A D I S T A N T H E R I T A G E A Distant Heritag e The Growth of Free Speech in Early America L A R RY D . E L D R I D G E NEW YOR K UNIVERSIT Y PRES S NEW YOR K AN D LONDO N NEW YORK UNIVERSITY PRESS New York and London Copyright © 1994 by New York University All rights reserved Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Eldridge, Larry D. A distant heritage : the growth of free speech in early America / Larry D. Eldridge. p. cm . Revision of the author's thesis (Ph.D.)—Vanderbilt University, 1990. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-8147-2192-3 (acid-free paper) 1. Freedom of speech—United States—History—17th century. I. Title. KF4772.E39 199 4 342.73'0853—dc20 [347.3028531 93-579 6 CIP New York University Press books are printed on acid-free paper, and their binding materials are chosen for strength and durability. Manufactured i n the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 For Robin M. Rudoff My first mentor. My Jong-time friend. Contents Charts i x Acknowledgments x i Abbreviations xii i Introduction: Leaving the Shadow 1 1 Th e Boundaries of Colonial Speech 5 2 Seditiou s Speech Law 2 0 3 Th e Nature of the Words 4 2 4 Betwee n the Millstones 6 7 5 Sanction s in Decline 9 1 6 A Growing Leniency 11 4 7 Fruit s of Circumstance 13 2 Notes 14 3 vii viii Contents Bibliography 17 5 Index 19 5 Charts 1 "Bodil y Correction" in New England and the South 9 7 2 Humiliatio n 10 3 3 Exclusio n 10 7 4 Imprisonmen t 11 2 5 Fine s of £5 and Over 11 7 IX