John Peter Zenger was only thirteen when his family made the harsh journey to
America in 1710. His father died enroute and John was signed as an indentured
apprentice to New York's only printer, William Bradford, with whom he entered
into a partnership with in 1725. Zenger, a modest printer of mainly religious tracts,
was approached by lawyer Andrew Hamilton and Bradford to start a weekly
newspaper to be called the New York Weekly Journal with the intent to expose
New York Governor William Cosby as an incompetent and corrupt fraud.
America in 1710. His father died enroute and John was signed as an indentured
apprentice to New York's only printer, William Bradford, with whom he entered
into a partnership with in 1725. Zenger, a modest printer of mainly religious tracts,
was approached by lawyer Andrew Hamilton and Bradford to start a weekly
newspaper to be called the New York Weekly Journal with the intent to expose
New York Governor William Cosby as an incompetent and corrupt fraud.
| The Trial of John Peter Zenger |
When Zenger published the first issue on November 5, 1733, the Weekly Journal printed a detailed
account of the previous week's election of a Popular Party candidate for assemblyman despite
Cosby's duplicitous efforts to rig the election. Subsequent issues of the Journal further editorialized
about the Governor's unpopular activities and actions.
account of the previous week's election of a Popular Party candidate for assemblyman despite
Cosby's duplicitous efforts to rig the election. Subsequent issues of the Journal further editorialized
about the Governor's unpopular activities and actions.
After two months, Cosby decided to have the paper silenced, first by charges of seditious libel, then
on accusations of libel. However, neither attempts were successful. In one issue, Hamilton's said:
"The loss of liberty in general would soon follow the suppression of the liberty of the press; for it is
an essential branch of liberty, so perhaps it is the best preservative of the whole. Even a restraint of
the press would have a fatal influence. No nation ancient or modern has ever lost the liberty of freely
speaking, writing or publishing their sentiments, but forthwith lost their liberty in general and became
slaves." Cosby responded by ordering "the common hangman" to burn Zenger's papers. Finally his
Justices issued a bench warrant for Zenger's arrest and on November 17, 1734, Zenger was arrested
and jailed under brutal conditions for eight months.
on accusations of libel. However, neither attempts were successful. In one issue, Hamilton's said:
"The loss of liberty in general would soon follow the suppression of the liberty of the press; for it is
an essential branch of liberty, so perhaps it is the best preservative of the whole. Even a restraint of
the press would have a fatal influence. No nation ancient or modern has ever lost the liberty of freely
speaking, writing or publishing their sentiments, but forthwith lost their liberty in general and became
slaves." Cosby responded by ordering "the common hangman" to burn Zenger's papers. Finally his
Justices issued a bench warrant for Zenger's arrest and on November 17, 1734, Zenger was arrested
and jailed under brutal conditions for eight months.
The unreasonably huge bail set for Zenger combined with his many
"letters" from prison resulted in an outpouring of public sympathy for
his cause. Added this to the fact, while her husband was in jail,
Zenger's wife Anna, although busy with their six young children,
managed to keep the New York Weekly Journal publishing, missing
only one issue, building broad public support for Zenger's cause.
"letters" from prison resulted in an outpouring of public sympathy for
his cause. Added this to the fact, while her husband was in jail,
Zenger's wife Anna, although busy with their six young children,
managed to keep the New York Weekly Journal publishing, missing
only one issue, building broad public support for Zenger's cause.
On August 5, 1735, eloquent Andrew Hamilton had to convince twelve
New York jurors to ignore the instructions of Governor Cosby's
hand-picked judges and returned a verdict of "Not Guilty" on the
charge of publishing "seditious libels." Hamilton himself undertook
Zenger's defense because the first two lawyers attempting the task
were suddenly disbarred by the crooked Chief Justice Delancey.
New York jurors to ignore the instructions of Governor Cosby's
hand-picked judges and returned a verdict of "Not Guilty" on the
charge of publishing "seditious libels." Hamilton himself undertook
Zenger's defense because the first two lawyers attempting the task
were suddenly disbarred by the crooked Chief Justice Delancey.
Cosby further tried tampering with the jury but failed. Hamilton argued that the law ought not to be
interpreted to prohibit "the just complaints of a number of men who suffer under a bad
administration." He further argued that the libel law of England ought not to be the libel law of New
York. Hamilton's summation to the jury concluded with these words:
interpreted to prohibit "the just complaints of a number of men who suffer under a bad
administration." He further argued that the libel law of England ought not to be the libel law of New
York. Hamilton's summation to the jury concluded with these words:
The question before the Court and you, Gentlemen of the jury, is not of small or private concern. It
is not the cause of one poor printer, nor of New York alone, which you are now trying. No! It may
in its consequence affect every free man that lives under a British government on the main of
America. It is the best cause. It is the cause of liberty. And I make no doubt but your upright conduct
this day will not only entitle you to the love and esteem of your fellow citizens, but every man who
prefers freedom to a life of slavery will bless and honor you as men who have baffled the attempt of
tyranny, and by an impartial and uncorrupt verdict have laid a noble foundation for securing to
ourselves, our posterity, and our neighbors, that to which nature and the laws of our country have
given us a right to liberty of both exposing and opposing arbitrary power (in these parts of the world
at least) by speaking and writing truth.
is not the cause of one poor printer, nor of New York alone, which you are now trying. No! It may
in its consequence affect every free man that lives under a British government on the main of
America. It is the best cause. It is the cause of liberty. And I make no doubt but your upright conduct
this day will not only entitle you to the love and esteem of your fellow citizens, but every man who
prefers freedom to a life of slavery will bless and honor you as men who have baffled the attempt of
tyranny, and by an impartial and uncorrupt verdict have laid a noble foundation for securing to
ourselves, our posterity, and our neighbors, that to which nature and the laws of our country have
given us a right to liberty of both exposing and opposing arbitrary power (in these parts of the world
at least) by speaking and writing truth.
The jury deliberated for a short time before returning with a "Not guilty" . Shouts of joy rang from
the crowd of spectators. Delancey unsuccessfully demanded order, even threatening spectators with
arrest and imprisonment, but he hastily left the courtroom to the cheering crowd.
the crowd of spectators. Delancey unsuccessfully demanded order, even threatening spectators with
arrest and imprisonment, but he hastily left the courtroom to the cheering crowd.
Although the Zenger trial did not establish new law with respect to seditious libel, it gave birth to a
free and open press in America and within a half-century members of the First Congress debated the
proposed Bill of Rights.
free and open press in America and within a half-century members of the First Congress debated the
proposed Bill of Rights.
The burning of John Peter Zenger's The New York Weekly Journal.