News Society Data

Journalism is said to be the second oldest profession – people’s curiosity about themselves, their government and commerce being so compelling.

The only difference in journalism of 3,500 B.C. clay tablets and today’s mass media, is the technology of gathering and disseminating news.

A great leap forward was the invention of movable type by Johannes Gutenberg in 1455 by which he could speedily and cheaply print the Holy Bible.

Thereafter, various entrepreneurs – generally postmasters — produced “fly sheets” of news at irregular intervals.

The first regularly issued “newspaper” (every day but Sunday) was the Publick Intelligencer. It was published in 1645 by John Thurloe, secretary of state under Britain’s “Lord Protector of the Realm” Oliver Cromwell.

First attempt to publish an American newspaper was by Benjamin Harris’s Publick Occurrences Both Foreign and Domestick in 1690. It was suppressed by the Royal governor after only one issue.

First successful American newspaper was the Boston News-Letter. It was published for 300 subscribers by Boston postmaster John Campbell in 1704.

The most influential newspaper was the New England Courant established in 1721 by James Franklin. When he was arrested by the Royal governor for seditious publishing, James’ ultimately more famous brother, Benjamin, took over.

Ben, a young printer apprentice, continued to challenge political authorities until the Courant was banned by the government two years later.

Freedom Of Press

Defining event for modern journalism – according to Prof. Douglas Linder of the University of Missouri at Kansas City Law School — occurred in 1735.

John Peter Zenger, publisher of the New York Weekly Journal, was arrested by Governor William Cosby and tried for sedition.

Zenger was a German immigrant who made a modest living printing religious tracts. The only other printer in New York was William Bradford who published the New York Gazette under close censorship.

James Alexander, an ardent colonial lawyer, persuaded Zenger to publish an opposition newspaper. First issue of the Journal came out Nov. 5, 1733.

Editorial policy of the paper, undoubtedly written by Alexander, was published in the second issue:

“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.”

It should be remembered that this declaration of the right to free speech and press was publicly expressed 43 years before the War for Independence — and 58 years before the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified.

Hole In The Door

First issue of the Journal featured the victory of Lewis Morris, Popular Party candidate for assemblyman from Westchester, over Cosby’s handpicked candidate.

Gov. Cosby had his sheriff disqualify Quaker voters – a large constituency in Westchester – on the basis they would not swear to their residency. Nevertheless, Morris won handily.

“Cosby put up with the Journal’s attacks for two months before deciding it must be shut down,” says Prof. Linder.

“The first effort to silence the Journal occurred in January 1734 when Chief Justice Delancey asked a Grand Jury to indict Zenger based on the law of seditious libel. The Jury refused.

“Delancey tried again when the next Grand Jury met in October. He presented pamphlets and ‘scandalous’ verse from Zenger’s Journal. The jurors – claiming that authorship of the allegedly libelous material could not be determined – again refused to indict.”

Thereupon, Gov. Cosby proclaimed a reward of 50 Pounds — big money those days – “for discovery of the authors of the Journal libels.”

In frustration, he also ordered that the offending newspapers “be publicly burned by the common hangman.” The stunt greatly amused New Yorkers.

More ominously, Cosby ordered his attorney general to file an accusatory “information” with his Justices who finally issued a warrant for Zenger’s arrest.

The sheriff arrested Zenger on Nov. 17, 1734, and clapped him into the city jail. The prisoner would languish there eight months for lack of 800 Pounds bail – a preposterous amount.

The Journal missed publication the following day. Zenger’s wife, Anna, took over the duties of editor. Her first issue front-paged an editorial by Zenger:

“As you last week were disappointed of my Journal, I think it incumbent on me to publish my apology, which is this.

“I was arrested, taken and imprisoned in the common jail of this City by virtue of a warrant from the Governor and others in the Council.

“I had not the liberty of pen, ink or paper – or to see or speak with people until my complaint to the honorable Chief Justice who discountenanced that proceeding.

“Since that time, I have had the liberty of speaking thro’ the hole of the door to my wife and servants …. by which I can entertain you with my weekly Journal as formerly.”

The Trial

Prof. Linder points out that the enormous bail of 800 Pounds turned into an important tactical advantage for Zenger. “As a result of his stream of Journal editorials from prison, an outpouring of public sympathy for his cause developed.”

Two well-known, local lawyers undertook to defend Zenger. However both were disbarred by Chief Justice Delancey when they objected to the two-man court Gov. Cosby appointed to try the case.

