defamation, but public duties more urgent press on the time of public servants, and the offenders have therfore been left to find their punishment in the public indignation.

The experiment has been tried; you have witnessed the scene; our fellow citizens looked on, cool and collected; they saw the latent source from which these outrages proceeded; they gathered around their public functionaries, and when the Constitution called them to the decision by suffrage, they pronounced their verdict, honorable to those who had served them and consolatory to the friend of man who believe that he may be trusted with control of his own affairs.

[boothead]

Not much change in 200 years in regard to the press

[mdittmar]

"The firmness with which the people have withstood the late abuses of the press, the discernment they have manifested between truth and falsehood, show that they may safely be trusted to hear everything true and false, and to form a correct judgment between them."
President THOMAS JEFFERSON, letter to Judge John Tyler, June 28, 1804

BUMP!

[groanup]

...whatsoever its licentiousness could devise or dare.

Licentiousness such as forged documents?

[Verginius Rufus]

The recipient of Jefferson's letter would be John Tyler (1747-1813), the father of the tenth President of the United States.