Show MEASURE A STRINGENT ONE 0 our ur firt law against the F freedom eeli om of odthe the press under the provisions of t this his law anyone who nho wrote printed uttered or pu published blis lied any false scandalous or malicious ii matter iatter against the govern mant the or them the president odthe United States or which tended co t bring then them i into hatred or contempt could bo be punished by hoay heavy flues fines and imprisonment and tho the it statute itule was so worded as to penalize not only honest criticism of the executive but oven even tile the free expression of oi ailon no legislation more fatal to tiro the popularity of A dams adams administration afo 4 could possibly hayo haye been devised bite although the solo sole responsibility borits enactment has frequently been cli charged arged to the president it annot justly ausby bo be laid di a t his door ills ils fussy conscientious tactless lesa nature had doubtless been mo anro a stung aftung by tho aitio lampoons and creal critical attacks of tho the pamphlets und and newspapers than that of any other official but the abuse of the press had peen been so genor general al that scarcely a man in public life biad and escaped defamation and the act had been rushed through both houses of congress by a vote which distinctly stamped it with tho the approval of the whole administration party Ilar harpers pers magazine |