Andrew Hamilton of Philadelphia – considered one of the ablest lawyers in the colonies – agreed to defend to defend Zenger.

The trial began Aug. 4, 1735, at New York’s City Hall. Prosecuting Attorney General Bradley read the information filed against Zenger:

“Being a seditious person and a frequent printer and publisher of false news and seditious libel who wickedly and maliciously devised to traduce, scandalize and vilify Governor Cosby and his ministers.”

“Libeling has always been discouraged as a thing that tends to create differences among men, ill blood among the people, and oftentimes great bloodshed between the party libeling and the party libeled.”

Hamilton announced his client would not contest the charge — having truthfully printed and published the allegedly libelous materials.

A stunned Bradley rose and declared: “As Mr. Hamilton has confessed the printing and publishing these libels, I think the Jury must find a verdict for the King. Admission of truth is an aggravation of the crime.”

Hamilton in reply asserted the law ought not to be interpreted to prohibit “the just complaints of a number of men who suffer under a bad administration.”

He argued that the libel law of England – relying on judges to determine both fact and the law — ought not to be the libel law of New York.

His summation has become the cornerstone of a free press:

“It is natural, it is a privilege, I will go farther, it is a right, which all free men claim – that they are entitled to complain when they are hurt.

“They have a right publicly to remonstrate against the abuses of power in the strongest terms — to put their neighbors upon their guard against the craft or open violence of men in authority.

“And to assert with courage the sense they have of the blessings of liberty, the value they put upon it, and their resolution at all hazards to preserve it as one of the greatest blessings heaven can bestow.

“The loss of liberty, to a generous mind, is worse than death. And yet we know that there have been those in all ages who for the sake of preferment, or some imaginary honor, have freely lent a helping hand to oppress — nay to destroy — their country.

“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.”

The jury withdrew and quickly rendered a verdict of Not Guilty “to huzzahs by the audience.”

Anti-administration supporters hosted a congratulatory dinner for Hamilton at the Black Horse Tavern; and when he left the next day for Philadelphia, “a grand salute of cannon was fired in his honor.”

John Zenger was appointed “public printer” for New York and New Jersey.

Prof. Linder concludes: “The trial of Zenger was the germ of American freedom, the Morning Star of that liberty which subsequently revolutionized America.”

Press Freedom Today

For your writer’s opinion of press freedom and responsibilities today – including all media – turn to my other column on the editorial pages.

Lindsey Williams is a Sun columnist who can be contacted at:

mailto:LinWms@earthlink.net LinWms@earthlink.net

mailto:LinWms@lindseywilliams.org LinWms@lindseywilliams.org

Website: lindseywilliams.org lindseywilliams.org

This is what happens in a Democracy! I been kicked out with everybody else?

“Cherokees Pull Memberships of Freed Slaves” The latest news!

That one line says it all? Not on your life! The fact that the Cherokee had a ruling from their own Supreme Court that the enrolled “ex-slaves” descendants could not be cut, lead to a vote! But as you may have mixed feelings about this issue, please be aware, they are probably within their rights to make this event happen! I am not kidding you.

First off, the fact is supposed to be that as many Cherokee owned slaves, they were living inside the reservation. “Reservation” here means; A country within a Country! (see what happened to Israel when they allowed a country to stay within their new Country! Even if they were duped, they should have known better!)

The fact is; as they were living in the reservation, where the Cherokee owned, enslaved, beat, and raped and discriminated against them as a race, they were not originally part of the treaty with the USA. Later, in a second treaty, the USA forced the Cherokee to make a conciliatory codicil to the treaty forcing them to accept the enrollment of ex-slaves descendants then living within the reservation lands. They signed that they would. Gave their word in fact. You know, “they” meaning the Cherokee who forever has said that the “White man has never kept a promise or a treaty!”? That tribe. The Western Cherokee. The tribe in Oklahoma. That one, yeah.

You see the fact is; as Native Americans living in back in the East, they had a reservation there too. The had to give it up. They would not take a few acres and a mule and plow, but wanted to live as hunter/gatherers. (nothing wrong with that) So finally, as the “White” man was taking their lands by force and by plunder, they were moved off by the Government. Thus the “Trail of Tears” event.

The fact is; The Cherokee Tribe is run as a Democracy! That is the way a DEMOCRACY is!

