Historical Documents
The Sedition Act
Debate on the sedition bill
Justice William Paterson's charge to the Lyon grand jury
Indictment of Matthew Lyon
Matthew Lyon statements cited in the indictment
"To the Public," by Thomas Cooper
Thomas Cooper's plea
Opening arguments in Cooper trial
James Callender's The Prospect Before Us
Trial Arguments of Thomas Nelson
Justice Samuel Chase's charge to the Callender jury
James Madison's report
Alexander Addison, "Liberty of Speech and of the Press"
George Hay, "Hortensius" essay on freedom of speech
Charles Pinckney, "On the Election of the President of the United States"
The Sedition Act Trials — Historical Background and Documents