You as an Individual have no rights above the group as a whole. You as an Individual would have rights if the country were a REPUBLIC, which the Western Cherokee Tribe is not. NO they are a DEMOCRACY, the very thing that our politicians want us to accept, by stating that phrase over and over and over! And I’m warning you……if you do begin to see this country as a Democracy, then you too will lose your citizenship!

I SAID;…..You are going to be kicked out of your tribe, your country also! Without a doubt, you will lose, as some now want, your citizenship for any infraction of speaking out against the Government of the United States of America!

Think not? Well just THINKING about certain things will get you a prison sentence! These days all they have to do is believe that you were “Thinking” something in a way that is, to them, criminal, and you will be in the poky so fast that your head will spin! Spit on the sidewalk? Was a Black person nearby? You were thinking disturbing Discriminatory things while breaking the law! You go to prison. You stopped to pray on the corner? Others saw you and joined in? Too bad, there was a Gay Rights Parade going on down that same street! You are breaking the law (assembly without permit) while “thinking” about some Discrimination in regards to other persons close by! That means prison! Period! Oh, you get a trail of sorts, but under what law? The law as the politicians have changed it! Not under the law under which we grew up.

Will the Western Cherokee Tribe get their way? Certainly! And they should I guess, on the grounds that they are a Democracy. But no way are they able to vote to gain or keep their right to self-determination! That sir, is a falsehood! Let me explain.

To vote upon MY right to self-determination, YOU must believe you can do the “determination” of me in some way. Either in a group decision or as an individual decision. Either way is a false-hood. IF I am a free man. IF I am living in a Republic. Then you cannot vote, or hinder me nor my rights of self-determination or citizenship! Self-determination means “self-determination”, not “WE as a group have decided……!” Nope. Can’t be any other way. Not in a Republic, nor in fact within Society as a whole. To do this is to become Communistic, in a way that some Russians could only dream of!

Self-determination is great. I practice it every day. In fact I change it on a whim! But, if it is not based upon real logic, and that using real truth, then it is not self-determination at all, but a lie!

The fact, of the truth, is; the Western Cherokee Tribe Members are Mulatto! End of discussion. Why do I say that? Because they cannot prove otherwise. You see all the Individual Native American Cherokee, that we know the names of in history, are all interbreed with English; Dutch; French; Spanish. Powhattan and his daughter too, were Mulatto! Pocy’ haunt’ us’ was really saving her grandfather when she saved Smith! She was wrong, but she knew he appeared to be the grandfather! That’s history! Look it up.

So the Native American that “invented” the Cherokee Alphabet, Didn’t! The painting of him, Isn’t!
I know that because his sister said the “White” man cut all his fingers off! And too, he never wore a turban! His letters were not made in the way that is shown! No, the Cherokee writing that was used, painted, scraped, or drawn on all the covered bridges and barns, warning of the disaster of the English and “White” man’s taking all the land, was quite a bit different in fact.

The fact, and the truth is; our own Government has made treaties both condoning the addition and the condoning of the discrimination to prevent enrolling of anyone with “one drop” of African blood!
The Charter for the incorporation of the Pamunkey Tribe does not allow persons of African influence to become Pamunkey Tribal Members. And the Western Cherokee treaty and corporation, and they are a Corporation, does. At least as far as the descendants of their slaves it does.

So what is now the fact, and the truth, now? Well, that the Western Cherokee Tribe, voting on an issue to bar persons of African decent from their membership rolls, have just kicked themselves out of their own tribe!

Dan Bunch, a Cherokee; Choctaw; and Melungeon; whose mother was a naturalized citizen born in Hong Kong. His father was born in Texas, a Cherokee-Choctaw-Melungeon, who served in the Army during WWII.

Dan Bunch grew up in Texas, where he participated in; football, baseball, and boxing. He enlisted in the United States Navy Reserve while still a junior in high school. He has had a multitude of experience in the business world in; insurance, real estate, finance, and a builder of custom homes. He has always been a writer, and cartoonist. He attributes his interest in many subjects to his early career as a newspaper boy. He married his high school sweetheart Gayle, with whom they have two children and five grandchildren.

Dan Bunch is a graduate of Grayson Co Jr. College, which he attended upon his return from Vietnam. He was a PO2′nd, crewmember aboard U.S. Navy River Patrol Boats, and is member of the DAV; and Veteran association.
PLEASE VISIT MY CARTOONS BY DAN BUNCH MAIN PAGE
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